The Member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, has highlighted his achievements over the past three years, pointing to a blend of legislative interventions and constituency projects aimed at improving the lives of residents across the constituency.

In a review of his stewardship since assuming office, Hon. Osonwa said his representation has focused on delivering measurable results in key sectors including education, infrastructure, healthcare, water supply, empowerment, and community development.

At the National Assembly, the lawmaker has served as Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on FCT Judiciary and sponsored several bills, including the Federal Medical Centre Ohafia (Establishment) Bill and the Freight Forwarding Bill, both of which are progressing through the legislative process.

He has also sponsored motions addressing pressing national and local concerns, including insecurity, the abduction of schoolchildren, attacks on schools and places of worship, erosion challenges, and boundary disputes affecting communities within Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency.

In the education sector, Hon. Osonwa facilitated the transformation of Ofali Agwu School in Amaekpu into what has been described as Abia State’s first Smart School, equipped with modern technology-driven learning facilities, stable power supply, and a contemporary curriculum.

The lawmaker also oversaw the reconstruction and furnishing of classroom blocks at Abia Community School, Ukwa Primary School Nkporo, and Abam High School, while 200 students from across the constituency benefited from full tertiary scholarships awarded through a merit-based examination conducted at the ward level.

On infrastructure and water supply, Osonwa facilitated the provision of solar-powered boreholes in Umuye Ihechiowa, Ugwuakuma, and Okon Aku communities. The Umuye Ihechiowa project notably ended more than two decades of challenges associated with access to potable water.

He also pointed to ongoing road projects, including the construction of the Mgbaga–Federal High Court Road in Ebem Ohafia and the Ibina Ihenta Road, as part of efforts to improve connectivity and stimulate economic activities within rural communities.

One of the most notable interventions during the period was a large-scale empowerment programme that benefited residents from all wards in the constituency. Beneficiaries received motorcycles, tricycle trucks, mini buses, sewing machines, refrigerators, generators, grinding machines, and food items.

The empowerment programme was complemented by the deployment of a grader and pay-loader to support rural road development and agricultural access across communities.

Beyond physical empowerment, the lawmaker said thousands of women and youths have benefited from agricultural grants, ICT training programmes, laptop distributions, vocational support schemes, and quarterly palliative distributions of food items across Arochukwu, Isu, Ututu, Abiriba, Abam, Ihechiowa, Nkporo, and Ohafia communities.

Hon. Osonwa attributed much of the progress recorded to effective collaboration with the administration of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti and other Abia lawmakers, noting that partnership and shared commitment to development have helped accelerate project delivery despite funding constraints.

Reflecting on the journey so far, the federal lawmaker maintained that his focus remains on delivering practical results rather than making promises.

“This is the journey so far not promises, but results. The work is not finished, and neither am I,” Osonwa stated.

As he marks three years in office, the lawmaker reaffirmed his commitment to expanding development initiatives, strengthening representation, and pursuing projects that will further improve the quality of life of constituents across

Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency.

The Member representing Ikwuano Umuahia Federal Constituency in the house of representatives Hon. Obi Aguocha has congratulated the APC flag bearer and former speaker Abia state house of Assembly Rt. Hon Chinedum Orji on his emergence as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the just concluded primaries of political parties.

Recall that Hon Aguocha was also returned unopposed as the candidate of Labour party polling an unprecedented 77,484 votes.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Flo Fm shortly after the Primaries, the vocal law maker stated thus:

“We are ready to compete with anybody and everybody and we will win. I am ready to abide by the rules of engagement. I believe the election should be issue based where every candidate brings out their public record, allowing the people to decide who represents them.”

“In 2023, I ran for the office with no public record, I only made three promises, which are to properly serve the good people of Ikwuano Umuahia and make my self accessible to them, to help in Human capacity development and ensure justice is served to every Ikwuano Umuahia person and beyond and that is what I have done and will continue to do. I am not there for personal aggrandizement or to enrich myself, rather to ensure the wellbeing and welfare of my people as God intends it to be “.

“Talking about bills, I have 26 bills and 12 motions, prominent among the bills are the HB 127 which seeks to convert the current Michael Okpara University of Agriculture to a conventional University that will have capacity to offer all courses including medical sciences. When this is achieved, the school will require a teaching hospital and that is what led to another bill.”

“The HB1605, a bill seeking to establish a Federal Medical Center at Ikwuano. The bill has been passed by the house of representatives and awaiting Senate concurrence, which I know will be successful with the cooperation of the senator representing Abia Central State Constituency Senator Austine Akobundu.”

“The idea is that the current Federal Medical Center will become a teaching hospital to service the University’s Department of medical sciences, thus a brand new Federal Medical center will be established in Ikwuano to continue with the mandate of the current FMC”.

