‘’I Bow For Obiano And Wife (Osodieme) For Attracting Investment Of N308 Billion ($1.9bn (USD), Says Mrs Egoyibo Agolue, Chairperson, Ogbaru Local Government Chairman

                                                   Mrs Agolue

The Ogbaru Local government area First Lady, Mrs Egoyibo Agolue commends the Anambra state Governor Willie Obiano and wife Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano ,  (Osodieme) for attracting investment in agriculture and allied products to the tune of almost N308 Billion ($1.9bn (USD)) investment. She said the investment will stand out the state in all ramifications. The N308 Billion ($1.9bn (USD) is attracting to the state will transform the state GDP and otherwise.

In this interview with Odogwu Media, the Ogbaru Council chairman, Chief Victor Agolue’s wife spoke about the pet project of Her Excellency, the N600 Million security fund and the fight against unemployment by the APGA led Government in Anambra as well as the needs of her people in Ogbaru local government among other issues facing 2015 General election.

Ogbaru is Anambra North and for long not in the position of things?

Not anymore because the APGA government is our government starting from the former Governor , Mr Peter Obi to the incumbent Governor Chief Willie Obiano (Akpokuedike Aguleri) and their wives Mrs Margert Obi to Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano (Osodieme). They are so passionate about the people of Ogbaru hence the baton moved from Obi to Obiano and from Margaret to Ebelechukwu. The APGA government is reconstructing Uzoakwa-Ubahuekwem-Oseakwa road from Atani in Ogbaru with a spur to Oluoha Okechukwu road Ihiala.  The road is sixteen kilometers and was awarded at a contract sum of over two billion Naira. It would soon be completed.

 

Through that road Ogbaru will be opened up and connect all parts of the State with quality road network as it will be providing a functional alternative route to Onitsha.

 

And Governor Obiano recently at Umunankwo flagged-off construction of 14.5km Umunankwo/Mputu/Ogwu- Aniocha road estimated to cost the state government about N4.5 billion naira

 The roads would open up economic and social activities of the people of Ogbaru local government who would no longer find it difficult to evacuate their farm produce as they were mainly farmers. The road will link us up with our kiths  and kin in Ihiala and beyond and enhance our economic and social life.

Recently too, the Federal government of Nigeria commenced construction of an ultra modern school of aeronautic and aircraft maintenance engineering at the tune of initial N250 Million and the foundation stone laying ceremony was done  at Akili-Ozuzo, Ogbaru council area of Anambra state, for inculcating of practical and technical knowledge to the students of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Atani Campus.

There is a Nigeria Navy, known as Onitsha Naval Outpost at Odekpe community, Ogbaru council area  with a Naval Commander , Navy Captain Mike Oarmen contributing to the security initiatives of the Obiano administration.  

Our representatives are active including the Hon Speaker of the state House of Assembly , Princes Chinwe Nwaebili , the Secretary to the state Government , Oseloka Obaze , member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Hon Victor Afam Ogene, the member of the House of Assembly and former appointees and elected officials including immediate past former Minister for Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah and commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters Chief Dubem Obaze to mention but a few.

 There are three on-going pedestrian bridge projects meant to safe-guard our people , one at the Uga-Junction by Atani Road Bridge; another at MCC Bus Stop by Awada Road Bridge and Tarzan-Junction by Ogidi Road Bridge benefitting over 100,000 people on daily basis from  Fegge, Ogbaru, Inland Town, Awada, Nkpor and Ogidi communities all within the densely populated Onitsha axis of the Onitsha-Enugu Express-Way.

Our representatives were responsible for these and many more like one of them attracted more than 15 transformers to various communities in Ogbaru . They have attracted Youth empowerment programmes and paid Jamb and WAEC fees for youths in our area as well as extra murals during vacation. They have facilitated employment of some unemployed youths and donated motorcycles, computers, generating sets, foot machines, barbing equipment etc in a competitive measure, that is the joy there. They are doing it to please their constituents be it state or federal.

