By Ifeoma Ejiofor
Residents of Awlaw community in Oji River LGA of Enugu State have called on Sen. Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West Senatorial District, to explain why the community has not benefited from any constituency projects in the past four years.
The demand was made on Monday during the monthly meeting of the Awlaw Strategic Development Initiative, held at the Sir GTN Tabansi Civic Centre in Ubaha.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the group resolved that all political office seekers must account for their stewardship before seeking re-election.
In a communique read at the event, the community specifically called on Sen. Ngwu to address what they described as “years of neglect and disdain” toward Awlaw people.
Speaking at the engagement, the Coordinator of Awlaw Strategic Development Initiative, Mr. Imah Felix, expressed concern that the community is only remembered by politicians during election periods.
Mr. Imah, who is also the Founder of the Center for Strategic Leadership and Youth Orientation, CENSTLEYO, said the era of empty promises is over.
“Government at the center has allocated ₦2 billion to each Senator and ₦1 billion to each member of the House of Representatives for constituency projects through the Zonal Intervention Fund,” he said.
“No project has been embarked upon by those representing Awlaw. We will no longer tolerate such insolence.”
He added that the community will no longer accept “Keke or Okada” as empowerment.
“In the next dispensation, our lawmakers must come to us, discuss with us on what we need as a people, and we will scrutinize their performance,” he asserted.
Also speaking, Ichie Martin Aguzi commended Mr. Imah for “opening the eyes of the people to the realities of political developments in the country.”
He said the entire Awlaw community stands solidly behind the initiative and its timely engagements.
The meeting, anchored by Mr. Agusi Levi Chimaobi, Mr. Okafor Chukwumah, Mr. Ibeachi Akasa, Mr. Onu Godwin and others, drew a large turnout of titled chiefs, youths, and women.
Highlights of the engagement included a question-and-answer session and a review of the Cooperative Loan Scheme launched in 2023. The scheme, which started with 27 groups, disbursed ₦25.6 million.