Achievements of Rt.Hon.Emeka Ihedioha (Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives)
Our elected officials MUST be held accountable in all they do on our behalf. It is not out of place to raise questions if we need clarity at any point in time.
In a recent post here on www.Imostateblog.com, many questioned the achievements of Rt.Hon. Emeka Ihedioha who not only represents the Ngor Okpala/ Aboh Mbaise Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives but is also the Deputy Speaker.
In response to the numerous questions raised, the Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives has reached out to share a list of programmes and benefits that have been attracted to the Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala federal constituency and beyond since Rt.Hon. Ihedioha’s term as a member of the House till date.
The Deputy Speaker told attendees of the just concluded Mbaise USA recognition event that his first term in office saw him raising personal funds to rehabilitate 14 primary and secondary school blocks within Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency while also initiating the process for the construction of N1billion jetty at Imo River Owerrinta/Okpala (Imo /Abia State border), a project that has attained 90% of completion currently.
In his second tenure, the Deputy Speaker said he conceived, designed and facilitated the award and construction of the giant size 133 x 33 KVA Substation located between Nguru and Ibeku in Aboh Mbaise LGA which is about 80% completed and on which the Federal government has so far spent about N2.2 billion.
“When completed, this power station will satisfy the power needs of the entire Mbaise land and its immediate neighbours,” he stated, adding that he has also facilitated the construction of ancillary injection substations at Mbutu in Aboh Mbaise LGA, Ahiara junction in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, Onicha in Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA as well as one in Ngor Okpala LGA.
“Contract has also been awarded for the construction of a 132KV DC line from Owerri to Mbaise to transmit power from the parent Egbu substation to Mbaise,” he said.
Rt.Hon.Ihedioha further noted a list of projects credited to him before his emergence as Deputy Speaker in the current Seventh Session of the House of Representatives. These include solar powered street lights which initially were located in Mbutu, Enyiogugu, Okpala Junction, Umuneke, Nkwogwu, Aboh, Eke Nguru and Uvuru; numerous Health centres, classroom blocks, libraries, computer centres.
He said with his office as the Deputy Speaker of the House, a number of projects will be introduced to redefine the Mbaise landscape including award of the N5 billion contracts for the construction of a roundabout at Ahiara Junction along Owerri-Umuahia Road and with two spurs: One from Enyiogugu to Aboh Junction (9km) and the other from Nkwogwu to Amuzi.
According to him, through his instrumentality, the Federal Government has awarded contract for the design of the famous 63km Mbaise ring road which will cut across several communities within the three Mbaise Local Government Areas, including Ogbor-Uvuru, Amuzu, Lorji, Ife, Amumara, Eziudo, Obizi, Onicha, Oru-Ahiara, Enyiogugu, Mbutu etc.
“Contract for the construction will by the grace of God be awarded before the end of 2012, as N1 billion has already been provided for it in the 2012 Appropriation Act,” he said, adding: “We have also provided funds (about N600 million) for the 1st phase of the Mbaise Regional Water Scheme to reactivate some water projects.
“I have further engaged a team of experts to articulate how to revive the School of Nursing at Aboh Mbaise Council Headquarters, while also working with the Federal Government to site a School of Agricultural Machinery in Mbutu Mbaise. In December, 2011, I got the National Institute of Technology Development to install and commission a set of 20 computers with internet facilities at Mary Coleman Memorial Secondary School, Ogbor Nguru. I will not relent in attracting further projects to our area.
“It is also interesting that through the NDDC, I have facilitated the award of the following road projects- Chokoneze-Mbutu-Logara road, Chokoneze-Ife road and Chokoneze-Lorji-Amuzu road. The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), will soon award the contract for the construction of the old Douglas Road which cut across Umuopara Nguru-Ibeku-Umuhu-Mbutu-Uvuru all in Aboh Mbaise LGA.
“Following the abandonment of the Airport junction–Umuohiagu-Uvuru road by the state government, I got the Federal government to take over that project which provides an alternative route to the airport. Today that project has been completed and asphalted.
“It is no secret that I did not limit myself to attracting projects only to Mbaise land or my Constituency. Hence I got the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to award contract for the important Okpala-Igwuruta road 17km linking Imo and Rivers State border. The first phase of the project is costing about N4.2 billion. It is about 60% completed. Budgetary provision has been our handicap.
“Worthy of mention also are the giant strides I recorded in my tenure as Chief Whip, where I facilitated the award of contract for the dualization of the strategic Owerri- Elele (Rivers State) (Omarelu) 35km road at the sum of N23 billion. Significant progress is being made here as I have always ensured reasonable funding for this project since 2009.”
The Deputy Speaker also noted empowerment programmes for deserving beneficiaries of the Constituencies especially in the areas of scholarship awards for students and employment of qualified jobless Constituents.
According to him, he is motivated to do all of these and more because “we must go back to those cherished values that helped our forebears to build a society that thrived in unity, love and common understanding by rejecting evil, embracing the common good and respecting “ofo na ogu”.
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Great Imolites, we have heard directly from the mouth of Rt.Hon.Emeka Ihedioha. What sayeth thee?