And during the farming season , our representatives gave to our farmers hundreds of thousands yam seedlings ,thousands of fingerlings and bags of fertilizers to women co-operative societies in our local government.  They have built classroom blocks and Nomadic School, Nigerian Union of Teachers Secretariat. They have empowered widows and machines including wheel barrows, Grinding machines to mention but a few.

I don’t want to start mentioning this person did this one and the other person did the other one because whoever that is representing Ogbaru constituency be it state or federal even at local government level knows what he or she has contributed to the table and the only day of reckoning is the day of election or re-election, the constituents will confirm how you have been able to represent them.

What about the war of words rumoured in the press about endorsement by Obiano’s wife?

Let me tell you that we are not joining issues with anybody because my husband Chief Victor Agolue  is the Chairman of the local government and therefore father to all politicians no-mater their political party lineages. On this note, whatever anyone is saying is based on the person’s perspective because Her Excellency is the First Lady of Anambra state and mother to all the contenders both Hon Afam Ogene , Member representing Ogbaru Federal House of Representatives and the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Princess Chinwe Nwaebili as well as all the other politicians including myself.

If as a chairman’s wife or as a first lady or my husband let me even say Chief Mrs Obiano said I am endorsing Ogene or Nwaebili , what does that mean? Would that translate to vote? The voters are already having in mind who they would vote based on performance, so there is no need for people to be creating moles where there is none.

Whatever anyone is saying is to make our party thick and ensure APGA wins in the next election coming up next year 2015. But in a tensed political environment people could misunderstand situations forgetting that in political rally speakers say things to please the audience.  Her Excellency, Mrs. Willie Obiano has not endorsed anybody because she is a mother to all the contenders. So Ogbaru has not gotten a candidate for APGA in the forthcoming House of Representatives election in the area. Whether Ogene or Nwaebili or even somebody we don’t know should go to the party primary and prove himself or herself. The electorates have the final say on who becomes our candidate not us in positions of authority.

I read the report you were referring to these allegations but I don’t want to dwell on it because it was a political rally. However I suggest that our people embrace peaceful campaigns and tolerance no matter the provocations and situations as there is nothing a politician could say that would change the already made minds of the electorates on who to vote on the Election Day. And in political situations, chaos is not ruled out but ability to restore peace is what is important. The report wanted blood to flow but God was in control and is still. We will give all contenders equal space and support because we are now talking about APGA winning the election against other political parties.

Obiano’s wife strides in the council area?

Before I answer that let me tell you that the target of investment set by the Governor of Anambra State Chief Willie Obiano by year ending 2014 mouth gapping as he is attracting investors worth almost N308 Billion ($1.9bn (USD).

Don’t you know what this investment attracted by Governor Willie Obiano and Wife Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano will do to the state? It will transform the state GDP and our lives would be better socially, economically and otherwise.

Therefore I am commending Governor Obiano and wife Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano ,  (Osodieme) for attracting investment in agriculture and allied products to the tune of almost N308 Billion ($1.9bn (USD)) investment.

The latest investors was Ekcel Farms a division of Oilserve Ltd, one of West Africa's largest indigenous oil services Firm, with investment to the tune of $100 million for the production and processing of cassava and tomato on Anambra state.

The governor also signed with Grains and Silos Limited, MoU valued at S20 million for a grains milling and storage facility and malting plant project. He later signed with the Cardinal Developers and Trust Limited valued at S28 million for the development of Awka Hotel with a recreation center. What are you not saying, these three separate agreement ceremonies are coming on the heels of the projected S1.9 million investments the State government expects in its coffers by end of 2014 with multiplier effect on socio-economic and industrial development

. Our first family is working hard having established the Anambra State Investment Protection and Promotion Agency (ANSIPPA) led by Igwe Cyril Enweze of Umuoji who is the Chairman, Governing Council of ANSIPPA. The state has received about 120 enquiries from investors across the world in the past four months of Obiano’s administration.

Other investors like Coched Farms and Joseph Agro Ind. Ltd have already signed for the production of 120,000 metric tonnes and 100,000 metric tonnes of rice, and  Cardinal Developers which have taken over the building of a five Star hotel at Onitsha to be managed by Radisson Blue at the tune of $28 million. In all over 25 ,000 jobs will be in offer directly and indirectly.

