Ideato Federal Constituency and Dr. Pascal Obi: When Continuity Becomes the Only Road To Travel

Ideato Federal Constituency and Dr. Pascal Obi: When Continuity Becomes the Only Road To Travel

- By Clifford Dike 

The legendary British writer C.S Lewis, perhaps had Ideato North and South federal constituency and the exhilarating performance of its representative in the House of Reps, Dr Chigozie Pascal Obi in mind when he uttered the timeless quote:"mere change is not growth. Growth is the synthesis of change and continuity, and where there is no continuity there is no growth.

Conversely, a broad spectrum of Ndi Ideato ultimately shares C.S Lewi's sentiment on continuity judging by the current groundswell of support for his re-election to the House of Representatives

Who would not w.ant a continuation of a quality and people oriented representation? Nobody, of course and this explains why the Ideato nation insists it cannot afford not to return Dr. Obi to the House.

Apart from the need for him to continue with his superlative representation of Ideato people and delivery of dividends of democracy, political leaders and opinion moulders in constituency hing their desire for Dr. Obi's re-election on national interest as regards parliamentary stability and growth of participatory democracy such as ours.

The high turnover of federal Parliamentarians every four years, especially in the Southeast, according to them does not make room for a robust legislative experience as obtained in the United States and other participatory  democracies around the world where some Parliamentarians spend upward of two, three decades in the hallowed legislative chambers.

A beautiful road is the darling of motorists and thus they keep plying it. This maxim finds definitive expression in Dr. Obi whose three and half years legislative journey is replete with quantum achievements.

When he was elected to the House of Reps in 2019 to represent Ideato North /Ideato South federal, his constituents entertained no doubt about his preparedness and capability to perform and he has not disappointed so far.

It is for this reason that the mantra in the constituency today is: Pascal, ga na agara anyi ije na Abuja ( Pascal will continue to represent us in Abuja).

In just three and half years in the House of Representatives, Dr Obi has brought the Ideato nation and indeed Imo state to national consciousness  on the floor of the House through:  

*Urgent call on the federal government of Nigeria to carry out full rehabilitation and reconstruction of Akwakuma - Orlu - Mgbee - Obiohia - Urualla - Akokwa - Uga federal road. It was adopted by the House and equally captured in the 2021 budget.

*A motion urging the federal government of Nigeria to create one more Federal Government College (FGC) in Imo State. Every state has three except Imo. This received instant approval and Obi, a result-oriented Federal Lawmaker insisted that it will be sited in Ideato Nation.

*A motion for the extension of Federal Medical Center Owerri to Ideato. It was also approved and included in the  2021 budget.

*A motion for the total turnaround of the National Orthopedic Hospital Enugu vis-a-vis workforce, facilities and structures. It gained approval.

*A motion for the canalization of river banks. This will protect our communities from excessive flooding during the rainy season.

*A motion urging the federal government of Nigeria to build more Ear/Eye hospitals in other parts of the country since the only Ear/Eye Hospital is located in Kaduna. It was approved, hence Ear Center for Lagos and Eye Center for Owerri, Imo State.

*A motion on the looming reoccurrence of Ebola crises in Nigeria: The need for the federal government to put in place detective measures in our airports, seaports and land borders.

*Calling attention to the need to construct a perimeter fence at the Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri.

All communities in the federal constituency bear witness to Dr Pascal Obi's socio-economic and infrastructural blitz.

This can be gleaned from the total number of boreholes  he has drilled at designated points within the following communities:

URUALLA

OBODOUKWU

DIKENAFAI

UGBELLE

ORIE UMUOBOM

UMUMAISIAKU

AMANATO

NDIANICHE UNO

OSINA

OBIOHIA

He has also either established or upgraded comprehensive Health Facilities situated.

AKPULU, OSINA, OZU - URUALLA, UMUOKWARA, AKOKWA, DIKENAFAI, OBIOHIA, NTUEKE, UMUMAISIAKU, UMUOBOM and OGBOKO.

Phase similar project is also  ongoing at UMUALAOMA, UMUAGHOBE, UMUCHIMA, UGBELLE, UMUESHI, FMC ANNEX UMUEZEALLA - OGBOKO

Ideato is prone to erosion hence Dr Pascal Obi is paying special attention to roads and erosion control in the constituency.

So far, to his credit are a 1.5 Km Road at Akpulu, a 1.5 Km Road at Nneato-Ogwugwu Dikenafai, erosion control at Obiohia,

Solar-powered street lights at Umukegwu- Akokwa, Ozuakoli - Urualla and Obiohia - Umuago road.

A firm believer in human capital development, Dr Obi has established a plethora of various skill acquisition and empowerment programmes and centres across the constituency and has also, through his influence, secured federal jobs for several qualified persons in the constituency.  

A seasoned optometrist who has transversed public life at a relatively young age, Dr Obi was born in 1970. He read Optometry at the Imo state university and later capped it with a Masters's degree in Public Health from the University of Nigeria Enugu campus.

A knight of the Catholic Church, Dr Obi joined the  Imo State Ministry of Health Owerri in 1998.

