…Receives ecclesiastical blessings
By Abuchi Onwumelu
Following his continued consultation and drive for support from relevant stakeholders, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for Orumba North State Constituency election, Hon. Arch. Emeka Aforka last Tuesday visited the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka.
Hon. Aforka during the visit received ecclesiastical blessings from the influential Catholic Prelate.
Bishop Ezeokafor who took his time to pray and bless the former Orumba North Council boss assured him of his continued prayers and support.
Hon. Aforka who was accompanied on the visit by the Director General of his Campaign Organization and State Assistant Secretary of APGA, Hon. Joe Onwuchekwe and other members of his team said he deemed it necessary to pay what he described as son-to-father visit to the bishop, noting that the visit would avail him the opportunity to intimate the bishop about his intentions to represent the Orumba North State constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly as well as solicit for his support and prayers.
Intimating the bishop about his achievements, Hon. Aforka said he mounted street lights along Ufuma Junction and other places in Orumba North, noting that his administration also mounted 12-units street lights at the council’s headquarters, even as he said that he also asphalted and opened up many rural roads in Orumba North including asphalting of the council’s headquarters.
On the construction of markets, Aforka stated that the four major markets in Orumba North had his legacy projects.
“Eke -Oko market is wearing a new look courtesy of my administration. Immediately I came in, I started rebuilding dilapidated and moribund markets. We commissioned the first phase at Afor Ufuma market. We are constructing a storey building at Afor-Udo Nanka. We constructed 6-unit VIP toilets; one at Afor-Udo Nanka, Eke-Oko, Oye-Ndiowu, Afor-Ufuma and Awgbu market. We are also sinking water borehole. Go to these markets and see things for yourself. Virtually all the markets in Orumba North have received adequate attention.
“When I came on board as the chairman of this Local government, the whole of this headquarters was bushy; overgrown with weeds, reptiles and dangerous animals everywhere. I said to myself, I am going to change the narrative. We cannot do our administrative business in a place like this. I started asphalting the entire place. Today, Orumba North headquarters is one of, if not the most clean and neatest council’s headquarters. I gave Orumba North traditional rulers a befitting office.
“I inherited a project which is the construction of over 4 kilometres of road (Agric road-Ufuma-Umuonyiuka road). I completed that road. My administration paid and completed the asphalting of over four kilometres of road. Not only that, I created a lot of virgin roads in many communities including Ndiowu. You can ask questions. A place where there is no road I have to put bulldozers and every other heavy equipment, bring down the hills and make sure that the road is motorable. Today, most of the virgin roads I discovered are asphalted. It is not easy. I built numerous culverts. In Awgbu alone, I constructed three culverts during my first tenure. I renovated many primary schools in some other communities
“I renovated and equipped health centre at Ndiokolo community; I controlled flood havoc at Amaokpala community. I built a mini bridge at Ajalli community; a road that was inaccessible for almost five years. I came, within six months, I made it accessible. I invited the wife of the governor, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano to come and commission the bridge. She came and was highly impressed with my performance. I do not like blowing my trumpet. I know I have worked and I am still working”, Hon. Aforka concluded.
The Umudiabor Ndiowu born politician noted that his decision to run for state Assembly election was borne out of his burning desire to offer the people of Orumba North the best representation they could ever think of, even as he said that he was mentally and physically sound to get the job done, adding that he had been tried, tested and trusted.
The immediate past Orumba North Council boss said he would enhance youth empowerment and human capital development, saying that he intended to achieve the goal through establishment of an empowerment programmes that would accommodate children, indigent people, youths and women in his constituency.
He said he would genuinely support and assist the Governor of Anambra State towards delivering the much needed dividends of democracy to Anambra people and Orumba North Constituency in particular, noting that he would actively participate in enacting good and quality laws and sponsoring bills that would promote good governance in Anambra State.
Hon. Aforka said he would introduce and promote programmes that would motivate his constituents to participate positively and efficiently in Agricultural revolution in other to ensure food security and eradicate hunger and poverty among his constituents, noting that he would ensure and promote peaceful and enduring cordial relationship between the executive and legislative Arm of government in other to enhance effective development of Anambra State.
The two-time Orumba North Local Government Chairman said he would participate actively in the fight against environmental degradation and erosion menace which, he said, had become a nightmare to the people of Orumba North, adding that he would ensure equitable distribution and execution of constituency projects across the sixteen (16) communities according to Need-Assessments.
According to the renowned grassroots mobilizer, he had acquired enormous wealth of experience in politics and governance through a very long dedication to duty, self-discipline, hard work and perseverance.
Speaking on the political offices held in the past, Hon. Aforka said on 5th April, 2007, he was appointed as a caretaker member and supervisory council for works in Orumba North by the former Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi.
His words, “I served as APGA’s State Assistant Publicity Secretary for eight years (2007-2011), appointed the Chairman of Orumba North council area by former Governor Peter Obi from June 13th, 2011 to January, 27th, 2014. I was appointed as a member in Anambra State and Local Government Joint Account and Allocation Committee (JAAC) from year 2011 to 2014.
“On 12th August 2014, I was appointed as a Coordinator Political Liaison Officer/Executive Assistant to the Governor by His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano. On 23rd August, 2016, I was appointed as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Political Strategy. On March 27th, 2017, I was appointed for the second time, as the Chairman Orumba North Local Government by Governor Willie Obiano.
“I was appointed as member, Anambra State and Local Government Joint Account and Allocation Committee by the Governor from 2007-2018. In October 4th, 2018, I contested for primary election of APGA and emerged the candidate to represent Orumba North Constituency in the Anambra House of Assembly, Awka”, he concluded.
Presentation of Orumba North at 27 celebrations brochure to the bishop and prayers formed the highpoints of the visit.
Photo: Hon. Emeka Aforka presenting Orumba North at 27 Celebrations brochure to the Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka.
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