[Photos] APGA Party Leaders in Orumba North Endorse Ikenna Amechi for Anambra South Senatorial Election

By Ejiofo Umegbogu & Okey Maduforo           
Amaokpala community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State came alive when the Senatorial Aspirant of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Barr. Ikenna Mbazulike-Amechi visited the community civic Centre, in continuation of his interactive session with party stakeholders in  Anambra South Senatorial Zone.

The civic center which played host to Hon. Amechi and his FRESH IDEAS SUPPORT GROUP, had in attendance ward, Local Government Executives as well as other major Stakeholders of APGA, as Hon Amechi took time to lecture them on the internal workings of legislature and how a Senator is expected to represent his people to attract good dividends of democracy.

Amechi, a lawyer with twenty-eight years experience in legal practice in Nigeria, UK and New York; took time to paint a vivid pictorial of the duties and expectations of a senator.

“In Nigeria today, most people and in fact electorates loose sight of the fact that the act of legislation is a different kittle of fish from the duties of the executive arm of government”.

“Most aspirants and candidates go about making promises to the electorate on what they would do for the people which is at variance from the job of a law maker. They talk about projects and duties of the executive arm of government”.

Amechi contends that “in the National Assembly, what counts and what is demanded of you is your mental and intellectual capacity not the amount of ill-gotten wealth one has amassed".

He decried the attitude of most lawmakers who according to him will not make contributions during the process of budget drafting at the level of MDA's, only to begin to add projects in the budget at the stage of passing the budget.

“Before the budget gets to the National Assembly, the lawmaker has to interface with the different ministries that would include projects of his constituency or senatorial zone in the budget… Anything “done after that is called padding and it is unacceptable.”

Amechi, who is a former member of Anambra State House of Assembly also took time to make graphic rundown of some of his activities while in the house.

“It was during our tenure in the Assembly that constituency projects was introduced in Anambra State and this helped in carrying out development in our communities and we did not make noise about it."

“While in the State Assembly, I sponsored the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority Bill and the effect is the execution of massive capital projects in Awka by Governor Willie Obiano”.

Amechi however posited that what Anambra South Senatorial Zone needs at the moment is a legislator with fresh ideas and different approach to the business of lawmaking, that are in line with global best practices.

“If you support me, it then means that I am indebted to you all and after four years, the nineteen wards in Orumba North Local Governmentt will surely know that I went to the senate."

“The seven council areas of the zone would have liaison officers who must be an APGA member nominated by you the members. I will appoint Special Assistants on Party Affairs. I will hold quarterly face-to-face meetings with party members and constituents, in order to look out for areas of need and possible interventions."

Amechi decried the impoverished nature of the party at the ward and local government levels which according to him has led to the imposition of wrong aspirants and delegates on the party with money. “If we fund and empower the party at community levels, by allowing them to collect dues and use it for their local needs, then money bags cannot influence the party members any more”.

His colleague while in the Assembly who represented Orumba North Hon. Uchenna Ogbonna took the listeners back memory lane, how Amechi became the de-facto Speaker of the Assembly; because of his proactiveness, intelligence and principled nature.

“Amechi was Chairman House Committee on finance and appropriation which has to do with the budget of Anambra State and he and his committee ensured prudence in the management of public funds, even the then governor Mr. Peter Obi appreciated the importance of that committee, because the committee meticulously scrutinized the budget proposals of all the ministries and agencies; and made sure that heads of all government offices appear for budget defense”. In essence, I can authoritatively tell you that it was Hon Ikenna Amechi that institutionalized the system of budget defense in Anambra."

Hon Uche Ogbonna concluded that, “All we need is Ikenna Amechi who has the legislative capacity and wealth of experience, to represent Anambra South in the Senate and I can assure you that he will not fail us"; and called for the open endorsement of Hon Ikenna Amechi as the preferred candidate of Orumba North delegates and stakeholders.

The local government party chairman, Barr Obinna Ikwueto, a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Agriculture who hails from the area, Chief Cyril Nwobu and many other stalwarts supported the call for the endorsement. While countless speakers after speakers made comments and contributions on the need for better representation of the people at the Senate.
The shouts of "Ikenna bu Nkeanyi" filled the atmosphere as the jubilant crowd agreed with one voice and confirmed the open endorsement of Ikenna Amechi as the choice of APGA members in the area.

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