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| Hon Dcn Chike Okafor |
ENSURING QUALITY REPRESENTATION OF OKIGWE SOUTH FEDERAL
CONSTITUENCY:
The Journey So Far: Hon Dcn Chike Okafor
The essence of representation in whatever capacity
(especially in government) is about dedication to
the cause of bringing the benefits of government and
governance down to the ones whose
mandate is being carried by ensuring that key development, collaborative
efforts of development partners and the bearer’s personal contribution. It is a
divine privilege for service, a high level of calling held in trust for the
people. Like I said once “The essence of holding political office is to bring
development to the constituency. Anything sort of that is a disservice to the
people. So if I understand that very well, then that summarizes it. I will
widen my spectrum and search for developmental dividends and bring them home.
As a person I have identifies a couple of things that would add value to the
lives of my people in Okigwe South”
While these words spurred me on in my foray into government
and politics, I must say here that I was a political accident. Politics was an
unplanned foray for me. From humble banker striving to excel in my career, His
Excllency, Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha on assumption of office in his first
tenure in June 2011, picked me up and gave me my first taste of political
appointment, guiding me and mentoring me, instilling in me the very values that
enabled me to excel during my days as Honorable Commissioner, Imo State Ministry
of Finance and saw me through my election into the Federal House of Representative
where I am today the Chairman House Committee on Health Care Services. His
amiable wife, Ugo Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorocha has been more than a mother to
me. So much so that both of them creating a home and family atmosphere
encouraged me to give my best as a proper and fitting compensation for the
trust reposed on me by these wonderful people brought my way by God and the
constituents who saw me fit to represent them. I engaged every resource available
to me to ensure that no area of need is left without impact so long as my
constituents enjoy the benefits of quality representation. I am indeed deeply indebted
to His Excellency and family and my constituents, the people of Ehime Mbano, Ihitte
Uboma & Obowo.
Worthy of mention along the line of my appreciation are the
various leaders and clergy of the Anglican, Catholic and Pentecostal movements
who not only gave me their blessings to run but encouraged their parishioners
to not minding their various party affiliations ensure that they gave me their mandate
because they believed in me. I was immensely blessed by their prayers and
support. I also cannot leave out my dedicated campaign coordinators spread
across the 31 wards of the 3 LGA ably led by Prof Chinedum Nwajiuba who was the
Director General of the Deacon Chike Okafor Campaign Organization (DCOCO). His hard
work and successful leadership ability which culminated in our eventual success
at the polls immediately rewarded by God soon after the election that he found
fit by the Federal Government to be elevated to the status of Vice Chancellor,
Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo Ebonyi
State.
I will not be boring you when I have to add here the most
important appreciation of them all; and that is appreciation to my wonderful
wife. Deaconess Akudo Okafor, a rare jewel beyond value. While being tasked
with the difficult responsibility of ensuring the home front was taken care of,
she found time to effectively galvanize the entire women of our constituency
during the campaign and after. Her prayers
were a source of spiritual and moral booster, like the Rock of Gibraltar
she stood by me through thick and thin with her counsel, her words of hope and inspiration, her sleepless nights and arduous
days can never be fully appreciated. You
are indeed a Virtuous woman and I am forever blessed you are my wife.
As a true reflection of the commitment to my responsibility
I have remained dedicated and regular to the sittings in the Green Chamber yet
this has not overshadowed my other responsibility of constant personal
connection with my constituent as I have made it a point of duty to utilize
every movement available for constituency outreaches and briefing thereby creating
accessibility and easy reach for the people of my constituency. This has
ensured a balance so that nothing suffers.
Since my entry to the National Assembly, I have not let
anyone in doubt that I have meant business in the house; I remember that I made a firm promise to be a strong voice
for my people. Hence from June9, 2015 when we assumed office, I formed a close alliance with some of my colleagues and
it was humbling for me to be the one who seconded the motion that saw Hon
Yakubu Dogara emerge as the Speaker of the House. There exists a positive air
between my colleagues and I allowing us forge a formidable force that has been
instrumental in the stability of the house leadership notwithstanding the fact
that I am a first timer. I have moved several motions that have direct bearing
on the Nigerians targeted at alleviating their miseries – a proof of my
in-touch stance with the imminent needs of all. It is my desire that I leave a
legacy for future generations aspiring to similar exalted positions of
responsibility to understand that leadership is all about stewardship.
Below is my account and portfolio of further achievements as
your representative:
EDUCATION:
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Built and donated Secondary School at Ekeala
Amuzi, Obowu
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Built and donated a 4 Classroom block at Amainyi
High School Ihitte Uboma LGA
-
Built and donated another 4 classroom blocks at
Community Secondary School Amainyi-Nta in Ihitte Ubomma
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Working with Community Government Councils
(CGCs) and religious leaders, I have identified a minimum of two indigent
undergraduates per autonomous community from the Okigwe South Federal Constituency
in their first year across various tertiary institutions under my sponsorship.
