Onuigbo joins Abia Central Senatorial race, promises people-centred service

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

Buoyed by his impressive two-term outing in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo, on Friday in Umuahia, told the people of Abia Central Senatorial zone that he wants to take his service to the people a notch higher by representing them at the Senate.

The lawmaker who wants to fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) pledged to redefine representation in the Senatorial District through people-centered leadership and to attract projects based on the needs of the constituents.

Declaring his ambition to upgrade to the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, Onuigbo, elected into the House of Representatives to represent Ikwuano/ Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia State in 2015 and re-elected in 2019,  maintained that his experience has made him the best man for the job.

“Practicality and a keen eye on our futures should guide our actions. In all modesty, I am the best candidate for this job. Not only am I visionary, effective, responsive and accessible, my wealth of experience in progressive leadership makes me eminently qualified and because the vision that will be implemented will not solely be mine, but a combination of all our visions, it makes my representation people-centric. And together, we shall collectively reshape our futures,” he said.

Onuigbo who is the Chairman, House Committee on Environment, attracted about 50 projects, including roads, schools, hospitals, erosion control empowerments and scholarships, with most of them already completed; and also sponsored the Climate Change Bill, (now an Act) and moved several motions, said he has set a standard and positioned his federal constituency on the path of legislative excellence, a feat he assured, he would replicate in Abia Central Senatorial District.

“Having set a standard and positioned Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency on the path of legislative excellence, my yearning to ensure that purposeful, visionary, and people-centered leadership is firmly enthroned in our country, one corner at a time, compels me to answer a higher call and take this gospel of Effective, Accessible and Responsive (EAR) representation to a larger sphere.

“It is in view of this that I hereby make myself available to serve as the Senator representing the great people of Abia Central Senatorial District at the Senate of Nigeria.

“My motivation is simple: it is time to redefine representation in Abia Central and make it more people-centered. In doing this, we will replicate the principle of leadership-as-service, imbued with the Effective, Accessible and Responsive (EAR) political philosophy,” the federal lawmaker said.

He assured that if given the mandate by Abia Central constituents to proceed to the Senate, he would treat all the component parts of the district equally, just as he would offer people-centred service based on the felt needs of the people, in his efforts to redefine representation in the zone.

“Our representation will be given life by the legitimate needs and aspirations of our great people. As usual, no one village, clan, LGA, will be supreme to the other. Every step taken will be on a needs-basis and in accordance with available resources. And together as a people, we will again redefine representation for this great Senatorial District at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and put in place a standard that will grow our district decades after we are done,” he promised.

He enjoined the people to vote wisely in 2023, warning that any mistake would not only affect the present generation but also generations yet unborn.

“My great people of Abia Central, 2023 presents us with the most viable time in our lifetimes to begin the process of all-round development and growth, anchored on visionary leadership and representation.

“We cannot afford to make mistakes as doing so will set us back decades and harmfully impact on our children and children’s children. That is why this election is critical and one that we must approach devoid of sentiments.

Abia State Chairman of APC, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, said the party was delighted to have Onuigbo as one of her senatorial candidates, adding that he has no doubt that he would do better in the senate.

“We are expecting more and more powerful projects from you. Our party is confident that you will deliver,” said Ononogbu, who was represented by his Deputy, Grant Nwogu.

Many stakeholders, including party chairmen of the six local governments of Abia Central, women leaders, youth groups, friends and associates, who spoke at the gathering praised Onuigbo for his integrity and accessibility which accounted for the many projects he has to show for his tour at the House of Representatives and promised that they would work for his emergence and subsequent victory in the 2023 elections.