*IKENGA IMO UGOCHINYERE: NOW THAT IDEATO NATION IS BLESSED WITH A POLITICAL IROKO.*

*03-02-2025*

By: *COMR. GERARD OKALLA*

Between every political tide that unleashes its fang on the political firmament, there must arise a POLITICAL IROKO that is thrown up by a given circumstance for the purpose of offering political direction to the people *Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere,* in all modesty, is unarguably considered as the present-day POLITICAL IROKO cast on the firmament of Ideato political theatrics. He is not only looked upon by the vast majority of Ideato people as a political enigma of the contemporary period but one who could offer political direction to the people.

*With a robust career spanning a decade as a civil society advocate, the Umukegwu-Akokwa born federal lawmaker had endeared himself to the hearts of millions of Nigerians through his political activism. Unknown to Barr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, his selfless disposition hoisted on sheer altruism laced with an uncompromising defence of the downtrodden gained traction in his Ideato homeland that it readily became a folklore, rehearsed amongst Ideato people both young and old.

* His eventual election into the Federal House of Representatives as member representing Ideato North/Ideato South federal constituency would later serve as a soothing balm to an almost politically bruised and poorly represented population. With no traces of infrastructural development, human capital development taking flight, and erosion ravaging most communities, and severing the Orlu- Mgbee- Akokwa- Uga road from public use, the people of Ideato federal constituency were hitherto left in the lurch and often ridiculed as a long forgotten people.

With *Barr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere,s* emergence on the political horizon, a glimmer of hope was ignited. Its light shone so bright that it illuminated the spell of darkness brought upon the communities whose people had groped without direction as a result of dearth of political leadership.

*Although, POLITICAL IROKOS seldom come by but Barr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere‘s legislative performance within just 18 months of his legislative representation and his steadfast commitment to providing unprecedented polical solutions to a wide range of socio-economic upheaval bedeveling Ndi Ideato, no doubt, sparked off the debate raging within the circle that with him in the political canvass, it appears Ideato nation has finally been blessed with a POLITICAL IROKO under whom could be found the trappings of an emancipated people.*

A few examples may suffice this time tested assertion.

*STELLAR LEADERSHIP ROLE*

Although not backed by any political godfather, *Hon Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere‘s* electoral triumph tore into shreds the expectations of political pundits who had thought the government of the day could use state power to influence election outcomes. His victory changed the political dynamics of Ideato federal constituency for good and placed on his broad shoulders the onerous task of becoming the political leader Ideato federal constituency could trust.

*Today, with an astonishing performance indices as member representing Ideato North/South federal constituency and bringing his uncommon leadership acumen to bear, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere has carved a niche for self as a strong, resilient, focused political icon.

He has demonstrated that he is a dependable voice of the people without biases while establishing himself as a POLITICAL IROKO of Ideato nation. This is because the performing federal legislator enjoys larger following and commands greater loyalty of the people across political divide.*

*HIS ROLE IN THE ROAD CONTRACT AWARD/EROSION CONTROL AT UMUCHIMA AXIS OF ORLU-MGBEE- AKOKWA-UGA ROAD*

Before *Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere‘s* emergence, the spate of erosion menace in Ideato nation was disheartening. The situation seemed intractable to handle by a horde of self-serving politicians from Ideato North and South who were simply helpless, choosing to render lip service in the face of its devastating effects.

The environmental hazards posed by the ravaging erosion, especially at the notorious Umuchima axis of the Orlu- Mgbee -Akokwa-Uga road, which resulted in loss of lives, submerging of homes and destruction of farmlands, never received much needed government attention. The road itself became impassable, forcing commuters to spend long hours before they made it to Orlu main town from Ideato. *But the outstanding federal legislator, aware of the predicaments of his people, took up the gauntlet at personal cost and mounted a relentless battle with the powers that be in a bid to attract federal government’s attention to the plights of the affected communities.* Today, not only have *Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere‘s* numerous compelling legislative advocacies paid off with the capturing of the Ideato catastrophe in the budgets, the erosion is witnessing a complete closure and reconstruction work is progressing on the abandoned Mgbee-Umuchima-Akokwa- Uga road.

