Politics
Insecurity: Only the Living can Ply Soludo Roads – LP Lawmaker
By Praise Chinecherem
Lawmaker representing Awka North and South in the House of Representatives, Prof Lilian Orogbu has commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo on his efforts in road constructions in the state.
She however said residents and visitors alive would only be alive to ply the roads in view of the growing insecurity in the state.
Orogbu spoke to reporters in Awka shortly after reeling out her account of one year stewardship in the National Assembly on the ocassion of UNW/NILDS step down in Anambra State.
She said she was not impressed with the level of development of the State under the current administration, aside road infrastructure.
She said, “I’m not impressed. To be fair, I have seen some roads here and there. That is what the government has achieved so far but we need to be alive to play the roads.
“The first responsibility of any responsive government is to protect the lives and properties of the people. The first priority of government should be to invest in security basically.
“It is quite disappointing what is happening in Anambra state. And I wish governor will focus more on security. Look at the killings in Nibo, Ifite, Nawfia and Enugwukwu communities. It is very much disturbing.
“We need government to invest money in security. It is very important because you cannot build Dubai Taiwan in Anambra state if there is not security. Who is going to invest in a place that is not secured?”
Asked whether she had suffered oppression of any kind at the legislative chambers as result of her gender, Orogbu said she had not faced such challenge, but rather noted that she had enjoyed good relationship with the Speaker, leadership of the house and other colleagues.
“I’m not facing challenges because it is a gender friendly house. I can tell you that I have good relationship with speaker, leadership of the house and they even pamper us,” she noted.
Earlier in her address to dignitaries that graced the ocassion, the lawmaker described her one year in office as busy and challenging, but assured she is on top of thd game.
She said, “I feel honoured to address you again in this gathering. I had told you during my opening remarks in the morning that l was not going to take your time making references to my sojourn to the National Assembly since the programme had indicated that l would address you on my stewardship in the House of Representatives.
“To start with l want to thank you immensely for considering worthy of representing you in the parliament. I also will like to inform you that the primary function of the legislature is law making for good governance and orderliness of the society. However, when this current democratic dispensation was midwifed our pioneers thought it wise to insert what they coined “Constituency and Zonal intervention projects “for members of the National Assembly.
“Under the constituency projects, a Rep is allocated N150 million in the statutory budget and N100 million as zonal intervention project bringing the sum total to N250 million every year. You can agree with me that this has become very insignificant in today’s monetary value.
“There is really not much a legislator can do in terms of inserting projects for his or constituency in each budget circle. Mind you this amount is not released directly to the legislator rather you are allowed to insert projects of your choice in designated federal agencies to execute on your behalf. Any other thing you are able to attract outside what this merge among can provide has to be through intense lobby and contacts.
“Without sounding immodest, my first one year and under one budget circle l have been able to attract a number of impactful projects as itemized below;
- A Police Station to be constructed at Ishiagu which has already been awarded for construction.
- The reconstruction of classroom blocks at. (a) Ezioka community secondary school. (b) Reconstruction of classroom blocks at Agulu Awka primary school. (c) Reconstruction of classroom blocks at Community primary school Ikwodiaku.
- Reconstruction and furnishing of (a)Ogulube village primary school Èbenebe Awka north.. (
- (b) Community primary school ezinifte okpuno. ..
- (C) Community Secondary school Mgbakwu Awka south..
- Construction of a road leading to youth Center Amansea.
- Construction of roads in mgbakwu and Ogechukwu street in Awka.
8.The construction of proposed Mini Stadium in Achalla, Awka North LGA - Currently, experts have arrived and inspected two health centers ,one in Ezinato, Awka South and the other in Urum, Awka North for possible provision of solar power to provide energy 24hrs to this two health centers.
- Installation of Solar Streets lights in Awka South Local Government to lighten up some dark spots to enhance security
I have also engaged in such other interventions like - providing grants ranging from N50,000 Naira to one million naira to petty traders whose stalls were demolished in Awka and this helped small business owners recover from their losses and revitalize their livelihoods.