Then there is the HB 2529 which is a bill that seems to create Ikwuano state Constituencies. This bill seeks to bring Ikwuano at par with other Local Governments in terms of representation in the house of assembly given the fact that Ikwuano is one of the largest local governments in Abia state .”

“There is also the HB 1659, a bill seeking the establishment of a Federal institute of Mining and Geosciences In Umuahia, which is currently at the committee of the whole, among other very prominent bills seeking to create, employment, lift our people out of poverty and spiral development within the capital city”.

“Concerning empowerment, my own channel is human capital development. I am doing 700 tertiary institution scholarships, have trained over 100 people on ICT, I am building over ten homes for Indigent widows in Ikwuano Umuahia to restore their dignity, I am investing hugely on small and medium scale businesses, I have given employment opportunities to countless young people from Ikwuano Umuahia among other empowerment initiatives.”

“So when people talk about empowerment, I get startled. Is it only when I give them Okada, wheelbarrow and Keke that they will agree that I have empowered them? So I do not criticize those who decide to share Motorcycles, but it is not my definition of empowerment”.

Hon Agoucha assured that his re-election will usher in a more prosperous dispensation for Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency following the actualization of most of the policies and his bills will actualize within the coming years.

He appealed to the people to be steadfast with the Labour party as led by Dr. Alex Otti having shown an unequalled resolve to drive development in the state as exemplified by the myriads of infrastructural project springing up all over.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR, has told former Abia State APC aspirants that their participation in the last party primaries was not in vain, describing them as critical stakeholders whose sacrifices remain “priceless” to the party’s future.

Speaking at a strategic stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Thursday, Kalu commended the courage of all aspirants who purchased nomination forms for various elective offices, stressing that the very step to contest was itself a form of recognition.

He said: “You didn’t fail. You stepped forward to be recognized and this is the commencement of your recognition. It’s not about the money you spent but availability. You made yourself available for the party. That is priceless and for that I want to say thank you.”

The Deputy Speaker dismissed the notion that aspirants who didn’t clinch tickets had failed.

He framed their participation as the start of a larger reward system within the APC, emphasizing that their boldness and financial commitment would not go unnoticed.

“For the fact that you bought your form for whatever level to participate in the growth of this party, you will never go unblessed,” he stated. “All of you here are amongst the first eleven because we are going to position you”, he said.

Kalu pointed to the surge of interest in APC tickets as proof of the party’s rising profile in the state.

The Deputy Speaker credited the aspirants for staying committed despite the limited slots, saying their presence proved they recognized APC as the platform for Ndi Igbo’s political growth.

“I said so because before now, this party was not this enticing. The longing and hunger for the ticket of this party was not this robust and inviting. But look around you and see the energy and the surge into our party. That you are remaining here means you understand the times.

“The courage you had to step out, that boldness, willingness to spend money and time, called for meetings, those are the elements that add to the wall of building our party. It may not have gone the way you wanted but we are watching you. We are seeing that leadership spirit in you”.

The Deputy Speaker tied the aspirants’ future directly to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, insisting the President is counting on the State.

He challenged stakeholders to prove themselves at the polls.

“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is coming back for second term, by Gods Grace. The President is expecting a lot from Abia State. Are we going to fail Mr. President? We will not.

“Whether you like it or not, in the coming election, we must prove ourselves. We must make a statement. You cannot make that statement with double mindedness.

“What you have done is labours of love. Faint not. Do not be weary because there is a harvest season. But this is only going to happen to those who are truthful”, Kalu said.

He urged aspirants to look beyond their immediate ambitions.

“You might be looking for House of Assembly, House of Representatives or the Senate. A very good ambition but the recognition that the party had put in place might catapult you beyond your dreams if you are consistent. It is not political talk”, he said.

While expressing regret that offices were limited, Kalu said the quality of men he had seen among the aspirants was capable of occupying those positions.

He however directed all candidates who emerged to reach out to those who did not get tickets for the good of the party.

“How I wished the offices were not limited. I will have not regret giving all of you turn tickets. The quality of men I have seen here, you are capable to occupy those positions. This is the fact. We will adjust and keep adjusting so that what we have will be enough for all of us.

“To every candidate, make sure you carry other aspirants along. Reach out to those who did not get tickets.

“All of you are very important to Mr. President. You are also very important to the guber candidate. You are very important to the party and you should be treated that way. Nothing more, nothing less.

“You are the backbone of this party. Don’t leave it for anybody. Own your party. We are going to have a structure and system that will keep you relevant. Take APC as your enterprise. You have already invested.

“Please, let us join our hands together for the greater good of Abia State and Nigeria,” Kalu said.