By Echereozo Austin
Onyoko Ngor Okpala Support Foundation has made a very brilliant move by its decision to partner with the federal house member representing Ngor Okpala/Aboh Mbaise in House of Representatives of the National Assembly.The association made their intensions and decision known to the public recently, when the association’s adhoc committee members paid courtesy and solidarity visit to the federal house member representing Ngor Okpala/Aboh Mbaise in the National Assembly.
Rt Hon Dr Mathew Nwogu and the newly sworn-in executive director for agriculture and rural development in the South East Development Commission, Dr Clifford Ogbede at Abuja recently.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the visit, the leader of the delegation, Barr Patrick Akwara disclosed that the meetings with the two illustrious sons of Ngor Okpala will provide visible solutions to problems and challenges confronting the local government and bring it at par with other local government areas in Imo State.
Barr Akwara used the opportunity to enumerate some of the agenda of the meeting they had with the federal house member to include: discussing the fraudulent activities of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, (EEDC) in Ngor Okpala. He eulogised Rt Hon Nwogu for including Ngor Okpala in the petition written by Aboh Mbaise people against EEDC, which was submitted to the House Committee On Public Complaint via Rt Hon Nwogu.The leader of the delegation lamented that the people of Ngor Okpala. have suffered so much in the hand of EEDC. He added that EEDC has allegedly been giving high bill to Ngor Okpala even when power supply has not been commensurate to the high bills. He stated that Onyoko Support Foundation will not fold its arm and watch Ngor Okpala suffer in the hand of a company.
He also applauded the Ngor Okpala House of Representatives member on his plan to raise a team of personalities that will stand in for Ngor Okpala during the committes next sitting. According to the leader,other issues discussed with the federal legislator is on how best to attract purposeful and good representation to the federal constituency. Attracting projects and infrastructure that will benefit the federal constituency,Priotising issues of human development ,education and employment opportunities ,Even distribution of projects across the federal constituency.
Other issues of uttermost important according to Barr Akwara are plans to extend electricity supply to communities like Amala, Umuekwune and Alatia that have no electricity power for many years ,The desire of Onyoko stakeholders and their members in diaspora to partner with Rt Hon Nwogu so as to attract investment in Ngor Okpala the leader hinted that Rt Hon Nwogu was very happy with the visit and that he promised to do every within his reach in ensuring that Ngor Okpala and Aboh Mbaise is giving quality representation. He said that Rt Hon revealed that it was because of his vibrant and people oriented bills and motions that has earned him the best legislature award of the year of which the award was presented to Onyoko delegates.the leader also emphasized that Rt Hon Nwogu spoke about the level of confidence reposed on him by the speaker and other leaders of the green chamber. He revealed on how they constantly seek for his opinion and always call on him to speak on important issues to the house. Rt Hon Nwogu also talked about how he ensured upon his swearing in making sure that all the contractors went back to site to complete already awarded projects before he came on board adding that he has already seen to the completion of some previously abandoned projects such as the umuneke to Obike Road/bridge and Umuaga Ngwuru Town Hall and that he has attracted numerous project like installation of solar street light to many communities,
construction of classroom blocks and road maintenance. Rt Hon Nwogu spoke about his youth development initiative where he has secured employment and scholarship opportunities for youths of Ngor Okpala and promised to do more anytime such oppotunity called again.Onyoko leaders have also showered praises on Rt Hon Nwogu for his recent intervention at the National Assembly, ensuring that host communities of the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport were duely compensated for their land acquired by the government to build the airport.
In another development, the adhoc committee members of Onyoko Ngor Okpala Support Foundation threw more light on the meeting had with Dr Clifford Ogbede. They hinted that their first point of call was the presentation of the congratulatory letter to the executive director and assured him of the readiness of Onyoko Support Foundation towards ensuring that his aims and objectives are achieved in the region. Barr Akwara and other notable personalities of Onyoko Support Foundation like Hon Sale Ejereonyeoku, Chief Dr Perry Njoku who was the former executive secretary of Imo Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Hon Don Chris, among others, assured Dr Ogbede that all sons and daughters of ngor okpala will queue behind him for the big task ahead. He also stressed that all their members in diaspora will be eager to partner with him so as to bring foreign investment to the South East.