- I empowered 200 widows young and old with 200 grinding and 200 sewing machines
- Distributed fertilizer to farmers in all the wards in Awka North and South Federal Constituency.
- Distributed 2,570 bags of rice to 34 Wards of Awka North and South
- Currently our elder citizens at least 2 from each of the 34 wards in Awka north and south are currently being compiled for enlistment into the NHIS national health insurance scheme to help them get proper health care
- Distributed 11,000 palm seedlings to some constituents in communities within Awka North and south
- Sponsored free fuelling for commercial drivers to alleviate the burden of skyrocketing fuel costs.
- Ensured that over 2000 constituents were captured in the Federal Government’s conditional cash transfers as palliatives
- Paid JAMB fees for 170 indigent students for 20242925 UME and pledged to enrol top-performing students from each ward into her scholarship foundation
- Secured employments for the following constituents;
•NAME: OBI TOBENNA PRINCE.
*LGA: AWKA SOUTH.
*TOWN. OKPUNO.
*INSTITUTION: FED POLY OKO. 07037191843.
*NAME: ONUZULIGBO BLESSING NGOZI.
*LGA: AWKA SOUTH.
*TOWN: AMAWBIA.
*INSTITUTION: FED POLY OKO. 08061132818 NAME: OBUMNEME LEONARD NWEKE.
*LGA: AWKA NORTH.
*TOWN: AWBA OFEMILI.
*INSTITUTION: FED POLY OKO.
*NAME:ONWUZULIGBO CHIJIOKE EMMANUEL
*LGA: AWKA SOUTH.
*TOWN: AMAWBIA
*INSTITUTION: NIGERIAN SECURITY AND CIVIL DEFENSE CORPS. 08104608756
•OBI CHARLE UCHENNA.
*LGA: AWKA SOUTH.
*TOWN: MBAUKWU.
*INSTITUTION: NATIONAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS. 0806577785
On the core legislative activities, l sought and resurrected the Bill for the establishment of Federal College of Agriculture Awba Ofemili which was started by my predecessor but died with previous Assembly because it didn’t complete it legislative processes and it has now gone through second reading and passed to the relevant committee for public hearing.
17.. I also sponsored another Bill for the establishment of a college of Entrepreneurship studies in Awka
18.A. I have equally moved the following motions and petitions;
- Need for Federal Government to employ use of modern technology to secure our borders
- Need to investigate the delay in capturing Nnamdi Azikiwe University workers and other Nigerians in the integrated payroll personal information system, (IPPS) for perusal and approval
- Urgent need to investigate the brutal murder of over ten youth in Nibo Community in Awka North/South Federal Constituency of Anambra State
- Need to investigate denial of Nigerian workers access to housing loan by the Nigerian Housing Fund and the Federal Mortgage Bank
- Furthermore, l laid three petitions as follows
Petition against Nigeria Army in respect of a young constituent who was a serving soldier in Mumbai, Adamawa State but got missing since 2924 and another Class petition against cashcraft, a stock brokerage firm which defrauded over 90 Nigerians a total sum of N 8 billion
Mind you the first budget (2024) under this tenure came at the time l was still learning the ropes so you should expect much more goodies in the subsequent budgets. I will not end this presentation without bringing to your notice the disadvantages inherent in the inability of our constituency to produce a ranking legislator in the House of Representatives since the inception of this democratic dispensation.
Without being a ranking member of the House, by ranking member l mean you must have been around for at least two tenures or more, you won’t be able to get the chairmanship of a grade ‘A’ Committee or principal office. These are positions that can assist you attract more projects and other incentives for the constituency. I am not just saying this because l want to be re-elected but it the reality. The idea of stopping at single tenure is a big loss to all of us as members of Awka North/South
“Once again l thank you for your continued supports and like l promised you during my campaign l will remain a committed representative and most importantly l would as l promised pay more attention to the less served of our communities and that l will not fail to do.”