Given that there are 32 autonomous communities in Ehime Mbano, 22 in Ihitte
Uboma and 22 in Obowu LGAs this effectively gives a minimum of 152
beneficiaries under my yearly education sponsorship.
-
I have been paying the WAEC, NECO and JAMB/UTME
fees for a minimum of 150 indigent students drawn from various Secondary
Schools in Obowu LGA yearly.
HEALTH:
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As House committee Chairman on Health, my
decisive and prompt intervention brought about the needed resolution to a
lingering crisis that had rocked the Federal Medical Center, Owerrri to it bas,
This necessitated the invitation of the Hon Minister of Health who spent a couple
of days in Imo state amid extensive deliberations aimed at dousing the growing
destructive tensions. The outcome of this propitious move is the present and
new interim management of the facility now running peacefully with a son from
Okigwe South Prof Ndu Eke at the helm.
-
In the same vein, I have been instrumental to
the resolution of a similar melee at the UNTH Enugu.
-
Another landmark achievement is my influence in
attracting the South East Regional Office of a Federal Agency located at New
Owerri which will provide jobs to indigens of the State with indigenes from
Okigwe South definitely not excluded from this.
-
My discussion with the Federal Ministry of
Health with a view to attract a federal tertiary Hospital to Okigwe South is at
an advanced stage with the necessary approvals in place.
-
Also one of the agencies under m y Ministry has
concluded plans to site one of their centers in Okigwe South. This move which will soon be perfected will create jobs
with Okigwe South Youths benefitting.
-
Not withstanding the above, I have also
influence and facilitated the employment of several sons and daughters of
Okigwe South Federal constituency into several Federal Agencies and
parastatals.
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This Press Medical empowerment outreach
witnessed today to the three LGAs that make up the Okigwe South Federal Constituency
is a clear testimony of my resolve to better the lot of my people.
POWER AND ELECTRIFICATION
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Distribution of 42 transformers to various
communities in Obowo
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Distribution of 11 transformers to various
communities in Ihitte Uboma
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Distribution of 25 transformers to communities
in Ehime Mbano
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Carried out a full scale electricity projects to
some communities like Ukwuohia, Umunachi, Umuosochie, Umuochichieze Amuzi,
Umuokeh all in Obowo
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Carried out full scale electricity project in
Dioka Nzerem in Ehime Mbano
OTHER INFRASTRUCTRAL PROJECTS
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Immortalized Dee Sam Mbakwe by building an ultra
modern 2500 capacity Dee Sam Mbakwe pavilion at Otoko
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Built and donated an ultra modern police station
to Obowu LGA located in Umuokeh autonomous community with a Hilux Van to aid
patrol
BILLS SPONSORED IN THE HOUSE
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(1) HB 69 CHARTERED Institute of Consumer
Relationship Management bill 2015/ 18/11/02015
17/12/2015 Commerce/Awaiting Committee Report
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(2) HB 292 Dangerous Drugs Acts (Amendment) bill
2015, 10/12 4/5/2016/ Committee of whole 2/6/2016 passed by house &
Transmitted to the senate for concurrence.
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(3) HB 293 Value Added Tax Act (Amendment) Bill 2015, 10/112/2015 4/5/2016 Committee of whole 2/6/2016 passed
by House & Transmitted to Senate for concurrence
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(4) HB 294 VVertinary Surgeons Act (Amendment)
Bill 2015 Hon Chike Okafor 10/12/2015, 25/2/2016 Agricultural production
services 19/5/2016, 2/6/2016 passed by house & Transmitted to senate for
concurrence.
MOTIONS
MOVED IN THE HOUSE
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A motion
of urgent importance on the need for intervention of the Federal Government on
the abandoned Owerr- Port Harcourt road and the need to complete its
rehabilitation
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A motion for the urgent need to check illegal
Routed into Nigeria in order to reduce acts of Terrorism
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A motion for the urgent need to stop the
embarrassing outbreak of Lassa Fever Virus in Nigeria and the need to step up
the gifht against further spread and loss of lives
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A motion for the urgent need to investigate the
unpaid contracts by the Federal Government of Nigeria and its agencies, to
local contractor
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A motion for the need to investigate the alleged
non-transparent and fraudulent sale of power assets by the Bureau for public enterprise (BPE)
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A motion for the urgent need to encourage
voluntary Blood donation to the National Blood Bank and to avoid continuous
loss of lives as a result of non-availability of Blood in Emergency situations
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A motion for the urgent need to treat accident
victims as emergency without subjecting them to hospital protocols
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A motion for investigation of alleged
unremitting of funds to the Federal Account and the looted funds by Ministries,
Agencies and Parastatals
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A motion for the need to establish Military
Training Schools in all the Geo-political zones in Nigeria
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I must confess that the expectations of my
people are high and may look daunting but by Gods special grace I am steadily
rising to match those expectations with commensurate results. To whom much is
given much is expected and the people of Okigwe South Federal Constituency
should expect much more as I am not spent yet
Let the wind of change blow
Imo Must be Better
Thank You
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