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From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
The member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Afam Ogene, has criticised the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, for abandoning the oil-producing communities in his constituency.
Ogene, who lamented the lack of basic amenities like road, electricity, pipe borne water, and others in the communities, said that Soludo is only interested in the oil revenues he gets from the oil-rich towns.
How have you been representing your people in the National Assembly? How has your journey been?
Well, for me, the whole essence of representative democracy, from the Greeks where it came, the understanding is that there is no hall on earth that can contain everybody to come and debate. And so they brought about the idea of people choosing a representative to speak on their behalf. So basically, for me, the first thing is to give Ogbaru a voice. And that is why when a member gets up to talk, whether you are moving a motion, seconding a motion, contributing to a debate, you introduce yourself and introduce the people you are representing; whether as a state assembly member, a Rep member or a senator. So for me, it’s to give Ogbaru a voice and put Ogbaru on the world map. The verdict of whether we are doing it is out there. It is the people that will know whether the name Ogbaru is now widely known or not. In times past, Ogbaru was known basically, if you say you are from Ogbaru, they say, okay, Osadebe’s brother; because Osadebe hails from this part, Atani. Or if it is an academic forum, they mention Professor Ben Nwabueze. So today, using the platform of the legislature, I think that we have succeeded in making Ogbaru a household name. Then, on the floor of the House, I have always been on the opposition side. Even in the first tenure, I came through the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). APGA had just about five, six members in the seventh assembly. This time, in the Labour Party, we had a better number. We started with 35. But the APC, All Progressives Congress, began by wooing members. And so, they now have an overwhelming majority. But it is said that the minority will have their say, while the majority will have their way. But we have been able to put before the Nigerian people that this is a government of fraud; that this is a government that the legislature will pass laws; and in the process of gazetting those laws, will add their own clauses; different. We have proven it. And even in the current Electoral Act, I don’t think that Nigerians even know which Electoral Act they are operating upon. They have been afraid to gazette and give to the people the electoral act. As journalists, if I ask you now, which electoral act are we using now, you may not know? Have you a copy? Have you ever seen a copy? Is it gazetted? So, laws are meant for the people. And the people should be able to go to a particular place, government press, pay a token and get hold of it. Go to the Supreme Court, it’s registered. But we have an administration that does not really give the people the law.
What then are the members of the National Assembly, especially those in opposition political parties, doing about it?
Our duty is to bring it to the knowledge of the people. Our duty is not to fight physically, and we have done that. To always say, don’t do this. You saw the day of the consideration of the Electoral Act. The deputy speaker who presides over reports will say 10 to 20. You do consideration clause by clause. If you say 10 to 20 and clause 15 has something obnoxious, how will you dictate it? But we tried to make him do the right thing, which at the end of the day he tried. But of course, using their numbers, because my colleagues are also afraid of their return tickets. So, even though they don’t like what is going on. After May 2026, you will see some of them who would have been disappointed ticket-wise will begin to speak up. Let that be a prediction, and I’m sure by June you will say I was right. So, coming to Ogbaru, I don’t know how many hours we will spend talking about what we have done. We can give you copies of things we have done. If you want us to spend more time, we will. But if you want me to go on, in the next 30 minutes we can begin to take it sector by sector. So, I don’t know if we are ready for that.
The whole essence of government and governance is for the good of the people. How closely are you working with the state government to empower your constituents?
Well, the government is in tiers, and that’s why we have somebody representing us in Awka. And because I am from another platform, you know democracy in Nigeria, once you are not on the same platform with the governor, everything you say is like opposition. But regardless, when I see anything that will affect my people negatively, I voice it out. I give you an instance. The traditional ruler of the Ogwuaniocha community went missing November 15, 2021. Till date, there is no closure on that matter. That thing happened under former Governor Willie Obiano’s tenure. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t set up any panel. Governor Soludo took over in 2022, a few months after that incident, and was in office, and nothing happened. I had to do a video where I spoke to him. In fact, I wrote to him, duly acknowledged by his office, to say, set up a judicial panel of enquiry into this matter. And don’t forget, all this time, nobody, no representative at any level went to Ogwuaniocha to even say what was wrong. But when I made that video, some people said I was trolling the governor. I said no, he has to be alive to his duty. And I donated money to the community to begin the process of peace-making and burial, because a lot of people died, over 40 people. But when the governor saw that what I was saying was true, he had to set up that panel, which invited the Ogwu people, and I think released up to N15m to ensure that they do a mass burial. So if I didn’t do that, it would be business as usual. So there are other instances, when the insecurity got so high, with the people taking over our bushes. I also told him that he’s the chief security officer, and it is his calling to ensure that, even though he has another idea about policing, that the communities should take charge. I said no, if Nnewi as a community is able to donate 10 Hilux vehicles, Ogbaru should not be made to go through that route. Yes, we will contribute, but the governor receives security votes, he’s the chief security officer, he should take the lead. So I think that it was when the boys burnt the secretariat, that he said, wait a minute, what Hon. Ogene is saying is true. And they set up that FOB base at the Amiyi Junction. So from time to time, we remind them, in case they forget. A lot of the schools here are government schools that are run down. They should step in and renovate. What we can do is to also assist by bringing the so-called dividends from Abuja, to augment what we have here. But basically, if it is a government secondary school, if it is a government primary school, it is the business of the Anambra State government. So whatever we bring, only compliments.
This local government area has oil drilling fields. While on my way to this place, I couldn’t see the impact of the oil revenues. Why is it so?
You even saw the good parts. I wish you visit the particular communities: Ogwuaniocha and Ogwuikpele. Those are the communities that have made Anambra an oil producing state, for which the state government receives derivation in billions of Naira over the last two years or three. If I do a calculation, I will tell you the exact figures they have received. But is the government holding those oil firms to account? Now they are talking about siting a modular refinery in my own community. As you are going, you will see a place that they cleared on your right. And I simply said, the people in Awka, you cannot be too excited that you are bringing a modular refinery. There has to be an environmental impact assessment done. There has to be a memorandum of understanding with the community. In fact, the caterpillar was working until Easter period when I came. And I told my people, has all of this been done? Nothing. And then they had to stop them. And some people said it is politics? What politics? Do the right thing; because if we start oil business here, it will affect the yams and our waters. Look at the Ogwuaniocha. Nothing. No corporate social responsibilities. Nothing has been done for them. There is no light in those communities. There is no road. And the government that should hold them to account are not holding them; and receiving money on behalf of the people. So it needs synergy. On my part, I have asked the town union people to write a petition. And I will properly lay it before the House to hold the oil firms to account. They cannot be bigger than the people. But the people have to also play their part. And their part is simply, do a petition to my office and I take it up from there.
