We Must Focus on People’s Welfare to Mitigate Current Hardships, Akobundu Tells Fellow Political Leaders

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia


The senator representing Abia Central senatorial district in the National Assembly,  Senator Austin Akobundu, has urged his fellow political leaders to put the people first in their policies, programmes and actions.

He said that focusing on people-centred policies and programmes would go a long way to mitigate the prevailing economic hardships in Nigeria under which people are groaning.

Akobundu gave the advice during the distribution of over 2,000 bags of fertiliser to his constituents at his Oloko, Ikwuano,  country home, harping on the need for leaders to understand that the primary goal of governance is people’s welfare.

He stated that if political leaders occupying  elected and appointed positions should set their minds on improving the lives of the people by delivering the desired dividends of democracy, the hardships in the country would drastically reduce.

Akobundu, who is a PDP Senator, decried the  attitude of political actors in rival political platforms with penchant for attacking and insulting other political leaders based on party differences, describing as disservice to governance.

He alluded that he is a victim of misguided attacks by a fellow federal lawmaker, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, who represents Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South federal constituency on the platform of Labour Party.

“I’ll continue to render impactful service and programmes to my people no matter the unwarranted attacks by people like Ginger Onwusibe, who, despite all the good things I have done for him politically, has remained ungrateful and resentful and not failed to insult me in any political gathering he finds himself,” he said.

Despite the barbed attacks by political enemies, Akobundu vowed that he would never allow anybody to distract him from fulfilling his mandate of serving his constituents, the people of Abia, and Nigeria in general.

He said that he would remain focused on delivering quality representation and service to his constituents, adding that anyone claiming that he is not visible in his senatorial district or not providing the needed dividends of democracy is “optically challenged and needs an ophthalmologist urgently”.

The Abia Central Senator, who is the Deputy Chairman Senate Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs, reeled out a number of developmental projects he has embarked upon since November 15, 2023 when he took his seat in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly.

These include distribution of palliatives, provision of fully paid three-year scholarship/sponsorship of 113 NTI students, and scholarship for indigent students in tertiary institutions under his foundation.

Other empowerment programmes include ICT training for 1,000 youths of the senatorial district, training of some youths on tailoring and agric produce ventures, and provision of sewing machines.

“Since my inauguration into the Senate on November 15, 2023, I have done a lot of programmes aimed at elevating my people and changing their lives positively,” he said.  

He announced that lands have been secured and contractors would soon commence work on various project sites of his planned Skills Acquisition Centres in each of the six Local Governments that make up Abia Central senatorial district.

Akobundu announced that very soon solar street lights would be installed for his constituents in realisation of his “Abia Central Must Glow” initiative.