For historians and writers that are conversant with the political trajectories of the People of Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Federal Constituency in Abia State, that is Ndoki and Asa, since the return of democratic governance in 1999, they can quickly attest to the fact that except only in 2007 when the outgoing Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu (1999-2007) successfully sponsored Chief T A Orji (Ochendo) on the platform of Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Federal Constituency has always been a very fertile electoral ground for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
It was always taken for granted that even if PDP did not spend anytime and (or) resources campaigning in an election, results of corresponding elections would always be deeply and unmistakably in favour of the Party.
Whether the Party reciprocated the very long period of loyalty the good People of Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Federal Constituency showed her, is a different kettle of fish.
As at 2023 General Election, while seven out of eight Federal Constituencies in Abia State were miserably and hopelessly lost by the PDP, it was only Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Federal Constituency, of course known for their simplicity and sincerity, unlike in many of the other Federal Constituencies where their trademark has always been what is generally called ‘Wayo’, that is scamming, that was able to deliver the Federal Constituency in its entirety, except in the Senatorial District Election where the Powers that were misled the Party’s Election Structural Outfit to unintentionally trust some persons they had strongly suspected would not support the Party in the said election.
Due to political crisis in PDP, both at the State and at the National levels, a good number of PDP Stakeholders in Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Federal Constituency, led by one of the twenty-one Political Leaders that convened PDP in Abia State on 4th September, 1998, and a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State, Sir Don Ubani, met on Tuesday (Eke)01-10-2024 and, after a brief but exhaustive deliberation on the state of PDP, resolved that the Member representing Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Federal Constituency in the 10th House of Representatives, Hon Chris Nkwonta, should, in the overall interest of Ukwa People, defect to All Progressives Congress, APC, forthwith.
Known for his humility and sensitivity to convincing proposals, not minding his enormous wealth, Hon Chris Nkwonta did the needful. The Honourable Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, Rt Hon Abass Tajudeen, Ph.D, promptly announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC, on the floor of the House on Wednesday(Orie) 2nd October, 2024. On the same day and on the same floor, Hon Chris Nkwonta was, to the joy of all, announced as the Chairman of House Committee of the newly created South-East Development Commission, SEDC. Ukwa People became very happy with that uncommon development and rare opportunity.
Being aware that the All Progressives Congress had never had any footings in Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Federal Constituency before his defection to the Party, and also knowing that the strength and relevance of any Political Party lie in its relationship with the grassroots, Hon Chris Nkwonta went into aggressive sensitisation and mobilization of the grassroots in the Federal Constituency. He started with Ukwa-West Local Government Area of the Federal Constituency, where he visited all the Electoral Wards, preaching the necessity and importance of joining APC. The defection that followed his strategic move was impressive.
Having done a very good job in Ukwa-West Local Government Area, he then turned his attention to his native Local Government Area of Ukwa-East. Of course, the response was massive.
It will be necessary to state that within the very short period he has stayed in the House of Representatives, Hon Nkwonta’s legislative contributions have been impactful. He has sponsored three Bills that are currently awaiting gazetting. They include;
(1) National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency ( Establishment, etc) Act(Amendment) Bill 2023.
(2) A Bill For An Act To Repeal Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, And Enact An Act To Eliminate Violence In Private And Public Life, Prohibit All Forms Of Violence Against Persons And To Provide Maximum Protection And Effective Remedies For Victims And Punishment Of Offenders And For Related Matters.
(3) National Institute Of Marketing Of Nigeria Act (Amendment Bill 2023 HB774).
Bills awaiting first reading by Hon Nkwonta in the 10th House are five;
(1) Federal Polytechnic, Ohanso, Abia (Establishment Bill ETC) 2023.
(2) Environmental Impact Assessment Bill 2023.
(3) Employment Racketeering (Prohibition) And Related Offences Bill, 2023
(4) Digital Rights And Freedom Bill 2023.
(5) Sea Fisheries And Amendment Bill 2023.
Apart from initiating and sponsoring Bills in the House, Hon Nkwonta has moved Motions and presented Petitions on the floor of the 10th House of Representatives. No doubt, Hon Nkwonta has shown capacity in the areas of his Primary Assignment.
In terms of attracting dividends of democracy to his constituents, Hon Nkwonta has been unrelenting. He has attracted the following projects;
(1) installation of a Solar Borehole with filtration cylinders in Obeaku-Ndoki Health Centre,
(2) The same type of Borehole at Akwete-Ndoki, (3) The same type of Borehole at Umunteke-Asa, (4) A similar Borehole at Umuorie-Asa,
(5) Effected Renovation of Boys’ Dormitory at Police College, at Obeaku-Ndoki
(6) An on-going 6-Classroom block at Akwete-Ndoki,
(7) Another On-going 6-Classroom block at Umuiku-Asa, in Ozaa-Ukwu Ward of Ukwa-West Local Government Area.
