Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze says Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Downstream, Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere has earned himself a pride of place in the hearts of pro-democrats and other responsibly lettered Nigerians as an emerging force in the clouds of pro-people campaign and good governance advocacy, for his passionate concern and aggressive stance against the bastion of negative interests projecting barriers against the seamless administration of the business of government in Rivers State.
In a statement made available to the media, Chief Eze described Ugochinyere as a personification of courage whose rare display of moxie during the 2023 elections launched him into the red Chambers where he has continued to wither heavy storms projected to whittle down his vocal criticisms of unjust laws and policies and programs of the current government that appears antithetical to the growth and development of the country and her suffering populace who seem left in perpetual squalor without a hint of remorse.
The APC Chief said the House of Reps Member deserves accolades particularly for his bold moves through legislative instruments targeted at ensuring that democratic dividends trickle down to his neglected people of Nigeria’s South East who are victims of socio-political disparity in the distribution of national opportunities in the executive, legislative and judicial arms of government.
It is against the backdrop of the uneven treatment meted out on Nigeria’s South-east region that Rep. Ugochinyere initiated a legislative action vide a motion for the creation of an extra state – Orlu State, from parts of Imo, Abia and Anambra States.
Noting that the need to create additional states in the south east is pressing and very necessary to address some ugly political imbalances and resolve the disparities created against the region, Eze said Ugochinyere, with his attributes of heroism, stoicism and fecundity, has endured a cornucopia of ferocious criticisms which, according to him are disgusting to those whose moral compass, sense of community and citizenship are delicate; with particular reference to the recent call for his suspension from the Red Chambers, for standing up with the people of Rivers State against attempts to usurp executive powers of the Governor of the state by those he described as stranded politicians operating at the prompting of former Governor, Nyesom Wike, an avaricious land grabber notorious for his fanfare of squander-mania, whose eight-year reign is remarkable for economic sabotage looting of the common patrimony and financial sleaze.
Recall that during plenary last Thursday, APC’s Yusuf Gagdi, (Plateau) in a motion of personal explanation said remarks by Rep. Ugochinyere during a solidarity visit to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, alongside 50 other lawmakers, were offensive and gave the impression that parliament was adopting a stance on the political crisis rocking the oil-rich Niger Delta State.
Dismissing Gagdi’s call as mischievous, ill-conceived and anti-people, Eze said it irks to loathing to learn that some persons elected into public offices especially the legislative arm know very little or nothing about the role of the legislature as a watchdog, guardian and censor of public manners; always speaking up and taking strong stance against acts that plague the conscience such as is happening in Rivers State where the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and his band of stranded former Lawmakers are striving hard to constitute themselves into a clog on the wheel of progress of the administration of Gov. Fubara, to deny the people their due and tag the Governor as incompetent.
Urging Ugochinyere and his team to remain steadfast in their path to strengthening opposition politics and building a resilient alternative to tackle incompetencies and non-performances in public offices, Chief Eze expressed confidence that with the likes of the vocal Ugochinyere featuring in the picture, Nigeria has taken a step closer to her Canaan.
The APC Chief urged members of the House of Representatives and politicians in general to activate their senses of moral judgment and develop muscles to be able to put up manly fights like Ugochinyere is doing, against acts that plague the human conscience in the interest of the generality of the suffering Nigerians.