Governor Obiano said that in October, there would be an investment Show in South Africa and hoped to attract more investors to the State, in a determined effort to realize the governor’s vision of diversifying the agricultural sector, building capacity, improving food production and creating wealth.

On the benefits of Her Excellency’s visit to Ogbaru ?

The Anambra first lady Chief Mrs Willie Obiano (Osodieme) embarked on the meet the people tour of council areas meeting rural women especially the less privileged,  orphans and Vulnerable children , physically challenged , the aged and youths.

Chief Mrs Obiano said that through her Caring Family Enhancement Initiatives (CAFÉ) pet project , she would build homes for the elderly in three zones and provide empowerment centers where skill acquisition, education, health care, best farming practices, small-scale businesses, etc, will be taught and encouraged.

She has promised also to train and educate children out of school because of family or societal impediment.  She supported rural farming with over 1,000 bags of rice seedlings, beans seedlings , maize seedlings, fertilizer, exercise books, and she equally gave N10,000 each to over 2,000 selected widows, indigent women, physically challenged people and school children. It is a yearly ritual for the first lady. She supported cooperatives with more empowerment of the women in their council areas through the distribution of food processing and agricultural machines.

Support to security in the state?

Obiano and wife do not play with security and Osodieme has mandated us to educate women to offer useful information to track all the robbers and kidnappers within the communities and since they are showing examples , why won’t we support from the 21 local government areas. The Governor has done two security fund raising at Abuja and Lagos and raked in over N600 Million in that regards. You can see his operation Mkpochepu and the daily exposure of kidnappers as an indication that he meant business with security.

How do you want to be remembered?

Ogbaru people are peace loving people and they have been suuportive of our administration since we came into office. And I and my husband have tried to be fair and firm in taking decisions and thank God his team as well as the Speaker and the councilors are God fearing and work with human face.

We pray to be remembered as people with the interest of their people at heart and as a people who placed community’s  interests first by coordinating the people aright in support of other elected and appointed officials. We are in support of our first lady Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano (Osodieme) and husband Chief Willie Maduaburochukwu Obiano to take the state to the next level , we are happy it is happening in our time. 

Whatever we have we will share with our people to put joy and smiles on their faces by empowering those we can with scholarships, skill acquisition . We are equally looking for partnership from people to pay bursary and tuition for undergraduates, institute micro credit scheme for entrepreneurs, farming support and skill acquisition for the youths as part of my own pet project support because we are rural and farming local government area.

This is because a widow or a family without food and a bag of semovita or rice and cash of even N5, 000 is given to her , her day is made if not week and her suffering alleviated. And a youth who is talented in football when assisted to join a professional league side is a big feat hence we are praying God to assist us get people scouting for talents who can represent the state and the country in sporting events and our youths would be presented to them.

Again our people are not greedy that a little thing can go a thousand miles in showering up ones image and political sagacity like we are riverrine and surrounded by River, one can provide a modern boat to ease their transportation problem and we would remain eternally grateful. Electricity problems can be boosted with donation of transformers to communities and fertilizers assist farmers etc. So we are requesting our people and friends to do things for our people unconditionally as they would not regret that.  

We are looking at asking for investors to take advantage of our Ogbakuba fishing festival/expedition normally done at Iyiaja to attract tourists to our area. I am committed to peace, unity and love among the communities in Ogbaru and my husband Chief Victor Agolue too. We will support anything that will attract development and growth in Ogbaru since only love for one another coupled by peace can attract development.

Let me warn youths or rather let me advise them not to allow themselves to be used by any politician as a cannon fodder for destruction but should channel their youthful exuberances to useful ventures in order to become responsible citizens of the society. They should go for positive ventures and shun immoral outings. I urge them to always be vigilant in the spirit to be able to surmount the challenges facing mankind.

They should shun drugs of all kinds and avoid the problems of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA since it is only greed and covetousness will lead them to drug peddling and abuse.

I charge them also to guide their permanent voters cards jealously as it determines who governs them at all levels of election in 2015.