Senator Anyanwu’s three years purposeful representation

When he defeated all comers to clinch the PDP Senatorial ticket to represent Owerri Zone in 2015, many doubted his capacities to win the general election, as well as impress at the Senate that ofcourse was expected to be largely dominated by former governors, retired military generals and returning Senators. The doubts were further reinforced by the caliber of people that ran both the Party Primaries and the general elections with him. These doubts were not because Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu lacked the potentials, but because they saw it as a herculean task coming as an ordinary member of the Imo State House of Assembly. A feat that has never happened in the history of Nigeria.
These countervailing circumstances notwithstanding, Samdaddy as he is popularly known overwhelmingly won the senatorial election and has purposefully represented the good people of Owerri Zone in the Senate. He has proved he can effectively play at both the state and national scenes by demystifying  the senate and bringing home dividends of democracy to his Owerri Senatorial Zone Constituents, hinged on his tripod campaign promises of presenting a strong voice, empowerment of youths and women, as well as attracting projects to the Zone.
Three years on, Sen. Anyanwu has proved himself a Senator to be reckoned with in the 109 member chamber with the best Senate Committee Chairman rating in 2016. It is certain that majority of his constituents and indeed other Nigerians can testify to the public Service orientation of this rare bred politician that is reputed to be God fearing, homegrown, humble and accessible.
At the level of lawmaking, he has over seven people oriented bills and over five motions to his credit. His signature bills on the establishment of the South East Development Commission and the upgrading of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education to a Federal University of Education have become a beacon of hope to the entire South East region. The reason is not far fetched because the bills when passed into law will release a flurry of job opportunities as well as position the region towards infrastructural revolution.  He also sponsored a bill to restructure the NYSC to reflect the imperative need for Nigerian graduates to become productive members of the society by a paradigm shift from the welfare to entrepreneurship.
His motion on a vote of confidence on the Senate President, Bukola Saraki at the peak of the crisis that bedeviled the leadership election at the Senate played a big role in stabilizing the senate, as well as positioned him as a critical member of the 8th Senate.
As the Chairman Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Anyanwu has used his strategic Committee to resolve cases of injustices, abuses and violations against his constituents, Imolites and Nigerians in general. One celebrated case that will forever stand him out is the case of one Sgt. Amos Olaniyan, who was verbally suspended from the Nigerian police force for 21years on an offence that a Police Orderly Room trial has since exonerated him. Senator Anyanwu’s Committee resolved that the IGP should apologize,  reinstate, promote and pay Sgt. Olaniyan all salaries and allowances due him.
Senator Anyanwu is also the Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, Member Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream, Member Senate Committee on Youth and Sports, Member Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Member Senate Committee on Science and Technology, etc. This feat no doubt is uncommon for a first time senator from an opposition political party, but clearly manifests Senator Anyanwu’s capabilities in the senate that has been viewed as arguably the best since the advent of democracy in the country.
He has facilitated the employment of over 75 graduates of Owerri Zone into Federal Ministries, Department and Agencies, facilitated the admission of over 120 students into Tertiary Institutions in the country and bought NPower forms for over 400 graduates from the zone.
In the area of youth and women empowerment, Senator Anyanwu has excelled greatly. The 105 beneficiaries of his Aluminium Doors and Windows fabrication program have concluded their three months intensive training at nine locations in the Zone, while 200 out of 420 shortlisted beneficiaries for the 2nd phase skill acquisition program in CCTv and Cable installation and Maintenance, Driving, Computer Appreciation, Production Technology, Fashion Designing, paint manufacturing, bag and bead making have also concluded their three months intensive training at the premises of St. Mulumba’s Catholic Parish Wetheral Road Owerri, and 105 of them that trained in Fashion Designing empowered with a sewing machine each and a cash of 50 thousand naira to rent shop.
Some of the projects he attracted to the Zone include the Atta – Amaimo – Ugirike – Obohia – Afor Ogbe road, Ulakwo Junction – Seat of Wisdom Seminary – Ngwoma Road, Ring roads in “Area H” New Owerri, Eke Nguru Orie Ihitte road, among others. Senator Samdaddy also intervened through the NDDC in rehabilitating the Ekemele road in Akabo along the Owerri Okigwe road that used to be a nightmare to motorists, the Awaka /Ezeogba Emekuku portion of Owerri Umuahia road, as well as the reconstruction of Nkwerre Street road in Works Layout Owerri Municipal. He also sunk solar powered boreholes in Arugo Park, Umuokpu Emeabiam, Amakohia Ubi, Ulakwo Enyiogugu, etc. Renovated School buildings in Nnarambia Ahiara, Egberede Nguru, provided solar powered Street lights, transformers at Timber Market Naze and Obohia Mbaise, mini Stadium at Amaimo Ikeduru, etc. He is currently doing a Town Hall building also at Egberede Nguru. The beauty of these projects is that they are cited on demand by the benefiting communities.
Certainly, the secret of these quantum of enviable achievements in just three years of representation can only be accounted for by a cerebral, vibrant, quintessential and alluring personality.
Now that Senator Anyanwu has answered the clarion call of Imolites both at home and in the Diaspora to run for the Governorship of Imo State in 2019, it is widely believed that his achievements on the Senate will serve as a spring board that will position him for a sterling performance. This call is significant as it is divine, coming exactly 40 years after the legendary Dee SAMUEL Onunaka Mbakwe took the mantle of leadership in the State. Only a quick intervention can save the State from an imminent total collapse and Senator SAMUEL Nnaemeka Anyanwu  looking at his antecedents has the magic wand to achieve this mandate. He knows the way.