Don’t Judge Other Lawmakers Using My Achievements, Amaechi’s In-law Tells Constituents

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

A member representing Anaocha, Njikoka, Dunukofia federal constituency, Anambra State, in the House of Representatives, Hon Dozie Nwankwo, who is a brother in-law of the Minister of Transport, Chibuike Amaechi, has told his constituents not to judge other public office holders using his achievements.

Nwankwo, younger brother of the wife of the minister, who spoke during an empowerment programme organised for his constituents, said he could afford to represent them well because he did not “go to Abuja as a hungry man.”

He said: “If you send people who have not had three square meals to Abuja, the tendency is that they will rather than represent you, start by representing their stomach because they are hungry.

“As for me, you all know that even before I became a lawmaker, I was empowering our people, including medical outreach. Even if I was not a lawmaker, I would still have been doing it.

“That is why I am calling on you people not to use what I do for my constituents to judge other lawmakers. Mine is different; we are already comfortable, but other people may be struggling for their pockets, but my concern is to struggle for my people.”

The lawmaker used the opportunity of the empowerment programme to debunk insinuations that he and other lawmakers get N120million annually for constituency projects for their areas.

According to him, “Let me set the records straight. We do not receive N120million as constituency project funds. What happens is that as lawmakers, we do what we call intervention. We meet the people and find out the most pressing need they have, and we prepare a draft for it to be added in the budget, while contractors do the execution. The money does not come to us.”

A total of 1,275 rural women and youths were empowered with various empowerment tools, including sewing machines, grinders, generators, dryers and seed capital for various businesses.

Each of the over 2,000 women who attended the programme was also empowered with a bag of rice, gallon of vegetable oil and wrappers.

The programme was hugely attended by dignitaries, including Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central zone; the traditional ruler of Enugwu-Ukwu community, Igwe Ralph Ekpe, and the local government area Chairman of Anaocha, Hon Ikeobi Ejiofor, among others.