SIR DON UBANI; KSC, JP
(Okwubunka of Asa)

Former Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Abia State
Umuiku-Isi-Asa, Ukwa-West
E-mail: Ubanidon@yahoo.com
P.M.B. 7048, Aba
Phone: 08035523360
26TH FEBRUARY, 2016.

ABA-NORTH STATE CONTITUENCY RE-RUN ELECTION AND THE NEED TO VOTE FOR HON DAME BLESSING NWAGBA, Ph.D
SCRIPTED BY SIR DON UBANI

According to the time-table released for re-run elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, election will be conducted in Aba-North State Constituency on Saturday the 5th of March, 2016.
The People’s Democratic Party, P.D.P will, as expected, participate fully in the election, having her candidate as Hon (Dame) Blessing Nwagba, Ph.D. For the electorate to chose who would represent them in a state House of Assembly, certain fundamental questions must have to be asked and answered .
These questions would include; (1) What do the electorate need from the state government? (2) What relationship should exist between the electorate and the state government? (3) What quality of legislator do the electorate need in order to achieve their objectives? And (4) What role should the electorate play for their aims to materialize?
Without mincing words, the electorate, in any democracy, would always want the government to protect their lives and property and at the same time guarantee their welfare. Welfare, in this context, include provision of good health facilities, functional education, road infrastructure and creation of enabling environment that could give impetus for employment for the youths of the constituency.
In terms of relationship between the electorate and government, reciprocity is key. This means that as much as the electorate would want the government to play its part very well, they should also give government the impression that they are a very willing partner in government’s drive to improve on their welfare. They need not create the impression that they are not favourably disposed to the government of the day.
The legislature is a very important arm of government. Though the other two arms of government, the Executive and the Judiciary are also important, representation of the electorate in the legislature requires meticulousness on the part of voters. This is because the quality of a representative determines what he or she would be able to attract to his or her constituency. For a legislator to be efficient and effective, he or she should be very knowledgeable and versatile. A respectable and respected legislator is one that has an impressive pedigree. In fact, the more intimidating the legislator’s profile is, the better for his or her constituency.
Dame (Honourable, Mrs) Blessing Nwagba is the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, P.D.P. for the re-run election in Aba-North State constituency scheduled for 5th March, 2016. Hon Blessing Nwagba; admirably called Total Blessing by her numerous supporters and friends, is the daughter of a late Anglican Priest whose watch-words were discipline and conformity. This background of hers implies much. As the daughter of a Priest, she had the required discipline that saw her climb the ladder of academic pursuit, from Primary School, Secondary School, Higher Secondary School upto the University. In 1977, she obtained Grade one in the West African School Certificate Examination at Federal Government College, Odogbolu in Ogun State. At Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene in 1979, she set a record by obtaining four papers at a sitting in the Higher School Certificate Examination.
Progressively, she obtained a B.Sc in Sociology from the University of Lagos in 1983, M.Sc Sociology from the University of Port-Harcourt in 1989, having obtained a post graduate Diploma in Education from the same University in 1985. Still desirous of higher academic laurels, Dame Blessing Nwagba embarked on another academic pursuit that culminated in meritorious conferment of a Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D in her academic field of interest, sociology. From every indication, Dame Blessing Nwagba, having laboriously obtained the highest degree in her field of educational interest, is deeply educated and knowledgeable and fits in properly in modern day legislative responsibilities and challenges.
Dame Blessing Nwagba was happily married to late Pharmacist Israel Nwagba of Osusu village in Aba-North. The marriage was blessed with three children; two boys and a girl, three of who are doing very well in their different fields of endeavor.
In addition to her attainment of very commendable height in academics, an achievement that reduces others in the contest as mere pipsqueaks, Dame Blessing Nwagba is rich in practical experience in matters concerning government, politics and administration. She had worked as a Youth development officer in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in Abia State. In 1991, Dame Blessing Nwagba served as a supervisory councilor in the old Aba Local Government council. Between 2009 and 2011, Dame Blessing Nwagba diligently served as a Board Member at the University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan. In 1998 and 1999, this academic celebrity had served her good people of Aba-North as Deputy Chairman in Aba-North Local Government Council. To re-affirm to her that she was, indeed, a golden fish which glittering would not provide her a hiding place, her people of Aba-North State constituency overwhelmingly elected her as their representative in the Abia State House of Assembly in 2011 up to 2015.
While she was in the Abia State House of Assembly between 2011 and 2015, Dame Blessing Nwagba was deeply concerned about the welfare of her people of Aba-North state constituency. She influenced the rehabilitation of roads at the Ariaria International Market, construction of over-head bridge at Abia State Polytechnic, rehabilitation of Osusu road, Omenazu and Brass Junctions and an erosion intervention project at Eziama village. She also was zealous about economic empowerment of the youths of Aba-North State constituency. She procured and distributed, free of charge, empowerment items such as hair dryers, sewing machines, power generating sets, hair clippers, grinding machine, books and many other items.
Being an amazon in education, she regularly embarked on visits to educational institutions where she dolled out different kinds of materials to pupils and students, just to reduce the financial burden of parents. As the child of a priest, Dame Blessing Nwagba, took her time to visit the various churches and other organizations in her constituency to express her gratitude for their support which translated to her being elected member of Abia State House of Assembly.
Today, an erudite academic and blue-blooded son of Ukwa/Ngwa is the governor of Abia State. She is Okezie Victor Chibuikem Ikpeazu, Ph.D. In 2015 general election, many residents of Aba; the Enyimba City, voted against the People’s Democratic Party due to the neglect that Aba had suffered in the hands of previous P.D.P. governments. The story has changed! Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, whose cosmopolitan pride stems from Aba being his own native city has re-written the woes of many years of Aba residents. The Enyimba City has been turned into a huge construction sight. The administration of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is manifestly set to surpass the infrastructural achievements of late chief Sam Mbakwe, Ph.D as governor of Old Imo State.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is P.D.P! Dame Blessing Nwagba is also P.D.P!! Both of them are indigenous people of Abia-South senatorial zone. There is bound to be natural collaboration and corporation between both of them. The people of Aba-North state constituency are expected to appreciate the commitment of the Ikpeazu administration in fast-tracking infrastructural recovery of Aba by re-electing Dame Blessing Nwagba on Saturday 5th March, 2016. This, if done, would serve as motivation to Governor Ikpeazu’s zeal in Aba. There is no doubt the people of Aba-North state constituency are wise and would vote wisely.

Don Ubani