The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has said that he will not be contesting for the Enugu West Senatorial seat come 2023 general election.
Ekweremadu who disclosed this yesterday in Enugu in an address to mark his 57th birthday thanked his constituents for keeping him in the senate in the past 16 years and for renewing his mandate for another four years in the upper chamber.
While admitting that Enugu West Senatorial Zone was highly blessed with enormous human resource, he however pledged to support the choice of his constituents for the senate come 2023 as well as put in his best to ensure that he or she not only succeeds in the journey to the Senate, but also benefits from whatever experience and contacts he had garnered over the years for the good of his people and the nation.
According to him,” My dear brothers and sister, you must admit that no matter how melodious a song may be, it will definitely have an end. Therefore, as I thank you for these 16 memorable and splendid years as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; as I thank my distinguished colleagues for honouring me as the Deputy President of the Senate for three consecutive times; as we recall the accomplishments of the projects of my representation in the last 16 years; as I acknowledge your kindness in keeping me in the Senate for these 16 years; and as I prepare to further represent you by your mandate for the next four years, let me seek your understanding and indulgence to now announce that this will be my last term as your Senator.
“As I earlier mentioned, Enugu West is highly blessed with human resources. And as we diligently search for my successor, you can rest assured that I will support your choice and put in my best possible to ensure that he or she not only succeeds in the journey to the Senate, but also benefits from whatever experience and contacts I have garnered these years for the good of our people and the nation.
“Importantly also, as we get set for the 9th Senate, be assured that I will focus on completion of all ongoing projects we attracted as well as ensure that communities that are yet to benefit from our vision in infrastructure adequately benefit. Indeed I will work with other patriotic Nigerians within and outside the National Assembly and across party, ethnic, and religious lines to address issues of disunity, insecurity, and poverty currently threatening our nation. I believe that together we can pioneer a new order characterised by peace, justice, unity, prosperity, egalitarianism, and boundless opportunities for all”.
Recounting his achievements in the senate in the last 16 years, Senator Ekweremadu admitted that the road infrastructure in the zone had remarkably improved adding that the Awka-Ugwuoba-Oji River-Nachi-Udi-9th Mile-Abor-Ukehe-Opi road had just been awarded having worked on that over the past three years.
“Two weeks ago, the federal government graciously awarded the contract for this all-important road. I am grateful to the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government and all those who contributed to the realization of this project, especially my representative, who is also the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Works, Hon. Toby Okechukwu. With this, Enugu West will link up with Enugu North at Opi on solid asphalt road, at the same point Enugu East also links up with Enugu North as a symbol of the divine trinity of Enugu State. We are indeed one people under God.
“We have made progress in electricity and water supply to our various communities. Our Water for All in Enugu West Initiative is achieving its vision. I am informed by the Management Committee of the Water for All Initiative Enugu West led by Engr. Jonathan Ivoke that we have good fund in the account of the Initiative and that we will further provide water to about 20 of our communities in next 60 days with our drilling rig, which we acquired for the purpose in 2017. We have built, rebuilt, and we are still building and rebuilding schools, churches, health centres, and civic centres, among others.
“Our human capital development projects are on the upward trajectory. We have assisted several of our young people with employment in public service. Through the Ikeoha Foundation, we have supported 3,843 undergraduates with bursary awards, 87 undergraduates are currently enjoying full scholarship, while over 12,155 women and youth, who were unable to receive formal education and who otherwise would have been left behind in education and technology have received basic education courtesy of the Ikeoha Foundation Adult Literacy Programme. The Foundation has provided support to the poor and succour to our widows in addition to providing healthcare through our annual healthcare outreach. But most importantly, we have united our people. Today, Enugu West is one people with one destiny. We must ensure that this is irreversible; and by the grace of God, it will be irreversible”, he said.
The Deputy Senate President who traced his political history with his emergence as the Chairman of his age grade at the age of 10, President-General of Mpu Town Union, Aninri Local Government Chairman, Chief of Staff, Government House, Enugu, Secretary to Enugu State Government and then Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria attributed his political achievements to the grace of God.
“So, my dear brothers and sisters, we are assembled here today, not to celebrate, but to mark the awesomeness of God in my life and to thank you all for standing by me over yet another year of trauma in my politics and helping me in the psychological management of the aforesaid family tragedies, the attempt on my life and the lives of my family members, the assault on my liberty, and all the evil designs of the evil people in our society against my person and my politics. I have indeed been through fire and brimstone these past four years in particular. I have also been through the valley of the shadow of death. I have been scorched and bruised for my political beliefs and determination to defend the principles of democracy and uphold justice for every segment of this nation. But in all this, God has been on my side. You have also remained my bulwark and source of inspiration. Without the almightiness of God and your fidelity and support, I would not have been here to acknowledge the triumph of the grace of God and your goodwill over the evil intentions of wicked souls in high and low places of our society”, he added.
Send your news, press releases/articles to augustinenwadinamuo@yahoo.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @ptreporters and on Facebook on facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526, 08053908817.
