Anambra: Dunukofia will represent Anaocha, Njikoka, Dunukofia Federal Constituency – Commissioner

By Christiana Ekpa

Anambra State Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Development Partners, Mark Chukwuemeka Okoye, has said equity, justice and fairness demand that Dunukofia local government area produce the next representative for Dunukofia, Njikoka and Anaocha federal constituency in 2023.

Okoye, who spoke with journàlists in his office at the State’s Secretariat Complex in Awka, said Anaocha and Njikoka had produced representatives respectively for the Constituency, but Dunukofia has not and that it is only natural that Dunukofia be allowed to take its turn in the equation.

Okoye said since 1999, Anaocha has done 12 years, while Njikoka, according to him has done 12 years, expressing concern that Dunukofia has never had an opportunity in the House of Representatives since the onset of the 4th republic, adding that it is only equitable that Dunukofia takes its rightful position in the next political dispensation.

The commissioner, who disclosed that he is currently consulting with critical stakeholders across the Anaocha, Njikoka and Dunukofia Federal Constituency and beyond, maintained that he is most qualified to occupy the seat, given his wealth of knowledge and experience in public service and reach across the country.

Although he acknowledged the tremendous federal presence attracted to the area by the Senator representing Anambra-Central, Uche Ekwunife, as well as the House of Representatives member for Anaocha, Njikoka, Dunukofia Federal Constituency, Hon. Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo, he said a lot more needed to be done in the constituency, which according to him, is the remote reason he is nursing the ambition for the green chambers.

The Commissioner said Anambra political process is synonymous with equity, especially from the standpoint of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and that the process enabled Anambra-North to produce a governor since 1999.

He said the same equitable process produced Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo from Anambra-South; and therefore believed that equity will take its natural course in 2023.

Okoye however posited that he may not have been in the state legislature, but he is of the opinion that the House of Representatives requires a lot more experience than being in the state House of Assembly, noting that he has worked with Federal Ministries, agencies, parastatals and donors (such as the World Bank, European Union, USAID etc) and also understands the architecture and inner workings of these offices and organisations.

He believed therefore that as a former investment banker, coupled with his over 10 years as pioneer Executive Director at Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency and the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, places him in good stead to be in key and influential Committees within the House of Representatives where he would be in a position to attract more constituency projects to his Federal constituency and most importantly, Federal funding and development partnership support to aid the implementation of the Soludo Manifesto in Anambra.