*HIS ROLE TOWARDS RESTORATION OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATION*.

Legislative representation of the people of Ideato nation at the National Assembly suffered a total eclipse due to poor representation that trailed the era before *Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere* blazed the trail courtesy of his landslide victory over his opponents in the February 2023 parliamentary elections. The situation was so bizarre that the Ideato electorates vowed never to partake in the electioneering process again since elected legislators would hardly keep their promises when elected. *But with far reaching visible impacts of Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere‘s legislative performance in Ideato nation and beyond, Ndi Ideato stand in awe of his quality representation and look forward to participating in the electoral process come 2027 obviously to have him re-elected should he seek a second term.*

*A PARADIGM OF COMMUNITY NEEDS- BASED INITIATIVE*

One thing that distinguishes the *Hon. Ikenga Imo representation* has been his systematic approach in facilitation of constituency projects he ebulliently attracted to the various communities in the constituency, highlighting what would be regarded as a paradigm shift to a new way of doing things. *This model entails tasking communities’ leaderships to nominate projects they would want him to facilitate for their people with the outstanding lawmaker, in turn, deploying his unfailing legislative forte to bringing the implementation of the projects to fruition while deploying best legislative protocols. Today, credited to Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere is a wide range of constituency projects at different stages, being put in place in virtually all the 58 autonomous communities that make up Ideato federal constituency.

*Facilitation of Motorised Boreholes, Solar Powered Streetlights initiative, Community Market rehabilitation efforts, Community Schools Construction and Reconstruction framework, Construction and supply of school desks, Agricultural skills acquisition programme, Issuance of Scholarship Grants to teeming constituents, Massive Empowerment initiatives to mention but a few are some of the eloquent legislative achievements of the outstanding Rep. Member.

Above all, the deft legislative skill he reins into his projects drafts, his stellar defence of the outlined constituency needs and the project implementation strategies have so far earned him greater commendations from diverse but keen observers of legislative development in Ideato during the period under review

*IKENGA IMO, A NATIONAL BRAND*

To say that *Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere* has risen to become a national brand due mainly to his uncommon eloquence, and incredible charisma is an under statement. *While the aim of his legislative activism primarily targets bettering his constituency, their burgeoning effects transcend Ideato political landscape, proffering solutions to vexed national political questions.* Not that the past Reps. Members before him did not know the significance of leveraging on the given legislative position to attract further goodwill to Ndi Ideato in the process as *Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere* is wont to do, they, one after the other, as long as their tenure lasted, may not have had the requisite political will, bravery, courage and the political sagacity to think out of the box and shoot Ideato constituency to national reckoning.

*WHY HON IKENGA IMO UGOCHINYERE IS IDEATO NATION’S POLITICAL IROKO.* Relying on the aforestated undeniable attributes of the quintessential Ideato Reps. Member which have no doubt positioned him as the POLITICAL IROKO of the contemporary period and yet again, basking in the euphoria of the visible legislative dividends being attracted by him, Ideato residents and greater number of the political class atuned to community based, people oriented progressive politics believe *Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, Oje Ozi Ideato,* possesses the political sagacity, intellect, the aura, reach and spread to continue to provide the much elusive political leadership to the people, whose prospects are bound to offer a heightened collective political prosperity.

*Quite gladly, the people are satisfied that his legislative representation, having successfully opened new vista of opportunities for Ndi Ideato, can keep uplifting the communities through his novel and transformational community need-based constituency project strategy that promises to deepen grassroots development of Ideato nation in all facets.

*Against this irrefutable background, the good people of Ideato North and South can only look into the future and visualize the greater good that awaits the land with *Oje Ozi Ideato’s* impressive political leadership derivable from his excellent and impactful legislative representation.

*COMR. GERARD OKALLA* is an Umueshi born Economist, Grammarian, Publicist & Thought Provocateaur

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