It was a season of empowerment in Ebonyi…


The last Christmas holiday was used by large-hearted individuals in Ebonyi state to put smiles on the faces of the people. AMARACHUKWU EGWUAGHA captures some of those moments.

In Ebonyi state, politicians and philanthropists take advantage of festive seasons like Christmas, New Year and Easter to give back to their constituencies by empowering the people.
The year 2019 was not an exception as it recorded one of the most tremendous empowerment moments ever witnessed in the state.


It began with a senator


For instance, Chief Michael Ama Nnachi, a Peoples Democratic party (PDP) senator representing Ebonyi South Federal Constituency on December 27, celebrated the Christmas with the five local governments that make up his constituency where he gave out about three million naira and two thousand 2,000 bags of rice them.
While addressing them, he used the opportunity to thank them for supporting his election with a promise to do more.
“Why I gather you all here today is to thank you for all your support to me during the election. I want to appreciate you for insisting that I represent you at the National Assembly and you people really worked hard to put me there. I want to assure you of quality representation.


“Every local government area would take 400 bags of rice including five hundred thousand naira cash. I have released the money to Ohaozara council chairman for onward disbursement.”
As a result of this, his constituents were filled with joy for what they called democratic dividends.


In a reaction, Mr Ejem Okoro, special adviser to Governor David Umahi on capital territory development said, “To talk about democratic dividend and buoyant representation, Ebonyi South is lucky now. You can come and see Michael Ama Nnachi; you can sit with your senator and laugh with him. It has never being so before.”
Mr Nkama Nkama Ude, member Ebonyi state House of Assembly Commission said, “The senator has shown a different way of politics. Edda people have occupied that position for so long now, but I don’t think we have experienced this type of show of love to the people who made him to be there.” 
Describing the senator’s gesture as a departure from the old way of doing things, he said, “The five local governments that make up Ebonyi South Senatorial District are being hosted by the senator and it is a very big departure from the old way of doing things; we are very grateful that he has towed this line. It goes a long way to show that he has what it takes as a leader because he is not the first person to be there as a senator, yet this type of thing never happened and we are very grateful for he has shown our brothers from the southern senatorial zone that Edda people would not disappoint them.”


That was not all, on January 6, the senator hosted traditional rulers from his constituency led by Ezeogo Charles Azuenya of Ebeunwana community for the Christmas and New year celebrations where he also gave gifts and undisclosed amount of cash to them.
His wife, Mrs Clara Nnachi, also used the period to offset the hospital bills of some patients at Mater Miscordial Hospital, Owutu Edda who though discharged, but held back because they could not pay their bills.
According to one of the aides, David Eze Uka,”Still in the spirit of Christmas, the wife of the senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District, Clara Ijeoma Nnachi, today visited Marter Miscordial Hospital, Afikpo and Owutu General Hospital, Owutu Edda to offset  medical bills running in thousands of naria to discharge some patients who could not afford to pay their bills. She also used the occasion to celebrate with the staff and patients with cash gifts.”
“Also she celebrated the New Year with inmates of Afikpo Federal Prisons.”
The highpoints of the visit were intercessory prayers and admonition, feeding of the inmates and distribution of food items and cash. 
“The wife of the Senator promised to relate the needs of the inmates which included mattresses, blankets, mosquito nets, solar lighting and classroom block to her husband in order to get some aids and make the centre more conducive. 

“In addition, she promised the nine inmates who have some fines to pay that she would assist them to pay the fines in order to be released.
“She went ahead to promise some of the inmates that she would reach out to their family members to support them in ways she can.”


Also a reps member


In the same vein, Hon Chinedu Ogah, an APC law maker representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency on December 26, recorded the highest empowerment that dwarfed all other empowerments in the state.
The lawmaker gave out 20 tricycles popularly called Keke NAPEP, 150 motorcycles, cassava grinding machine, wrappers, food items to widows and cash. Ogah’s empowerment attracted thousands of people to his compound to the extent that there was a stampede.
Not only did he empower his people on December 26, the lawmaker on January 7 also spent over 12 million naira to register WAEC for 850 students.
A medical doctor gave back to his people
A medical doctor by the name Dr Osi from Ishiagu in Ivo Local Government Area of the state who experienced raw poverty and lived with it before his situation changed also returned to give back to his people.Osi on December 27 offered scholarships to 36 students studying in various higher institutions across the country and empowered thousands of people in the state.
He also empowered people from Ohanivo by distributing sewing machines to unemployed men and women of the constituency he had trained in Tailoring and Design. He also shared hair dryer to those who specialise in hair dressing, distributed generators, barbing saloon equipment among others. For the widows, he distributed wrappers and bags of rice. Aside all these, he offered free medical treatment and surgery for over 100 patients having eye problems.


While addressing them, he said, “I was born into one of the poorest of these communities. We had no place of living; we had no means of livelihood but today people live in our houses. I couldn’t pay school fees when I was a
child, I was severally sent home by my teachers for not paying my school fees during my primary school level. I stayed for two years at
home and started hustling. I was always taking first position in my primary school level and I had to hustle and reach elementary six after staying two years at home due to lack of school fees.
“I had the best results among my mates in that elementary six and I got scholarship and entered secondary school. From my
secondary school level, I entered the university also on scholarship. Without these scholarships, I wouldn’t have attended schools
let alone becoming a doctor today.
“This is why I decided to place students who are encountering what I passed through on scholarships to show that God is indeed God. “When God decides to bless a man, He goes to the poorest of the poor to prove that he is God.
“Today, it is not because I have so much but because the little I have, I have decided that those people who are from the same
background with me who are from very poor background would have a way to be liberated.
“Many may not have the opportunity to go to the university but learning what to do with your hands can help you to feed your family and stimulate your economy; hence we are sharing these empowerment materials to support as many as we can.
“I knew my mother from childhood as a widow because I lost my father at a tender age. Being a widow, my mother worked so hard to put food on the table. It was not easy. She didn’t have one wrapper to tie, today I have come
back to empower all the widows in this community. As much as we can afford; we would continue to help the poor in the society.”


A beneficiary lauds moves


One of the beneficiaries of the empowerments, Okoro Ngozi, expressed surprise at the gesture saying she never expected Osi to still provide
her with sewing machine after training her.
I’m very elated about this gesture and I pray God to continue to bless Dr Osi so that he would continue to remember us. I have been thinking how I can get a sewing machine to start working after undergoing training. Now, he has surprised me with this brand new machine. I would use it very well, make money and help others too,” she said. 

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