John Nwaigwe
If Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji (Ikuku) Didn’t Buy The 32 Transformers With His Personal Money, What Is Stopping Aguocha From Buying His Own With Federal Constituency Money?
By Amb. Nwaigwe John Sunday
The recent attempt by some supporters of the current member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency to downplay the 32 transformers donated by Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji (Ikuku) when he was at the Abia state house of Assembly has raised more questions than answers.
Their argument is that Ikuku did not buy the transformers with his personal money, but with money meant for constituency projects. Let us agree, for the sake of argument, that it is true.
If it is constituency money, then it raises a simple and logical question: What is stopping Hon. Obi Aguocha from using his own Federal Constituency money to buy his own transformers?
Since he assumed office over three years ago, the people of Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency have not seen any transformer, any school block, any road, empowerment , hospital or any tangible constituency project that can be pointed to as his own.
The office of a Federal House member is not for press statements, following the Governor up and down like an eran boy or chasing personal irrelevant political issues alone. Every year, hundreds of millions that has amounted to billions since the last over 3 years are allocated for constituency projects, not to be pocketed or diverted, but to be used to impact the people directly.
That was what Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji did as an ordinary house of Assembly member.
Aguocha and his supporters should know that Whether the money came from his pocket or from the Government, the fact remains that 32 communities in Umuahia and Ikwuano today have transformers because one man facilitated it. The light is there for everyone to see. The commissioning was done openly. The communities are beneficiaries.
If it was so easy because it was “government money,” why hasn’t Obi Aguocha as a Federal House member done even half of it? Government money did not stop in 2023. The allocation is still coming. The National Assembly still provides for zonal intervention projects.
Leadership is not about who used personal money or government money. It is about who had the will, the influence, and the commitment to ensure that what belongs to the people actually gets to the people.
Ikuku has set a record as a House of Assembly member/Speaker If you say he used constituency funds, then we challenge Aguocha to beat that record with his own Federal constituency funds. Buy 10, not even 32. Let the people see.
Until then, the attempt to discredit a visible achievement only exposes a lack of achievement.
Nwaigwe John Sunday Writes From Umuahia.
