By Willy Momnang
Chief Henry Igelle Onwe, the leading aspirant for the vacant Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency seat has unveiled Coordinators for the twenty four wards of the constituency NEGROIDHAVEN has confirmed.
Onwe who has won five social media polls successively in the past two months in line with his aspiration at the weekend inaugurated twenty four coordinators with each representing each of the wards in Ogoja and Yala Local Government Areas.
Addressing the Coordinators along with stakeholders, the business mogul charged them to take their responsibility seriously and also be mindful not to stray outside the tenets of the APC and democratic principles.
“…let me charge you to take this business seriously, carefully and within the tenets of our party, APC and democratic principles”.
Chief One stated that his aspiration is premised on his vision to change the style of representation which has long been depriving the constituents of the area benefits of democracy, emphasizing that he will ensure that constituency votes are prudently spent to uplift the people which it is meant for.
He said in 1998 when erstwhile governor, Mr Donald Duke began his consultation to rule the state many people thought it was a joke but Duke and few of his supporters came and brought the change which transformed the state assuring that he has all it takes to run for the election and win.
“I started active politics in 1998 and in 1999 I became the first Chapter Secretary of PDP in Yala and I have been following in 2007 I became the first Caucus Secretary of PDP in Yala Local Government Area and I have strictly been following. In the past two months, we have been consulting with party leaders and stakeholders across the twenty four wards of the Constituency and the response we have received is what really encouraged us to announce our intention to run for the office of House Representatives.
“Some of us have put in so much and have benefited very little. It is because of the choice of the people we make who go into office and want to acquire the whole wealth in the world, choice of people with total selfishness but the time has changed. We have a young, vibrant person in me who wants go into National Assembly and create jobs and employment for our people. The people of Ogoja and Yala are predominantly farmers, we will supply them with high yield farm inputs.
Chief Onwe stressed that it is the duty of a Rep member to apply funds meant for constituency projects in his constituency and when elected he will ensure that funds are strictly applied to his constituency.
He thanked Senator Professor Ben Ayade for operating a youth friendly administration and assured that he wll walk the footsteps of the governor whom he referred to as the Super Digital Leader of our time by making sure that the people in the constituency have a feel of his representation.
The philanthropist added that the Governor who is the leader of the party shall provide guidance on who will become the flag bearer of the party and advised all aspirants to respect the decision of the leadership of the party when the time comes as every one will be carried along during the election and after the victory.
Also speaking, a stakeholder of the Party from Wanehim ward, Mr. Jacob Onawo eulogised Onwe, saying he is and obedient and faithful son of Ukelle who has always been interested in the affairs of the ordinary people and supportive of the progressive ideas not only the sons and daughters of Ukelle but Yala Local Government generally.
He opined that, Yala 2 constituency deserves to be supported to have the party’s ticket and to win at the general election because it has not had the opportunity to represent the constituency which he sentimentality said Yala 1 has severally done.
The Coordinators were handed campaign materials including billboards, posters, banners, fez caps and handbills for spread in all parts of the constituency.
The vacancy was recently made vacant following Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe’s Supreme Court victory over former Senator Stephen Odey, from Yala. Jarigbe who is from Ogoja, was sworn into the upper chamber of the NASS on September 15 2021.
The Cordinators inaugurated are;
Names of Coordinators in Yala Local Government Area
1 Abbas Yusuf, Mfuma/Ntrigom ward.
2 Charles Eni Bassey, Ijiraga ward
3 Ogbaji Richard Eje, Igede ward
4. David Dan Neji, Wanokom ward
5 Innocent Lukpata, Wanikade ward
6 Julius Ochu, Yahe ward
7. Jacob Onawo, Wanihem ward
8 Gabriel Ibu, O’oh ward
9 Benjamin Ogar Oklebe, Okpoma
10 Tony Okache, Ugaga ward
11 Ogar Jacob Ugbada, Okuku
12. Oko Odey, Echumofana ward
13. Augustine Oko Ogar, Gabu ward.
Names of cordinators in Ogoja Local Government Area include
14 Okori Ajima, Urban ward (2)
15. Ngaji Atabi, Urban ward (1)
16. Joe Oyim Adagom, Mbube west ward (2)
17 Clement Agba Offere mbube East ward (1)
18 Hon. Lawrence Mobu, Nkum Ibor
19 Memory Uguma, Nkum Irede ward
20 Alfred Mordi Abe , Ekajuk 1
21Hon Lawrence Mogre Ekajuk ward 2
22 Eri John Obi, Mbube East ward (1)
23. Celestine Ogar Ogbedu, Mbube east (2)
In retrospect, it will be recalled that Chief Henry Igelle Onwe has taken clear leadsc in five polls seeking to identify the preferred aspirant among those contending for the Ogoja/ Yala vacant Reps post by winning in fourth Social Media surveys back-to-back.
