The recent declaration by Hon. Ngozi Okolie, the embattled member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, to the media that he had done only “one or two things” since assumption of seat 18 months ago is in clear admission of our stand that his representation is a total failure.
Hon. Okolie’s confession also further validates our reports that projects being bandied by his Press Unit are mostly unsubstantiated assertions and appropriating of credit to programmes and interventions executed by other entities.
More revealing was that when confronted by the media on reports accusing him of claiming projects done by other people, Hon. Okolie, could not place a direct refutation but instead resorted to threats, blackmail and demanding that those exposing the matter should bring the people whose projects he is claiming.
Hon. Okolie’s failure and inability to directly contradict the accusation and provide concrete evidence that the projects bandied by his Press Unit were really his, shows that his claims cannot be trusted and that his is indeed an irredeemable case of calamitous miscarriage of leadership and a catalogue of disappointment, regrets and disillusionment.
In the said media event, Hon. Okolie threatened to open a can of worms over the position of the Concerned Citizens of Aniocha/Oshimili for exposing him as a leadership misfit and demanding for his recall.
The Concerned Citizens of Aniocha Oshimili Constituency cannot be cowed or compromised. We challenge Hon. Okolie to give account of all Constituency project funds released to him in the last 18 months and show where such funds have been channeled to.
Speaking about can of worms, we challenge Hon. Okolie to come clean and speak up on whispers in the public domain of alleged cases that led to him reportedly being bailed on various occasions from certain Police Station. He should also speak up on his alleged connection with a gambling center in a hotel in Port Harcourt, where resources meant for the benefit of our people are reportedly piped down the drain.
Our Constituency can now see the mill behind the numerous false performance claims by Hon. Okolie’s Press Unit including the claimed plan to repair some Federal Highways without indicating the particular Federal highway or budgetary course of action towards such claim, the unsubstantiated claims of provision of solar street lights, school furniture, fertilizers and grants to farmers without specific number of items, specific beneficiary individuals or specific beneficiary communities.
Such mindset perhaps informs why Hon. Okolie totally disconnected himself from the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency while completely abdicating his duties at the House of Representatives where is hardly “present”, only to be fighting for space close to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for photo ops at events ostensibly to use such to claim connection and contribution for the success of the administration.
In any case, Hon. Okolie’s attitude towards the people of Aniocha/ Oshimili Federal Constituency is expected given that his regrettable emergence in the National Assembly did not derive from the people but a product of electoral manipulation.
We stand firm in our position that Hon. Okolie is not a fit and proper individual to represent our Constituency in the House of Representatives. He has no regard for our people, he is not executing any meaningful development projects, he lacks accountability and appears to prioritise personal enrichment at the expense of his constituents and we cannot allow this to continue.
Hon. Okolie must know that the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency are not going back on their decision to recall him from the National Assembly. They are resolute in standing up for their rights and no amount of blackmail, threats, smear campaign or inducement can deter the people in their resolve.
Signed:
Dr. Tony Curtis
Chairman, Concerned Citizens of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency
Austin Madu
Secretary, Concerned Citizens of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency
