The Chairman, House Committee on South-East Development Commission (SEDC), Federal House of Representatives National Assembly, Abuja, Hon. Chris Nkwonta has held his maiden non partisan stakeholders meeting with his constituents to address their peculiar challenges in the area.
Speaking at his country home, Akwete Ndoki, Ukwa-East Local Government Area (LGA), Abia State yesterday, the lawmaker representing Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, decried the high level of underdevelopment in his constituents in spite being an oil-rich area, insisting that State governments from 1999 till date have failed to fix critical infrastructure for their people.
In his words: “I am not a politician but in politics to intervene in the affairs of our people. We have not faired well in Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West in terms politics, from 1999 till date. We are not getting our fair share in Abia project. The people of Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West have become endangered species in Abia project from one administration to another”.
These, and more informed his decision to unite their people, through non partisan stakeholders meeting, maintaining that their survival lies in their unity of purpose.
He explained that his sole aim of defecting to All Progressive Congress (APC), was to attract development to his people and not for personal gains.
The Ndoki-born Federal Legislator, also proposed to build an Ultra-Modern skill acquisition centre in Ukwa-West to train teeming unemployed youths and women from the constituents on vocational skills before empowering them economically.
This, he said would take away the attention of youths from crime and other social vices, promising to always embark on projects that would directly touch the lives of the Ukwa people.
According to Hon Nkwonta, the Ultra-Modern Skill Acquisition Centre which would require about 50 plots of land will train interested Ukwa Youths in such: Masonry, Carpentry, Plaster of Paris (PoP), Tiling, Painting, Electricals, Plumbing, Welding, Fishery, Piggery, Poultry, Information and Communication Technology and Footballing among others.
Contributing, the President-General, Ndoki Union, Rev. Felix Akara, commended the federal lawmaker for the proposed Ultra-Modern skill acquisition centre, urging for the revival of existing ones.
The cleric disclosed that Ukwa people have a comparative advantage also in agriculture, calling for more investment in the sector, to boost food security and socio-economic development.
In his remark, the former Commissioner for Information and strategy in Abia State, Chief Don Ubani explained that unemployment is a major factor that militates against development, with chains of negative multiplier effects on any society.
He applauded the Rep. Nkwonta, adding that the project when completed would curb youth restiveness and looming insecurity in the state and country at large.
Ubani said: “It will be necessary to note that even in the midst of unemployment in Nigeria, youths that have skills are never out of lucrative engagements. They are always sought for by individuals or corporate bodies that require their services.”
He promised to support the federal lawmaker in his determination to address, holistically, the challenges of unemployment and development in his constituency.
Meanwhile, the member representing Ukwa-East State constituency in Abia state House of Assembly (ABHA), Hon. Lewis Obianyi and his Ukwa-West counterpart, Hon. Godwin Adiele, lauded the federal lawmaker for the proposed project, adding that they would continue to collaborate his efforts in their capacities in order to attract democracy dividends to their constituents.
In a motion moved by Chief Ubani, seconded by a former Deputy Leader in Abia State House of Assembly, Chief Paul Taribo, and adopted by the House through a voice vote, the meeting resolved thus;
– That Hon Chris Nkwonta should be commended for inviting Traditional Rulers and Stakeholders to discuss issue(s) of development of Ukwa People,
– That Hon Chris Nkwonta should go ahead and make sure that the Comprehensive Skill Acquisition Centre becomes a reality, and
– That Traditional Rulers in Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West need to go home and consult with their People in order to prioritise their needs and send them across to Representative Nkwonta for inclusion in the budget.
The event attracted former Chairmen of Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC), Rt. Hon. Emeka Stanley, Mr. Henry Chilaka, former member that represented Ukwa-West State constituency in Abia Assembly, Hon. Tony Mezie Nwaubani, Chairmen Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Obinna Nwagbara and Eze Chinyere Dike respectively, the traditional ruler of Igubeachara autonomous community, Akirika-Uku Ndoki, Ukwa-East, Eze Ikechi Nwosu, the wife of the President-General, Ndoki Union, Barr. Akara, Chief S.P. Ogbonna, Lady Cecilia Okere, Chief Ossy Nwamuo, Chief Geoffrey Akara, Dr. Thomas Otuka, Chief Okechi Nwaohu, clergies, youth presidents from the two LGAs, among others.
