Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
A Labour Party group, under the aegis of Forum of Labour Party State House of Assembly Candidates, Anambra State chapter, has challenged the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to produce the scorecard of its elected members representing various constituencies of the state.
The group said the challenge would provide a comparative assessment of performance of Labour Party and APGA members elected to represent the people of the state at the state and national assemblies.
In a statement signed by the Director of Communication, Hon. Chibuzo Udekigbo, the group said the challenge was in reaction to a statement by APGA National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, that was targeted at the members of the party.
They said, “Mazi Opara described Labour Party faithful in Anambra as mere disgruntled elements and power mongers with misplaced priorities and bunch of jokers with no clear-cut directions as to why they were elected to occupy public offices.”
Responding in their statement, the group said: “Ordinarily, we would not have given Mazi Opara the privilege of response, but owing to the general public, we deemed it necessary to seize this opportunity and do a Comparative Assessment Report of elected Labour Party and APGA Legislators.
“It is a fact that at the National Assembly where Labour Party has 8 serving members from Anambra State; 3 are Chairmen of various Standing Committees and Deputy Minority Whip; while APGA got none.
“Academic and Professional profiles of our elected National and State Assemblies members are quite excellent. Among them are Medical doctor, Professor, Lawyers, Engineers, and other Professionals who are performing credibly well in their legislative responsibilities. We challenge Mazi Opara to publish the profile of APGA elected members, both at the State and National Assemblies.
“It is on record that Sen. Tony Nwoye had an unprecedented empowerment programme, and 3 State Assembly members of Labour Party, Mazi Paul Obu, Hon. Nigeria Mbachu and Barr. Jude Umennajiego, also, recently empowered their constituents in different categories.
“Sen. Victor Umeh and Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu shared bags of rice, as pallative from the Federal Government. Again, we challenge the factional National Publicity Secretary of APGA to publish the empowerment programme (s) done by his party members.
“Sen. Victor Umeh has moved several motions on the floor of the Senate, which includes his intervention during the demolition of some properties in Igbo dominated areas in Lagos State.
“Sen. Tony Nwoye, also, has moved several motions, which includes the “rehabilitation of Onitsha-Otuocha-Ayamelum-Adani road.” The road has been rehabilitated and being enjoyed by motorists. Hon. Emeka Idu and Hon. Peter ‘MacPee’ Aniekwe jointly moved a motion for the dualisation of Onitsha-Otuocha-Ayamelum-Adani road, which received legislative attention, and Hon. Peter ‘Mac Pee’ Aniekwe just over this weekend, commissioned a borehole at Nando. Hon. Afam Ogene moved a Motion to include some very important roads in Ogbaru in the 2024 budget, which also received legislative attention.
“Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu has moved a motion for capturing of UNIZIK staff on IPPIS and payment of their over 2years salaries, and presented 2 petitions on behalf of her constituents.
“Hon. Uche Okonkwo has renovated 2 schools in Idemmili; namely, Community Primary school, Ugamuma Obosi and Notre Dame high school, Abatete. Hon. Azubuike Udemezue has 2 motions on road rehabilitations to his name, which is currently being rehabilitated.
“This to mention but a few, as we challenge the factional National Publicity Secretary of APGA to publish the legislative achievements of APGA elected members.”