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Speech by Rep. Sir Sam Ifeanyichukwu Onuigbo FCIS, FNIM, KJW (Odozi obodo Gburugburu) declaring his intention to contest for the Abia Central Senatorial Seat in the Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 National Assembly election on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Odoziobodo Hills Obuohia Obi Ibere, Ikwuano LGA, Abia State
Time to Invest Experience in Renewed Hope.
My dear good people of Abia Central Senatorial District, it is with great sense of responsibility and historical imperative that I stand here before you to declare my intention to contest the Abia Central Senatorial seat in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in next year’s general election.
I have consulted with my immediate family, friends and associates on this historic decision. This gathering of my extended political family and leaders of our great party, the APC, is part of this ongoing conversation to engender commonality of understanding and ensure that we embark on this journey as a united family.
Right from my early life journey, I have always dedicated my attention on how to render service. This is supported by the motto of my organisation; Odoziobodo which is Service to Humanity.
This knack for leadership through humble service found concrete expression in my nearly 18 years of unbroken and meritorious service with the US Embassy (Consulate General) in Lagos.
That diplomatic environment was the precursor to my community development vision and the actions that followed. It was there that I was first elected in December 1991 and inaugurated in February 1992 to represent quality people at the US Mission to Nigeria like the great people of Abia Central.
Recall that I had my humble beginnings around this Odozi Obodo Hills – not far from this spot. I hunted rats, squirrels and other animals in the surrounding bush. It was also here that I trekked a total of 12 kilometres a day going and returning from school, felt the pain of doing so and wondered what the future would hold. Never did I know at the time that these experiences would crystalise or mould my understanding of life, and the drive to be of service to humanity.
That experience led to my decision to attract some classroom blocks to my alma mater , Community Primary School Obuohia Obi Ibere, from the United States’ Consulate.
Although the construction of classroom blocks was not the equivalent of constituency projects, that effort came as part of sustained advocacy and pressure on the US Embassy to ease the congestion of Primary School children in my local community.
I also conceived the plan to attract to my community a secondary school to ease the suffering of future generation of students and overcome the suffering of
trekking more than 12 kilometres in their bid to access secondary education like I did during my time. I brought US Ambassador in Nigeria to lay the foundation of Ambassador’s College in this village. This College has stood the test of time, and it is still standing today to the glory of God.
Apart from the classroom blocks and secondary school I attracted to the community, my 18 years’ stint as a staff of the United States Consulate in Lagos helped me to hone skills in public policy, as well as hands-on experience in diplomatic, legislative, and policy leadership experience across governance and international cooperation.
With due respect, I make bold to say that riding on these unparalleled skills acquired at the US Embassy in various positions of Supervisory Fraud Prevention Specialist, I was privileged to serve Abia State meritoriously as Commissioner for Lands & Survey (2011–2012) and Finance (2012–2013), respectively.
My journey towards excellence in public service also led me to Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives during the 6th National Assembly.
As God will have it, at about this time in 2015, I was elected to represent the good people of Ikwuano/Umuahia North and Umuahia South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives for two consecutive terms (2015–2019; 2019–2023). To date, I was the representative to have been re-elected in this great federal constituency.
In 2020, when some people decided to play god, I identified myself with the dire need for progressive politics and moved from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). It was a great show of political foresight, because in recent times, most of those who celebrated impunity in PDP have found their way into APC or somewhere else. I feel vindicated, not only because these power mongers have seen what I saw like John the Baptist, but above all, that the present times and season dictate that honour should be placed beyond political expediency.
By declaring for the Senate contest, I wish to assure you, my people; that I will always reflect humility, integrity, honour and diligence in the work of representing you. I have shown myself a good ambassador to our community, state and people by the string of excellent record of achievements in my previous assignments.
For instance, today, the singular signature legislation that catapulted Nigeria into global reckoning in sustainability was sponsored by me, your son. As a result of that unique achievement, many domestic and international organisations have recognised me with various honours and awards.
I say these with every sense of modesty, but most importantly to put it on record that the mandate I seek as your Senator is not for selfish aggrandisement.
Rather, I feel elated that I am not only doubly qualified to serve our zone as Senator, but also confident to bring you honour and accomplished representation. I am bold to say that my journey to the Nigerian Senate is to invest my rich experience and reflect hope as enacapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda of our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
I wish to state that the consolidation of the Renewed Hope Agenda is predicated on the preponderance of qualitative lawmakers in the 11th National Assembly. Consequently, Abia State, as God’s Own State, cannot afford to send intellectual Lilliputs, or persons of doubtful pedigree to the next star-studded National Assembly being envisaged by Nigerian nation led by President Tinubu and Nigerians.
What this calls for is that only those that have been tried, tested and not found wanting, either in character, carriage and comportment deserve your support to represent Abia Central Senatorial Zone in the 11th Senate.
Let me use this opportunity to thank the leaders and members of Abia Central chapter of APC for supporting me to fly the party’s flag in 2023. I commend you immensely for that stalwart, because it confers on me the right of first refusal and defending champion in the forthcoming Senatorial poll come January 8, 2027.
I have continued to engage in issues of national and international importance to buttress the fact that I possess the strong voice and network to represent Abia Central Senatorial Zone in the Red Chamber come June 2027.
