A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Mike Nwachukwu has expressed indignation over the persistence of infrastructural deficit in Imo East Senatorial District of Imo State.
Nwachukwu, who contested to represent the district in 2019 on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) regretted that there has not been much efforts made to mitigate the problem almost four years after he unfolded a blueprint for the development of the district.
Speaking on New Year’s Day at his country home in Egbelu Obube Community in Owerri North Local Government Area, Nwachukwu however lauded the state government for coming to the rescue of the people of the senatorial district.
He noted the tarring of Naze-Nekede Road by the state government, stressing that he was cocksure the government would soon extend the reconstruction work to Ihiagwa and Obinze.
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But he regretted that the incumbent representatives of the area such as Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi and Hon. Elezianya were yet to acquit themselves creditably in this regard.
Chief Nwachukwu, who holds the chieftaincy title of Mpidike of Egbelu Obube Community noted that the district was yet to get the effective representation it truly deserves and yearns for.
While declaring his interest to seek election again as senator for the district, Chief Nwachukwu said he had hoped that the incumbent representatives would have bought into his blueprint for the development of the district.
He however noted that people could hardly give what they do not have or know about.
According to him, the main job of a senator or member of the House of Representatives is to ensure that the challenges of his zone or constituency are packaged in a manner that the executive arm includes them in the budgetary allocations before the fiscal estimates are tabled at the floor of the National Assembly for debate and approval.
Chief Nwachukwu said if he was to be the senator, his team of engineers would have undertaken survey plans of the deplorable roads in the zone with cost implications which will be filed with the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for inclusion in their different fiscal estimates.
According to him, besides lessening the work of the MDAs, such fiscal estimates are easily approved since they are brought the agencies whose responsibilities are to execute the projects.
He noted that the incidence of padding happens especially when legislators failed to do the needful before the fiscal proposals are taken to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.
The senatorial hopeful said that the state government, led by Sen. Hope Uzodimma, has done well in the area of road construction and rehabilitation but needs the support of the senators representing various zones in the state to complement its efforts.
He stated that most of the roads he traversed in 2019 during his campaign are still in their worst states today.
Chief Nwachukwu noted that the resources of the state government are not inexhaustible, hence the need for the federal legislators to do their beats to augment the efforts of the state government.
He listed Amaimo to Amakohia Ubi, Amamurie Mbaise, Ekemengboha among other roads that are in terrible conditions in Owerri Zone.
He explained that he has decided to run again in order to bring his knowledge in national budgetary process to bear and ensure that Owerri Zone enjoys quality and effective representation.
The APC chieftain said he is not perturbed about those who are being rumoured to be gearing up to contest for the position from Owerri Zone, stressing that the people of the zone and the party will decide who is most suitable to be sent to Abuja as their senator.
