Sometimes in 2012 when I was returning to Ozubulu, my hometown, construction signposts with the inscriptions: “Attracted by Chris Emeka Azubogu” stood at strategic places all the way from Nnewi to Ozubulu. The same signposts were also seen in adjoining towns of Ukpor, Amichi, etc. These projects were street electrification and road rehabilitations. Rural areas that were hitherto ugliest in darkness at nights were provided with solar powered lights for bright lights at nights. Rural roads that were hitherto impassable were rehabilitated to give rural dwellers easy passage of movement.
However, knowing the usual chicanery antics of most politicians in which they perform well during first term and then start derailing during second term, I took this good development from the man representing the people of Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo LGAs in the Green Chamber as the usual political charade. The political charade of appearing to be doing good as he may seek a second term, and once he get reelected into the second term, he quickly start to display his very true colours of self-aggrandisement and further neglecting the people.
But for the fact that Engr Azubogu is the Representative for my constituency, Ekwusigo LGA at the National Assembly, I had to keep a very close watch at him. I watched him sponsor bills during sessions on television. I watched him commission facilitated projects. I watched him visit ongoing projects for inspection. I watched him train our youths on skill acquisitions. I watched him empower our youths with laptops.
The more I watched him, the more he proved to truly have the interest of our people at heart. He proved to be a politician with a difference; one who is ever determined to emancipate the people from living in misery and suffering. But you need to be really close to this quietessential legislator to truly understand that he is not one to disappoint. He works round the clock so much that you may begin to wonder when he sleeps.
During his first term, he initiated and completed many developmental projects such that the people was so pleased with him that they had no choice than to return him at the Green Chamber to continue his good work there. He contested for reelection under the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 and won with a landslide victory.
Upon his reelection, he swiftly swung into developmental action once more for the good of the people. He visited erosion sites and gave his words to the affected communities that he will see to the ultimate solution. Also, more infrastructure projects were aggressively attracted to each of the LGAs that he represents. He saw the health status of his people who cannot afford medical bills and promptly initiated a well-thought out medical outreach in 2017. He saw the need for job creation in his constituency and promptly facilitated an automotive industrial park, which upon completion, will provide direct and indirect jobs to the people.
He was consistent with the yearly free medical outreach coupled with the successful development of an automotive industrial park that our people again returned him at the Green Chamber during the 2019 general elections for the third time in a row. And more projects are still being attracted.
The Fourth Azubogu Free Medical Outreach which was held in November/December 2020 was a bomb! It took place simultaneously in four different locations within his federal constituency. A total of 17,125 patients were attended to. Of those 17,125, a record number of 6,093 eye patients went home with free eye glasses, 761 patients received eye, gynea & general surgeries, and much more!
Furthermore, the sobriquet of ”Mr Project” is well earned by him. It is well earned because he has never been found lacking in his legislative duties at the National Assembly. During his first term as a federal legislator, he held the position of the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Capital Market and Institutions in addition to being a member of other Committees. Also, during his second term in the 8th Assembly, he held position as the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation among several other Committees as a member. In this current 9th Assembly and his third term as a federal lawmaker, he is holding position as the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management, inclusive of being a member of several other Committees!
Mr Project indeed earned this sobriquet from our people because he has never been found leaving any of his promises unfulfilled. He has delivered road infrastructure. He has enhanced quality of education. He has granted empowerment. He has facilitated trade. He has provided medical healthcare. He has promoted policy advocacy. He has facilitated cold room storage. He has enhanced the living standards of his people!
He earned the sobriquet very well because he has proved that he loves doing his best in giving back to the society that has shown absolute trust in him to genuinely deliver…
To be continued. Watch out for Part 2 tomorrow.
