The former TC Chairman and the aspirant for the Ugwunagbor Constituency seat, Chief Peter Aguomba, has stated that the yearnings and expectations of Ugwunagbor moved him into aspiring to represent them at the State House of Assembly.
Speaking to Newsleverage in an exclusive chat on Tuesday revealed that he has a blueprint of his plans and if given the chance will make sure that Ugwunagbor people are duly represented not only in bills that will benefit them but also in other areas.
Chief Aguomba also disclosed that his aspiration was not bordered on agitation but solely on the yearning to represent the people of Ugwunagbor.
“My aspiration is predicated on my interest to serve my people, to contribute to my quota. Service delivery is on capacity. As things change so do expectations of people change? We have to conform to the reality of the time in terms of purpose and agenda. I offer myself to serve in the House of Representatives to represent my people. This is something I’ve tried quite a couple of times. I waited for Honourable Humphrey Azubuike and Honourable Munachim Alozie to go. It’s like a way of taking the last. We have 3 major blocks in Ugwunagbor, Port Harcourt, Obohia and Ohanku road. Since the creation of Ugwunagbor was created in 1996, we have had James Maraizu, Humphrey and then Munachi, it’s just natural justice and equity for somebody from Obohia road to take its turn now. I’m not the product of agitation, I presented myself a lot of times and believed that I’ll get the mandate and make sure that I do my best to represent my people.”
Are you coming that it’s the turn of Obohia or do you have a different thing to do?
“I’m presenting myself as a form of duty. This was just a history of geopolitics.”
In what area are you coming to contribute?
“A legislator is essentially supposed to contribute to lawmaking. There are also aspects like drawing the attention of the government to the needs of my people. As a legislator, I must make sure that my people’s needs are accommodated in budgets. Also, the aspect of the lobby is a give and takes thing. I’ll also do that to ensure the needs of my people are captured. If I have a good working relationship with the member of my House of Representatives and Senator, I’ll go beyond the State I meet the interest of my people. Take for instance, why are we giving light to the whole of South East and part of South-South but we do not have light in my local government? Is it not an aberration? I can start from there, talk to the member of the National Assembly and Senator and get it sorted out.
We have over 10 oil wells in my place and they have corked wells for nearly 50 years. They will say Ugwunagbor has the best gas but they are corked. If they do not want to use it, they can give us our land so that farmers will farm on the land. A legislator can call on the attention of the government to it. If we have me there, I’ll continue to shout, not causing trouble but calling attention to the government.”
Do you have a blueprint to make sure that you attract the governor’s attention to the challenges apart from lobbying?
Do you have an educational background, in terms of lawmaking, that will help you make these laws?
How much are you closer to your people?
“In those days, people didn’t have a lot of education in certain judgements they made them. On a few occasions, I listened to my people and noticed a lot of natural sense.
I was born in Obegu, I grew up in my village and went to primary school in my village. I scored a credit. I went to All Saints Secondary School and made Division 1 which is equivalent to Distinction now. I went to Abia Polytechnic and picked a certificate course where I made an upper credit. I went to National Open University to read Financial Management and made credit. I went to the University to study Business Management and made a second class upper.
In the local sense as a village man, I think it prepared me well enough for legislative duties. Nobody needs to introduce me to my people, I was born there and lived among them. I’ve always lived in Aba all my life. I’ve been in politics for 26 years. I started when my local government was created. I can tell you the farthest and nearest point of Ugwunagbor.”
How will you rate the performance of Honourable Munachim Alozie and what difference are you planning to make in Ugwunagbor Constituency?
“It will be immodest of me to rate my honourable member. I plan on succeeding him so I wouldn’t want to rate him. But I’ll say he has done his bit. One’s talent might differ from another. I wouldn’t want to be the judge, let Ugwunagbor people be the judge.
One, I’m Peter Aguomba and not Munachim Alozie. I’m different from him and so is my vision. I’ve my blueprint. It’s even good that I’m the last as I’ve seen the first and second person perform, it’s now left for me to do me but having known the expectations of my people coupled with the burden of the area of my people. I should be able to learn from the mistakes of my people and learn from them to improve. It’s left for me to ask God for his grace when I get in there so my vision is not flawed and do that which I planned to do in the interest of my people.”
Have your people benefited anything from you before now?
“Yes. I’ve served in public office. I just finished serving as TC Chairman in 2020 but was restricted by COVID-19 and couldn’t do much. I was able to, with the help of other people gives palliative to people. This was before the government distributed its palliative. I worked on the fence at the local government and built it higher than it was, at window level. I also did road grading. When I was allowed to employ 50 persons which were shared across the 10 wards though it later had an issue which they are trying to sort out. We conducted the local government election and to the glory of God, there was no issue from it. I also served in ASOPADEC between 2010 to 2017. We constructed schools, classroom blocks, and town halls in communities. We registered WAEC for over 50 students and also did poverty alleviation for some persons. We had about 50 persons on our payroll for whom we give stipends at the end of the month.
The charity I did personally is what I cannot discuss as it’s between me, the person and God.”