My excellent people of Abia Central, while the coming election season provides opportunity for many individuals to show up in search of your mandate, please do well to base your consideration on proven track records on personal integrity and sense of responsible performance.
If supported to represent our zone in the Senate, I will ensure that every ward, state constituency and local government will serve as fulcrum of representation through a seamless constituency consultation strategy.
I have produced a small magazine to serve as a brief outline of what I have been able to do in the past, believing accountability should be the watchword of every ing more than 12 kilometres in their bid to access educational facility.
Apart from the classroom blocks and secondary school I also attracted a Secondary School to my community to ease the pain of students who had trek 12 kilometres to and from school every schoolday, my 18 years’ stint as a staff of the United States Consulate General in Lagos helped me to hone skills in public policy, as well as hands-on experience in diplomatic, legislative, and policy leadership experience across governance and international cooperation.
With due respect, I make bold to say that riding on these unparalleled skills acquired at the US Embassy in various positions of Supervisory Fraud Prevention Specialist, I was privileged to serve Abia State meritoriously as Commissioner for Lands & Survey (2011–2012) and Finance (2012–2013), respectively.
My journey towards excellence in public service also led me to Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives during the 6th National Assembly.
As God will have it, at about this time in 2015, I was elected to represent the good people of Ikwuano/Umuahia North and Umuahia South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives for two consecutive terms (2015–2019; 2019–2023). To date, I was the only representative to have been re-elected in this great federal constituency.
In 2020, when some people decided to play god, I identified myself with the dire need for progressive politics and moved from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). It was a great show of political foresight, because in recent times, most of those who celebrated impunity in PDP have found their way into APC or elsewhere. I feel vindicated, not only because these power mongers have seen what I saw like John the Baptist, but above all, that the present times and season dictate that honour should be placed beyond political expediency.
By declaring for the Senate contest, I wish to assure you, my people; that I will always reflect humility, integrity, honour and diligence in the work of representing you. I wish to restate that I will continue to run on my principle of EAR – Effectiveness, Accessibility, and Responsiveness. I have shown myself a good ambassador to our community, state and people by the string of excellent record of achievements in my previous assignments.
I have listed below just a few of the projects that I facilitated to our federal constituency and state when I represented the people of great Ikwuano/Umuahia North and Umuahia South Federal Constituency.
Additionally, in my two terms in the House of Representatives, I moved critical motions for the benefits of my constituents and wider Nigerians. I attracted and executed many projects in Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency of Abia State. The communities that were impacted by these projects are here today and can testify. Such projects included:
● Rehabilitation of the failed sections of the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene federal road in December 2016 to April, 2017;
● The ongoing total reconstruction of the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene federal road awarded in 2019;
● The facilitation of the design of the Umuahia-Umudike 16 Kilometres Dualization Project with an interchange (flyover) from Amachara to Ossa Ibeku;
● Facilitation of the construction of a Federal Secretariat to Abia State after 34 years of its creation;
● Erosion control work at Ukwudara Amankwo Ezeleke, Amachara, Umuopara in Umuahia South LGA;
● Erosion control works at Okweukwu Oboro-Obuohia Road in Ikwuano LGA;
● Major electricity project at Usaka and so many other projects that can be verified.
The restoration in 2025 of the delisted Management Sciences Courses from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) since 2016/2017
Additionally, today, the singular signature legislation that catapulted Nigeria into global reckoning in sustainability was sponsored by me, your son. As a result of that unique achievement, many domestic and international organisations have recognised me with various honours and awards.
I say these with every sense of modesty, but most importantly to put it on record that the mandate I seek as your Senator is not for selfish aggrandisement.
Rather, I feel elated that I am not only doubly qualified to serve our zone as Senator, but also confident to bring you honour and accomplished representation. I am bold to say that my journey to the Nigerian Senate is to invest my rich experience and reflect hope as enacapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda of our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
I wish to state that the consolidation of the Renewed Hope Agenda is predicated on the preponderance of qualitative lawmakers in the 11th National Assembly. Consequently, Abia State, as God’s Own State, cannot afford to send intellectual Lilliputs, or persons of doubtful pedigree to the star-studded National Assembly being envisaged by Nigerians and President Tinubu.
What this calls for is that only those that have been tried, tested and not found wanting, either in character, carriage and comportment deserve your support to represent Abia Central Senatorial Zone in the 11th Senate.
Let me use this opportunity to thank the leaders and members of Abia APC, especially Abia Central chapter of our great party for supporting me to fly the party’s flag in 2023. I commend you immensely for that stalwart, because it confers on me the right of first refusal and defending champion in the forthcoming Senatorial poll come January 8, 2027.
I have continued to engage in issues of national and international importance to buttress the fact that I possess the strong voice and network to represent Abia Central Senatorial Zone in the Red Chamber come June, 2027.
My excellent people of Abia Central, while the coming election season provides opportunity for many individuals to show up in search of your mandate, please do well to base your consideration on proven track records on personal integrity and sense of responsible performance.
After nearly 27 years of unbroken democratic dispensation, Nigerians should be able to elect leaders who deserve to lead them based on their verifiable track records of genuine and transparent accomplishments.
If supported to represent our District in the Senate, I will ensure that every ward, state constituency and local government will serve as fulcrum of representation through a seamless constituency consultation strategy.
I have produced a small magazine to serve as a brief outline of what I have been able to do.
