By Vincent Ujumadu

AWKA- TWO hundred and eight persons and 16 communities in Idemili North and Idemili South federal constituency of Anambra State have received empowerment that can touch their lives positively, courtesy of the member representing them in the House of Representatives, Hon Obinna Chidoka.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara cutting the tape to commission the items

The breakdown shows that 100 people received gas cylinders filled with gas, 52 got sewing machines, 15 were given motorcycles, 21 got grinding machines, 10 got generators, 10 received tricycles popularly known as Keke –NAPEP, while 16 communities were given electric transformers to improve power supply in their areas.

There was jubilation at the St Andrews Church field, Obosi as the beneficiaries took possession of their items. All the political wards in the federal constituency benefited from the largesse and some of the constituents who did not benefit were assured that it would be their turn next time.

Incidentally, the event coincided with the  90th  birthday anniversary of Ogbuechi Ben Ejikeme Chidoka, the father of the federal lawmaker, which attracted notable politicians from across the country.

Hon Chidoka, who was apparently overwhelmed by the array of notable politicians that graced the event, described the day as special for his family. Recall that Chidoka was first elected into the House of Representatives in 2007, but his victory was cut short by the courts after only 13 months. Perhaps because of what the people of Idemili North and Idemili South saw in him, they reelected in June, 2015 and luckily for him, he had been able to overcome all the litigation instituted by his political opponents.

Promising not to let Idemili people down in the House of Representatives for the confidence reposed in him, the federal lawmaker said: “I have multiple reasons to be grateful to God Almighty.

I believe the most befitting way to express my gratitude to God and reciprocate the honour Idemili people have done to me by electing me as their representative at the House of Representatives, is to empower some of our deserving sons and daughters through provision of trade tools to enable them put their skills to work and earn a decent living to support their families.

“I must admit that the items are not enough and I will not possibly satisfy the deluge of demand and requests from our people. However, we are taking the first step today and by the grace of God Almighty, we shall crack the hard nut of poverty among our people.”

According to him, the economic empowerment would be continuous and urged the people to be patient.

One issue worrying the federal lawmaker is the erosion menace devastating most communities in Anambra State, which, at the last documentation, numbered about 1000. As the chairman of the House Committee on erosion, Chidoka attracted to his empowerment programme, officials of the federal ministry of environment who he promised to show some of the sites, including those in his home town, Obosi.

Among notable politicians that attended the economic empowerment programme were the speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, former senate president, Anyim Pius Anyim, former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, as well as Chidoka’s colleagues in the House of Representatives.