Things may be falling apart for the embattled member, representing Ukwa Federal Constituency at Federal House of Representatives, Chief Uzoma Nkem Abonta, as his constituents passed vote of no confidence on him.
In a world press conference held at Obohia Ndoki, Town Hall, Ukwa-East, Abia state, the constituents accused the lawmaker of abysmal performance and arrogance, ineptitude, thus; insisting on his recall.
Speaking under the aegis of Coalition For Ukwa Leadership Accountability (COFULA), the constituents claimed that since 2007 when the lawmaker went to the National Assembly, has not attracted any identifiable project to the constituency nor held a town hall meeting to present his score card.
In his words, the co-convener of COFULA and former Special Assistant to the Governor on Niger Delta Affairs, Comrade Kingsley Nna, regretted that Ukwa federal constituency is the only oil-producing federal constituency in Abia but without any thing to show for it due to poor representation and abysmal performance of the federal lawmaker.
He said: “Abonta’s 15 years in office is 15 years of emptiness, self representation and nothingness”.
He faulted Abonta’s claims of attracting the Obohia – Akwete-Azumini-Ukanafun road which according to him was the pet project of former Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Ufot Ekaite.
The failed portions of the road which links Abia and Akwa Ibom has remained impassable, according to him, without the lawmaker making any meaningful efforts to proffer solution to it.
” I challenge Abonta to publish his score card. His only achievement is his personal house in the village which is even not accessible”, he alleged.
He also called for a review of all NDDC projects in Ukwa land with a view to ascertaining who the contractors are, the amount so far released for them and their various stages of abandonment”.
Speaking also, an illustrious son of Ukwa land and a marketing expert, Dr. Chidi Nwankpa, accused Abonta of “representing himself and not the people”, challenging him to publish any verifiable project he had attracted for the people.
Nwankpa who said the move to recall Abonta had the support of all the people of Ukwa from various political divide, called on the lawmaker to “honourably resign or be disgraced”.
In her remark, a retired Magistrate, Lady Emily Herbert, accused the lawmaker of abandoning the constituents especially women and youths.
“Every four years they gather women to be clapping hands and after that they are abandoned”, she fumed.
The coalition passed a vote of no confidence on the lawmaker, and read a copy of its petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seeking Abonta’s recall.
The communique partly noted thus:
”We hereby commence the immediate process of recall of Hon. Uzoma Abonta in line with the Electoral Act. The collection of signatures for his recall is already on.
” We highly reget the unproductive 15 years of Hon. Abonta at the National Assembly”.
The petition to INEC read in part:” The over 15 years of Hon. Abonta’s representation of the constituency is a colossal waste. He has failed, neglected/ failed to use his office to attract commensurate projects to the constituency. Ukwa federal consituency has the worst of roads in Nigeria; no electricity, hospital and water.
Hon. Uzoma Abonta, Rep Ukwa Federal Constituency
”We crave your indulgence and provision of a conducive environment for the process of Abonta’s recall.”
In his reaction, Rep. Abonta denied the allegation of underperformance levelled against him, branding those calling for his recall as disgruntled opposition members.
He said that contrary to the allegation, he had attracted over 15 roads and health facilities plus other projects to his constituency, adding that large population of his constituents had recently passed a vote of confidence on him.
On the the abandoned Obehie-Azumini-Ukanafun federal road, Hon. Abonta accused the All Progressive Congress, APC-led federal government of abandoning the project because he is in the opposition party.
”The road abandoned is a federal road and was abandoned by APC because we are in the opposition”, the lawmaker said.
Abonta had previously claimed that the construction of said road was scuttled by his constituents who hurriedly erected 121 imaginary shrines, 87 markets and 129 filling stations among others and demanded unreasonable compensation when the contract had already been awarded thereby hindering work on the road.
Some of the people at the press conference were former Commissioner for Women Affairs, and a retired Permanent Secretary, Lady Chinedu Brown; Hon. Chinenye Ukaegbu; Chairman, Ijaw Youth Conference in Ndoki land, Comrade Sampson Belle; Youth Coordinator, Ukwa East, Ebenezer Adiele; and Bishop Chris Nwosu.
Lady Dora Uchegbu, Chinyere Alunna, Ibeakolam Nwagbara, and Chief Enyinnaya Okere, among other PDP, APC, APGA stakeholders were present at the event.
