Ekwunife Renders Stewardship, Backs Tinubu On Fuel Subsidy Removal

By Chuks Eke

The outgoing Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial zone, Senator Uche Ekwunife has presented an account of her stewardship in the Senate to members of her constituency.

The senator who addressed the members during a town hall meeting convened by her in Awka, said she is leaving the Senate as a proud politician, after performing very well, adding that she was not quitting active politics yet because she was too young and active to retire.

Ekwunife also supported President Bola Tinubu, saying that all presidential candidates said they would remove it.

She, however, called for the immediate and upward review of workers’ minimum wage to enable them to meet the challenges subsidy removal would throw up.

She said, “I support fuel subsidy removal. Incidentally, all the presidential candidates said they would remove the fuel subsidy immediately.

“But the President must look at the minimum wage. It must be reviewed and enhanced urgently for public servants to meet the challenges subsidy removal will throw up. I also hope the money saved will be used to provide basic infrastructure.

“This is my fourth and last town hall meeting as your senator. The next town hall meeting I will call will be in my personal capacity. I am here to recount my four-year journey because I held the position of trust for millions of my constituents.

“I am a fulfilled politician, and I leave the stage proud as a politician. Mine was not about occupying office and bearing the name of a senator, but about service, and service to the people. That was what we did.

“I sponsored 30 bills and moved 18 motions. I was the senator who stood on the Senate floor and spoke about the non-representation of the South-East on the board of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC). Former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed an Igbo son as a non-executive member to represent the South-East.

“We constructed roads in all the communities that make up my constituency’s seven local government areas. Human Capital Development educated women and youths on skills development and capacity building. We also trained Presidents-General of communities, present and past, as well as traditional rulers too.

“There was entrepreneurship training for youths. We provided employment to over 600 constituents. As a result of my work, many projects have been put into 2023, and most of them will be completed before the third quarter of this year. I sacrificed my personal gains, just to ensure I served you well.”

Ekwunife, who recontested the senatorial election under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform but was defeated during the February 25, 2023, senatorial election by the Labour Party candidate, Senator Victor Umeh, described her defeat as blackmail by her opponents.

On why she did not challenge the election outcome, the outgoing lawmaker said it was unnecessary, especially “for one who refuses to view politics as a do-or-die affair”.

“I decided not to challenge the result, let me relax and rest. Politics is not a do-or-die affair. Once your objectives are to serve the people, why are you fighting to serve them? You cannot win all the time. Politics is like a market, as you return, others go.

“I feel sorry that many people tried to pitch me against Peter Obi as if I was contesting the election against Obi.

“I was blackmailed by my opponents, to the point that every remark I made during the election was twisted against me. They even forged my letterhead, and issued fake press releases with my logo.”

“In Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during the flag-off of the PDP presidential campaign, I was called upon to speak. When I said that Nigeria needs a strong President, who can stand for the over two million Nigerians, and not a kindergarten president, they came to the town where I referred to Obi as a kindergarten president”.

“That event was televised live, and I did not mention anyone’s name. How could I have referred to Obi? How did they know that out of the 18 presidential candidates, it was Obi I was referring to?”

“On election day, they circulated bulk SMS, quoting me as insulting Obi, just to blackmail me and pitch me against Obi,” she recalled.