Abia North 2023: Bende monarchs receive, decorate, fortify Sen Ohuabunwa ahead of polls

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By Steve Oko

The return bid of Senator Mao Ohuabunwa who represented Abia North in the eight Senate before his mandate was stolen in 2019 received a major boost Wednesday as traditional rulers in Bende Local Government Area, received, decorated and fortified him for a victorious outing in the forthcoming poll.

Ohuabunwa and his entourage were given a rousing royal welcome at the palace of the Chairman, Bende Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Uwakwe Ukaegbu (Ofufe ll of Amofufe Igbere Autonomous Community).

Wawa News Global reports that it was a carnival of sorts as Ohuabunwa was received with pomps and pageantry.

The monarchs and their wives ( Ndi Ugo Eze), from virtually every Autonomous Community in Bende LGA, converged in their numbers for audience with the former Leader ECOWAS Parliament who they described as an illustrious son of Abia North.

Decorating Senator Ohuabunwa at the glamorous gathering, HRM Eze Ukaegbu, prayed God to remove obstacles against his senatorial ambition if he were the one with the divine mandate to give Abia North a quality representation in 2023.

He traditionally fortified him against the antics of his enemies and gave him royal blessings for a victorious outing in 2023.

Some of the traditional rulers, however, expressed their anger against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state which they accused of denying Abia North the party’s governorship ticket.

They also accused the PDP-led Government of not doing so much in Abia North, recalling that a poultry farm project it flagged off in Item, had remained at the site clearing stage till date.

But the monarchs who said they were beginning to have a change of mind towards the PDP after further engagements with the party’s stakeholders, charged Ohuabunwa not to abandon Bende when he would return to the Senate.

They also pleaded with him to ensure the actualisation of Item Federal Polytechnic, which he initiated in his first outing at the Senate.

They blessed his ambition and encouraged him to remain accessible as he had always been.

Addressing the crowd of Royal fathers earlier, Senator Ohuabunwa, said time had come for Abia North to the represented at the upper legitimate chamber by one of their bests.

He noted with detest, that since his exit from the red chamber in 2019, Abia North had not only become voiceless but also a comic relief at the Senate.

The former Leader, House of Representatives, said that after the conspiracy against him that led to the theft of his mandate in 2019, he almost left politics to face his private life until recently when some patriots begged him to come and help salvage things for the zone.

He recalled that Abia North had always been represented at the Senate by men of substance and integrity that commanded so much respect and dignity among their colleagues until of late when by error, the zone suddenly became “an object of mockery”.

Ohuabunwa said it was shameful and the height of disgrace that Abia North senator would be among those who voted against electronic transmission of election results during the debate on the New Electoral Act.

He said it was also embarrassing for the zone’s Senator to boldly say there was no network service in Abia North when in fact, there is network coverage in virtually every community in the zone.

Senator Ohuabunwa further said it was the height of betrayal for Abia North Senator whose constituents are over 99% Christians to be championing the Muslim- Muslim ticket of the All Progressive Congress, APC; and promoting ” Ruga”.

He decried the festering insecurity in Abia North and the docility of the zone’s lawmakers at the National Assembly who he regretted were not even courageous enough to raise ordinary motion on the floor of the chambers against the disturbing security challenges in the zone despite belonging to the ruling party at the centre.

Ohuabunwa said he decided to join the race so as to restore the waning dignity and prestige of the zone.

He recalled that within his first outing he was able to sponsor three important bills that were later passed into law and assented to by the President.

The Bills include the Centre for Disease Control Bill which gave birth to the establishment of National Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC) that helped Nigeria fight COVID-19 are Ebola pandemics; Cancer Treatment Bill that helped the country invest in the training of Oncologists for cancer treatment; and the National Agriculture Credit Bill that led to the birth of Anchor Borrowers Scheme of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN

He regretted that before the maturity of the Anchor Borrowers Scheme, he was no more in the state, a development that made farmers from Abia North not to benefit from the scheme as his successor failed to tap into the scheme.

Ohuabunwa also recalled that the Bill that gave birth to the establishment of the National Assembly Service Commission was his brain child when he was in the House of Representatives from where he rose to the Leader, ECOWAS Parliament haven also been the Leader of the House of Representatives.

The former Senate Committee Chairman on Primary Health and Communicable Diseases, said that his calling is in law making and that as a Parliamentarian, he had always distinguished himself.

He solicited the support of the monarchs as critical stakeholders to help mobilize their subjects on the need for Abia North to be represented by one of its bests and not a jester.

According to him, a selfish individual who cannot stick his neck for his people but is always concerned about his personal interests has no business in the Parliament.

Ohuabunwa further regretted that the N5.2 kilometer Bende-Ohafia- Arochukwu road he attracted could not be followed up by his successor.

He, however, commended the efforts of Rep. Ben Kalu, which he said was the reason the Ohafia- Bende axis of the project is witnessing some measure of progress.

Ohuabunwa promised to make Abia North proud upon his return to the Senate.

He, therefore, urged all communities in Abia North to vote massively for him and trust him for new things.

The PDP senatorial candidate also urged the people not to be deceived by money bags and propagandists who could not point at any tangible thing they had done for Abia North other than disgrace and anti-Igbo remarks.

Speaking earlier, former Commissioner for Education and the Campaign DG of Ohuabunwa in Bende LGA, Dr P.C Mba, said time had come for a competent and sound Parliamentarian to represent Abia North at the Senate.

He said that Ohuabunwa had already distinguished himself in the act of parliament and should be supported to return to the red chamber.

Similarly, the Ugoezes in a separate audience with Senator Ohuabunwa assured him of their prayers.

Some of the dignitaries that accompanied Senator Ohuabunwa on the visit were the Commissioner for Boundary Matters, Hon. Godwin Ndum; former Commissioner for Boundary Matters, Obike Mascot Imo; and Ohuabunwa Campaign DG for Ohafia LGA; Dr Onyeama Agbai.

Others were Bende LGA Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Otamba; former Deputy Chairman of Bende LGA, John Mark; Special Adviser to the Governor, Dr Isaac Nkole; among others.

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Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.