RAYMOND OZOJI reports
The House of Representatives member representing Ihiala Federal Constituency at the Green Chambers of the National Assembly Abuja Rt. Hon. Dr. Paschal Arinzechukwu Agbodike has been conferred best performing legislator award by the Coalition of Ihiala Students' Association across Nigeria.
The conferment which took place at Kojack Hotel Okija Ihiala Local Government Area at the weekend, was described by the youths as a recognition deserving of a legislator whom they have monitored closely and followed his activities from his days in the state assembly prioritizing the affairs of youths in his legislative agenda.
Although the youths expressed discontentment that some of the elected representatives of Ihiala extraction have failed them woefully as they have abandoned and forgotten them completely after voting them into the offices they occupy presently, they maintained that Rt. Hon. Dr. Paschal Arinzechukwu Agbodike stands out and doesn't belong to the category of those they described as failed representatives.
Speaking to HEADLINE NEWS at Kojack Hotel, one of the youths who identified himself as Comrade Nnabuife Stanley Chekwube commended Agbodike for what he described as quality representation that the federal lawmaker has given Ihiala people.
Nnabuife who hails from Ubuluisiuzo in Ihiala Local Government Area, noted that Paschal Agbodike represented Ihiala 2 state constituency for 8 years before his inroad into the National Assembly. He maintained that in those 8 years, Agbodike didn't abandon the youths of Ihiala Local Government Area instead he was always available to attend to their needs.
He said because of Agbodike's responsive and responsible representation, the entire youths of Ihiala Local Government Area are vehemently supporting his ambition to represent Anambra-South senatorial zone at the Red Chambers of the National Assembly.
Comrade Nnabuife who is the former president of Ihiala Local Government Students of the Federal Polytechnic Oko and currently the president of All Anambra State Students Federal Polytechnic Oko, commended Agbodike for initiating a scholarship scheme for one thousand indigent students of Ihiala origin.
He was however of the candid opinion that marginalization of Ihiala youths by some elected representatives is real such that the youths are being denied their collective rights from their legislative representatives at the state assembly.
He said rather than represent the interests of the youths that voted them into office, they embark on personal aggrandizements representing their families, friends and cronies, adding that the youths of Ihiala Local Government Area have resolved to stand up for their rights and will never give up the fight until the needful is done by those in government.
Meanwhile the Chief of Staff to Rt. Hon. Dr. Paschal Arinzechukwu Agbodike, Mr. Muomaife Uche Chukwumaijem, who received the award on his behalf, said Agbodike doled out brand new laptop computers and modern printers, sewing and grinding machines and a host of other empowerment items to Ihiala youths just recently.
He also informed that Agbodike has trained many Ihiala youths on diverse economic skills and assisted them with empowerment materials to enable them to set-up their own small scale enterprises.
The legislative aide who stressed that Agbodike is committed to youth development equally disclosed that Agbodike has pledged to sponsor one thousand indigent students of Ihiala origin in schools across Nigeria, which he said will commence in the next academic session this year.
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