He would rather rise to become The Acting Director of Public Health and Primary Health Care in the ministry and also the coordinator, of the National Programme for Prevention of Blindness (Vision 2020).

Former  Governor of Imo State Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha appointed Dr Obi Permanent Secretary and Principal Secretary to the Governor, a position he held till August 2018 to seek elective office.

As another election year (2023) approaches, the mood in Ideato is that of unwavering determination to travel the Dr Pascal Obi's route once more,this time around through the Labour Party route.

As a deft politician who  correctly guages the mood of his people and weighs their political aspirations and interest, Dr.Obi has keyed into the raging Peter Obi and the Labour Party revolution for the overall interest of the Ideato Nation.

Labour Party and its Presidential candidate, Peter Obi has become a national movement, a moving train every right-thinking politician who wants the best for his people must join hence Dr. Pascal Obi wasted no time in hopping in on board.

From all ramifications,  the people's parliamentarian, the Avatar of Ideato politics, Dr Chigozie Pascal Obi ( Ugwusinachi) is a king awaiting formal crowning. The crowning will of course happen in February next year when the Ideato nation would have resoundingly voted him and the Labour Party for a return to Abuja!

***

Clifford Dike writes from Urualla, Ideato North, Imo State.

Ideato South/North Federal Constituency: Dr. Chika Abazu as the Way to Go

Ideato South/North Federal Constituency: Dr. Chika Abazu as the Way to Go

- By Micheal Nnaji 

According to John. C Maxwell,  a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. 

Dr. Chika Abazu clearly fits into this discription.

This is why among the motley of crowd jostling to represent Ideato North and South federal constituency in the House of Reps in the next political dispensation, opinion leaders, political leaders, the youths, market women, students etc agree he is the most prepared and focused.

Dr. Abazu raises above the fray and stands out on the pedestal of competence,reason a broad spectrum of people across the constituency are earnestly praying the All Progressives Congress, APC to do the right thing by giving him its ticket for the election.

Describing the last seven years of representation the constituency has had at the House of Reps as years eaten by locust, an APC chieftain from Umueshi, Ideato South,who craved anonymity said: "Ideato North and South has suffered the worst form of representation since 2015. 

"We are like orphans in the midst of parents; in this new dispensation we want someone who is in touch with the people and with reality; we want a people oriented person who has the Ideato nation and its people at heart, a representative who has no baggage, who puts Ideato first. Irrespective of party, we want the best and in Dr. Chika Abazu, I find this representative." 

If elected into the House of Reps as the representative of Ideato people, Dr. Abazu, pledges, in his words, "Prudent utilisation of Constituency Funds for genuine, people-focused, transparent and verifiable projects and programs"

His focuse, according to him will be social amenities and infrastructures, health care, quality education, economic empowerment, medium size agricultural and settlement  scheme akin to the Isreali Kitbzu system and social welfare for youths.

Dr. Abazu will leave no stone unturned to enhance the growth of Ideato North/South federal constituency in terms of:
°Legislative representation 
•Accountability 
•Education
•Youth and women economic emancipation programmes
•Road Infrastructure
•Power 
•Water
•Health
•Sports
•Social welfare
•Security 

°Sponsorship or co-sponsorship of at least two bills and two motions that would impact the Constituency every year; meaningful contribution in plenary and committee activities especially oversight function.

As a technocrat, Dr. Abazu will ensure prudent utilisation of Constituency Funds for genuine, people-focused, transparent and verifiable projects and programs.

He is primed at building and equipping of modern school structures and making learning fun for children through learning aids; financial support to primary/secondary school students; facilitating university scholarship for exceptional students.

As a youth enthusiast and a bridge between the young and old, Dr. Abazu, if elected, will be committed to establushing a training hub for the training of youths and women in various vocations including ICT and Agriculture; giving of starter packs/seed grants to trained persons.

Erosion menance is one of the environmental problems facing Ideato and to tackle it headlong, if elected, Dr. Abazu will see to the  procurement of heavy construction vehicles like bulldozers, font loaders, grader, compactors, trenchers etc for all year round erosion control, road grading and maintenance.

To modernise Ideato and make it a liveable urban area, Dr. Abazu has pledged the following:

•Facilitation of the restoration of electricity to all communities in Ideato through procurement and  installation of transformers and other power installations; construction of solar street lights at designated areas

•Greater Ideato water scheme will be birthed for provision of basic water supply; procurement of motorized borehole drilling machines; all year round drilling of boreholes in designated and accessible areas within the community; provision of borehole drilling services at highly subsidized rate.

•Construction and equipping of primary health centres

And to curb youth restiveness, he will facilitate the construction of mini sports stadium for sports and recreation.

He will also strengthen local security networks so as to secure the lives and property of Ideato people.

Dr. Abazu is accessible and reachable and will at all times be avilable to his constituents

With his international connections and contacts, Dr. Abazu will ensure the mobilization of funds for various projects from donor agencies and development partners.

***

Nnaji writes from 
Osina,Ideato North.