The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and member representing Aniocha Oshimili Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu has been described as a great asset, not only to the people of Aniocha/Oshimili, but the government and people of Delta State and Nigeria at large.
Chief Nkem Okwuofu, a member of the National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gave this commendation, when she spoke on the recent empowerment programme of the people of Aniocha /Oshimili Federal Constituency by Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu.
Chief Okwuofu, who led the selection committee to determine the beneficiaries of the empowerment programme, affirmed that the event was highly successful, saying that it was much bigger in volume and number, compared to that of last year.
In the recent empowerment programme, a total of 665 persons were empowered with empowerment items that included tricycles, motorcycles, high standard sewing machines, high capacity power generating sets and deep freezers, while 300 artisans were presented with cash grants of One hundred thousand naira each, to support their trade.
Okwuofu commended the Minority Leader for using his position to better the lives of his people in Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, noting that Elumelu has remained an epitome of good and selfless representation of the people of the Federal Constituency, in the House of Representatives.
She expressed joy that this year’s empowerment programme afforded them the opportunity to have the PDP National Chairman, Senator Dr Iyorcha Ayu, as well as other members of the National Working Committee and some members of the NEC of the party in attendance, to see what one of their own has been doing for his people, in Delta State.
“Last year, he did an empowerment programme and I was the arrow head of those who did the selection of who benefited and it was successful.
“This year again, he has done another one that is even larger in volume and in number, compared to what he did last year. This year’s event was again a very successful one.
“On the whole, we learnt from the mistakes we may have made last year and this year was a lot better. We have so far received commendations from a lot of people for the arrangement and for the orderliness of the programme and by the grace of God, everything was okay.
“You are aware that beyond the material things that he gave out, those things that you could just see; that is, tricycles, motorcycles, sewing machines, generating sets, and deep freezers, Hon. Elumelu also gave out one hundred thousand naira each, to three hundred persons who are basically artisans and who he felt needed to be supported in their trade. It was given out in cheques and in all that, he supervised the whole event and they all went well,” Chief Okwuofu revealed.
She further explained the process of selection of beneficiaries and said that beneficiaries were people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, from the over 40 wards across the four local Government areas, even as she debunked the insinuation that beneficiaries were delegates for the PDP primary election.
“People were insinuating that he gave it to delegates and all that, but that is not true. When we talk about three hundred artisans who received the cheque of Hundred Thousand Naira each, we don’t have three hundred delegates and those are outside so many persons who got other physical things.
“So obviously, it wasn’t meant for delegates, but for the people of Aniocha/Oshimili and those who are insinuating negatively are saying it because they want to pick holes in what Hon Ndudi Elumelu has done,” she said.
Chief Okwuofu however said that the empowerment programme, being an on-going one, will continue to expand and reach out to more constituents, even as she noted that Ndudi Elumelu has continued to bring about meaningful projects that have direct bearing to the lives of the generality of the people located in every town and communities in Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency.
“This empowerment programme is not just all that he is doing and luckily, you have always been around where I have represented Ndudi Elumelu in giving out empowerment to different grades and cadres of people; some to artisans, some to farmers and so on.
“At least since his inauguration into the 9th National Assembly, he has organized over five empowerment programmes and I have represented him in most of them.
“Before this mega one, you were with me in February this year where he gave empowerment to some youths who are musicians. They are in the music industry, but have no money to buy musical instruments. Ndudi bought state of the art musical instruments for them and I formally presented the instruments to them on his behalf.
“About five weeks ago, before the recent empowerment programme, he gave out cash grants to over a hundred youths who are basically farmers, to support them as they enter the new planting season. These people are not delegates, but Aniocha/Oshimili people who are legitimately engaged in farming.
“You must also know, I know you are fully aware that most of the villages and communities within the Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu has based one thing or the other, he has done one project or the other geared towards uplifting the living standard of the people since his assumption as the representative of the people of Aniocha/Oshimili in the present 9th National Assembly, not to talk of what he has done before.
“There is no Community that will say that they have not benefited from Ndudi Elumelu.
“Name the projects; Comprehensive civic centres, ultramodern community town halls, ICT Centres, construction of ultramodern Obi Palaces, provision of water schemes, rehabilitation of hospitals, construction of roads, and rehabilitation of security infrastructures, employment, appointment and educational placement in one institution or the other. These and many more are what he has done and continue to do in line with the mandate given to him by the people. All these are meant for the entire people of Aniocha/Oshimili who are enjoying the facilities and they are happy. They are not meant for delegates.
“So Ndudi Elumelu is a giver, a known giver, a generous giver and that is why, it will not surprise you to know that, as he gives, based on what has been entrusted to him by God, the same God keeps blessing him, and as God blesses him, he continues to give and that is what happens to a giver. We are very proud of him and we urge him to continue to do that which he does.
“Before he went to the National Assembly, he was giving. You don’t become a giver because you are in the National Assembly. Ndudi Elumelu has been a lover of the people and he has been a giver.
“This fellow is just a giver, selfless giver and all we can do for him is to encourage him to continue to do more and as long as he has the resources, he will continue to do more,” Chief Okwuofu assured.
The renowned political leader, who is known as the ‘Mother Of Government’ (MOG), further urged the people of Aniocha Oshimili to continue to support and cooperate with the Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu so that he will continue to give them proactive and selfless representation in the National Assembly, by ensuring that he gets the PDP ticket to enable him contest and win the 2023 General election.
“To whom much is given, much is also expected. This Man is not the first to have gone to the House of Reps, he is not the first to have gone for an election in our area. At different levels, we have had people; I just urge those who have gone to see what he is doing so that if they have another opportunity, they should learn.
“Those who are opting to go now, I also urge them to see what he is doing and when they get there they should do just that for the people.
“His Constituents in Aniocha/Oshimili are very happy with him and the only way to showcase it, which I normally tell them, is to come out en-masse and support this young man.
“I also urge delegates to support him, so that he can have the opportunity of going in for the general election and we are sure by the grace of God that he will win the general election and go back to continue to represent us,” she appealed.