The most recent survey by Lukpata Ebiale Julius a Facebook user saw Chief Onwe win the survey out of the eight aspirants listed by the Facebook user. These are: Dr Julius Okputu, Mr Mike Usibe, Chief Henry Onwe , Dr Hippolatus Lukpata, Mr Jude Ngaji Hon John Ulafor, Barrister Godwin Ofiono and Amvassador Emmanuel Asegem with a convincing lead of 90% of the comments in his favour.
Out of a total of 54 comments at the time of compiling this analysis, Chief Onwe had polled 37 in his favour, Dr Julius Okputu, six, Mr Mike Usibe, four, Mr Jude Ngaji two, Mr Godwin Ofiono, one, Ambassador Emmanuel Asegem, one positive comment while Dr Hippolatus Lukpata and Hon John Ulafor were yet to record any comment in their favour.
One interesting aspect of the poll is that the commentstors going by their names cut across all the tribes of Ukelle, Yala and Yache with majority of them polling in favour of Onwe.
In one moving comment, a lady by name Eganalydia Uwem wrote “Chief Henry Onwe is the answer. A man full (sic) with the capacity to do the job”
Another comment from one Elias Onah says “Chief Henry Onwe has no better competitor. He remains a loud voice for the voiceless masses’.
These comments by the people for a. keen in getting a competent Ukelle son at the House of Reps unambiguously have spoken for the teeming masses and if the election is conducted today Chief Onwe would clearly win with a wide margin.
Three other polls conducted earlier saw Chief Onwe successively beibg identified as the man best for the Ogoja/Yala Reps: position.
CHIEF Onwe emerged winner of first two earlier online polls conducted by social media influencers seeking to identify a preferred candidate among the plethora of aspirants gunning for the Ogoja/Yala House of Representatives post.
The first two were conducted by Ogar, Solomon Ogar and Hilary Uchiche on FaceBook both gave victory to Chief Onwe as the most popular aspirant as Chief Onwe victory.
The next after the two was by Yala Voice vote which had about 178 responses in reaction to the question, “Who is your next MP? Ogoja/Yala in mind”. The question did not provide any clue as to who are the contestants but the voters instantaneously provided the names. Among them are: Barrister Ofiono, Mike Usibe, Chief Henry Onwe, Jude Ngaji , Hon John Ulafor and Emmanuel Asegem who is a new entrant to the race.
In the poll, Chief Onwe had a clear lead with with 95 votes, Mr Mike Usibe, Six , Barrister Ofiono, Five, Jude Ngaji, Four, Emmanuel Asegem , four, Hon Ulafor and four votes respectively.
The question did not specify party lines and the responses were not also based on party lines.
In the Hilary Uchiche vote which was done on August 26, Chief Onwe also had a landslide victory by winning 60 percent of the votes.
In the one by Solomon Ogar, Chief Henry Onwe also comes tops in social media profile of five House of Reps aspirants. The listed aspirants include: Chief Henry Onwe, Dr Julius Okputu, Hon John Ulafor, Hon Ogona Lukpata and Hon Mike Usibe all from constituency one which has sympathy of the people.
Out of 199 comments monitored by our reporter, Chief Henry Onwe got thirty nine approvals, Dr Okputu, fifteen positive comments, Hon Usibe ten, Hon Lukpata four and two questioning if he ‘must taste all’ implying that must he contest all positions in the constituency?
The profile done by Ogar Solomon, a PDP apologist on his FaceBook page on Friday, 27/8 with the question, “who do you support for House of Reps Yala/Ogoja, “, many responses from both Yala Constituency One and Constituency Two gave Chief Onwe the nod to occupy the post.
Many comments identify Chief Onwe as human, selfless, approachable and kind.
One Friday Oleja says of Chief Onwe “let the youths have the mantle of power. Chief Henry Onwe is pragmatic and capable for the job”.
Another response from one Nwachukwu Onyeza ‘If you look at those occupying House of Reps seats from other constituencies you notice that the occupants are young and vibrant, Chief Henry Onwe is the best man for the job haven passed all tests like accessibility and youthfulness. Who the cap fits let him wear”.
Many responses of this nature can be read on Ogar Solomon’s page for confirmation.
The responses show a clear lead by Onwe and apparently, more interesting days are ahead.