By way of assistance to his constituents, palliatives and empowerment, including appointments, bursaries and employments, the brochure on his Special Empowerment Programme issued on Saturday(Eke) 28-12-2024 is readily available and self-explanatory.
Based on his achievements, and coupled with the fact that there is no iota of arrogance, pomposity or even the common trait of deceit as evident in many Politicians, it has been very easy for Hon Nkwonta to convince more than 80% of the electorate in Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Federal Constituency that APC is their best option.
Of course, some factors have made his gestures very acceptable. The first is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda which has given an unusual sense of belonging to the Igbo of South-East of Nigeria, and, secondly, the very appalling and discouraging fact that the Government in Abia State neither has respect for public opinion nor respects the Rule of Law which is a sine qua non for democracy to thrive.
Yesterday, Saturday (Eke) 28-12-2024, thousands of members of Peoples Democratic Party, and other Parties in Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Federal Constituency had congregated at Community Primary School, Akwete with a common purpose, to announce their defection.
Even some Politicians in the Federal Constituency who would ordinarily not have wished to leave PDP, were, for circumstances beyond their control, at the forefront yesterday at Akwete to denounce PDP, and effectively embrace membership of All Progressives Congress. For instance, a former Deputy Speaker in Abia State House of Assembly (1999-2003) and later a Member of House of Representatives, Rt Hon Emeka Stanley, and an 85-year former Chairman of Ukwa-East Local Government Council, Sir (Engr) Okere Eruba were at the head of thousands of defectors from PDP to APC.
In his speech, the Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, The Rt Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu, CON, whose fascinated attention was captured by the huge number of political defectors, assured the People of Ukwa in particular, and the Igbo in general that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, was on a deliberate mission to rewrite the wrongs the Igbo have suffered in the Nigerian State for about fifty-three years, from 1970-2023.
The Deputy Speaker stated that by creating the South-East Development Commission, SEDC, President Tinubu has shown his determination to implement the promise of 3 Rs which General Yakubu Gowon had made as Military Head of State to the Igbo after Nigeria/Biafra War in 1970, which implied Reconciliation, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction.
He also reminded Ukwa People that he personally has respect and love for them, and that was why he assisted in the emergence of Hon Chris Nkwonta, a first time Legislator, as Chairman of House Committee of the newly created South-East Development Commission, and had also earlier thrown his weight behind the appointment of another illustrious son of Ukwa, Chief Eruba Dimgba, who was present in the occasion, as Commissioner representing Abia State on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission.
The Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu used the opportunity to appeal to the Igbo to reciprocate the sincere passion President Tinubu has shown to them, by giving his Administration maximum support.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and a renowned Banker and prominent member of APC, Sir Marc Wabara, had appreciated the decision by the persons that came out to defect from their former Parties to APC. He urged them to be steadfast and work relentlessly to making sure that APC will become the dominant Political Party in Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Federal Constituency.
The climax of the occasion was distribution of Vehicles, Tricycles, Motorcycles, Sewing Machines, Grinding Machines, and hundreds of bags of rice.
Amongst the dignitaries that graced the occasion were;
(1) The Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Ukwa, His Lordship, The Rt. Reverend Manasses ChijiokemOkere, who said the opening prayer,
(2) Member representing Isialangwa-North and Isialangwa-South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Ginger Onwusibe,
(3) Former Minister of Labour and Productivity, and Chairman-Nominee of South-East Development Commission, Chief Emeka Wogu, Esq, Ph.D,
(4) A former Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, and Commissioner in the Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission, Rt Hon Martins Azubuike, Esq
(5) A former Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, former Member of House of Representatives, and Executive Director (Finance)-Nominee of South-East Development Commission, Rt Hon Stanley Ohajuruka.
Others included Traditional Rulers from Ukwa-East (Ndoki) and Ukwa-West (Asa), former Council Chairmen and prominent members of APC in the Federal Constituency; Chief Uzoma Nwaji, Chief Okey Kanu, Chief John Ajuzieogu, Hon Godswill Nwulu, a 1992-93 Member of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Goldie Wabara, a former Chief Whip of Abia State House of Assembly, Tony Mezie Nwubani, a former Member-elect of House of Representatives, Sir Esiaba Iwezor, a former Commissioner in Abia State Local Government Service Commission, Sir Eugene Ijeoma Dike, a former Commissioner for Environment in Abia State, Tony Nwamuo, Esq, a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State, Sir Don Ubani, the President of Ndoki Union, Rev Felix Akara, and President of Asa Development Union, Elder Goodluck Nwuju.
