The Member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ngozi Okolie, has dismissed speculations that his recent engagement with community youth leaders was driven by political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Okolie made the clarification during a year-end interactive session with presidents and representatives of community youth associations from across the constituency, held at his residence in Asaba on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker explained that the meeting was solely aimed at presenting an account of his stewardship and strengthening direct engagement with constituents, particularly at the grassroots level.
“2027 is still two years away, and I have not even decided whether I will contest or not,” Okolie said.
“This gathering has nothing to do with elections. As the incumbent, I believe it is my responsibility to let my people know what I have done in office, and that should not be misconstrued as politics.”
He said his decision to engage community youths directly, rather than relying exclusively on party structures, was informed by the need to bridge communication gaps between leadership and the grassroots.
“Many of our people are unaware of what their representative is doing. Often, we limit engagement to party structures and sideline the real stakeholders,” he said. “When you engage the youths, you effectively engage the entire community.”
Okolie assured participants that the consultations would be sustained, promising regular engagement, inclusive decision-making, and accessibility to constituents.
“I will make this interaction consistent. The youths will be carried along,” he said. “Where we cannot immediately reach every community, we will explore government intervention so that no one is left out.”
Youth leaders at the meeting commended the lawmaker’s performance while urging him to improve public awareness of his projects.
Coordinator of Community Youths in Aniocha North, Comrade Edozien Emmanuel, praised Okolie’s achievements but noted that several completed and ongoing projects were unknown to many residents.
“Some people may even be taking credit for projects he executed,” Emmanuel said. “He should take this information to all four local government areas so the people can hear directly from him.”
He also called for deeper consultations with communities to ensure that constituency projects align with their most pressing needs.
Similarly, the President General of Community Youths in Aniocha South, Mr. Stanley Cheru, applauded Okolie’s developmental efforts and urged sustained engagement with youth stakeholders to promote inclusive governance.
During the session, Okolie outlined his legislative and developmental record. He cited a motion of urgent public importance seeking to protect Nigerians with existing bank loans from arbitrary increases in interest rates and service charges during periods of inflation or fiscal policy changes.
He also highlighted bills sponsored to upgrade the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, into a Federal University, and to elevate the Onicha-Olona Model School into a Federal College of Education, both of which have passed First and Second Readings.
Other initiatives include advocacy for the revitalisation of the Ogwashi-Uku water project, a motion proposing the establishment of a Toyota Assembly Plant in Nigeria to boost employment, and a call for the creation of additional political wards to enhance representation.
Okolie further disclosed that he is leading a national legislative effort seeking justice for the Omhonrina brothers allegedly killed by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
On infrastructure, he noted that motions sponsored by him contributed to the rehabilitation of the Illah–Ebu Road and the ongoing reconstruction of the Asaba–Benin Expressway.
Beyond legislation, the lawmaker detailed several empowerment and constituency projects, including skills acquisition programmes in collaboration with the National Directorate of Employment, which have benefited over 200 constituents, and business grants to more than 300 residents.
In the education sector, over 300 students have received direct assistance, alongside the distribution of more than 30,000 exercise books to pupils across the four local government areas. School furniture has been supplied to selected schools, with renovations ongoing, including completed projects at Aboh-Ogwashi featuring a WAEC centre and laboratory facilities.
Infrastructure projects include newly constructed roads in Asaba, solar streetlight installations across Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Oshimili North and Oshimili South, and the completion of a 500-capacity civic centre in Okpanam.
A 1,000-capacity pavilion at the permanent site of the Palace of the Asagba of Asaba is under construction, while the Akwukwu-Igbo Civic Centre has been captured in the federal budget at the planning stage.
On welfare, Okolie listed support for senior citizens, payment of hospital bills for indigent constituents, medical outreaches, and annual distribution of food items during Christmas and Salah celebrations.
The interactive session marked the close of Okolie’s official engagements for 2025. He reaffirmed his commitment to transparency, accountability, and grassroots-driven governance.
“This is about service,” he said. “It is about ensuring that the people we represent are not just beneficiaries, but active participants in governance.”
