I Was The Strongest Candidate In Ebonyi North National Assembly Election In 2023-Ezeh

From Ann Elom, Abakaliki

The former Labour Party candidate in the 2023 general election, Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh has boasted to be the strongest opponent in the Ebonyi North zone. Ezeh, who contested to represent Abakaliki/Izzi federal constituency under the platform of Labour Party made the claim while reacting in Abakaliki on performance of Ebonyi federal lawmakers since assumption of office. The Oxford trained entrepreneur; President of Ebonyi Chamber of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture and the CEO, Immaculate Group of Companies while speaking as concerned his constituency described the performance of his representative as below average. "After one year in office, with humongous salaries,allowances and allocations, I am yet to point to any major contribution, the honourable member representing Abakaliki/Izzi Federal Constituency has made at the National Assembly debates. " If there are efforts he has made, I will gladly praise and encourage such efforts. He is my brother after-all. He described as worrisome the attitude of some lawmakers not having viable offices that would be open to receive challenges faced by constituents and tasked Ebonyi federal lawmakers to retrace the steps. He equally lamented the poor presence of some social amenities in his constituency and urged the federal lawmaker representing the area to harness more opportunities by working with some agencies and the state governor to attract more development to the place. "I am yet to see even his constituency office that is active and operational. " These are the basic irreducible minimum. Where will your constituents see you? How many inclusive and expansive town halls meetings have you held over a period of 365 days of representation? Like I said, I am willing to help him with robust ideas if he so requests. " If he reaches out, he can get ideas and help from willing constituents. For instance, I challenge him to take one or two communities, focus legislative agenda on few critical issues affecting such communities. " Instead of fake Chinese street lights, get those communities connected to the national grid, ensure they have access to meters and properly managed public utilities. Instead of sinking boreholes indiscriminately, develop a community level water treatment plants using combined efforts of LGA, State, Federal and World bank agencies. " Many of our rural areas cannot be accessed especially during rainy seasons for something as simple as culverts. "Work with the governor to declare a culvert revolution in our communities. Under most federal agencies, there are ‘idle’ funds lying there, waiting for creative ideas to access them. " There are examples he can learn from, let him visit the former member representing Aninri/Oji River Federal Constituency, Hon, Tobi Okechukwu and see the wonders he did in his federal constituency. Roads, schools, water projects, geo-informatics surveys, house codings, mappings". Ezeh stressed.