Mr. Mathew Uchechukwu Okorie (Ogwo South), on Wednesday, declared interest to represent Aba Central State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly come 2023.

Okorie with the campaign slogan; “Time To Change The Narratives” is running under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Mathew Uchechukwu Okorie who joined APGA in 2003, was the first Chairman, Igwebuike ward 3 Aba South. He was a councilorship candidate in 2008; ran for House of Assembly in 2019. He is happily married with 3 children.

Okorie who described himself as a bona fide stakeholder of APGA and the most qualified to fly the party’s flag for Aba Central State Constituency, has 10 points agenda which would change the narrative;

1. MOTION APPROACH IN LEGISLATION:

How to constructively present our motions and/or our augments on key issues relating to finance and other sensitive issues in the House in a way and manner they will be acceptable matter. The presentation of such hinging on hatred, biasness, old skirmishes or on party affiliations may certainly impede a good result at the end.

Why do I say so? You cannot get anything or change your father’s attitude by shouting or questioning him. However, with a good approach, you will win his heart. Therefore, the use of sentiments by a legislature in the presentation of motions or some augments in the hallowed chambers, as if in a war with the Chief Executive of the State or the Majority Party should be avoided in other to get the desired legislative result.

2. POSITIVE SOCIALIZATION /SHOW OF LOVE (A case study of Late Hon Ossy Prestige).
Am poised to building a good relationship with my honourable colleagues irrespective of party affiliation. This is because, once elected, there should not be differences along party lines amongst the legislatures, rather the House working in harmony as a single body to serving the people with sincerity of purpose, bearing in mind that the House is meant to serve the electorates
and not about serving along party lines.

Why do i say so?, Many law makers think that their services at all fronts are only for their party faithfuls, without extension of government programmes to the masses. This type of lopsidedness brings low development in the society.

3. INFRASTRUCTURAL REHABILITATION/EMPLOYMENT:

This would be made possible by welcoming suggested ideas from my special team and during stakeholders and town hall meetings on how to revive and rehabilitate some of the dead infrastructures in our constituency like the Glass Industry, Enyimba hotels, Incubator centre, Fire service to mention but a few.
This will happen by consultations of the relevant authorities in the government as well as constant meetings with the Governor and where necessary engaging the Traditional Rulers, Village Heads, Councillors, Local Government chairman, and other prominent leaders in the constituency for the way forward to achieve the goal, bearing in mind that the task can not be done by one person’s effort.
Championing such a course by bringing and engaging the stakeholders on discussion and fostering solutions would avail me with the boldness to seek for employment slots for my qualified constituents, when the chips are down.

4. CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS
These includes: Roads/Street maintenance, clearing of blocked gutters, provision of pipe borne water and community electrification.
This can be achieved firstly by identifying and taking proper statistics of those affected places in the constituency, through the help of the executives of those areas as we engage in regular bi-monthly meetings with them, unless on emergency situations.

5. EMPOWERMENT SCHEME PROGRAMME

We will engage the youths (Male and Female), cutting across the 8 political wards in Aba central State constituency on free skill acquisition training programmes. Such training would be lucrative and of high income pedigree of interest to the youths. This should be done up to the professional level, so as to achieve the best result on this regards.

6. EDUCATION/ SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

Since education is a key factor for development, we will have Education and Scholarship Scheme programmes.

This scheme would only be benefited by excellent but indigent students, who successfully passed their WAEC and JAMB examinations. More so, excellent students who do not have the resources to register for such examinations will also benefit from the scheme. However, all this will be done on merits through Education and Scholarship Scheme Qualifying Examinations.

7. FOOD BANK SCHEME

With my team, we will get some farm land, where we will engage energetic less privileged people on paid labour in for the production stable foods items like: yam, cassava, plantain, vegetables and the likes. The farm produce after harvest will be used in taking care of the less privilege people in our State constituency. In doing this, we will reduce the hunger rate and street begging in the society in general and our State constituency in particular.

8. SOCIAL PROGRAMMES/TALENT HUNTS

I will, engage the youths and fit adults of Aba Central state constituency on sports leagues and exercise competitions. These shall include: Football Leagues, Marathon Walk, Table Tennis Competition, Quiz Competition, Choir Singing Competition, Christmas Carol, Music talent haunt etc.
This will help discover talents that will be very useful to our society.

9. CONSTITUENCY OFFICE:

I have seen that a lot of state house of assembly members are not reachable or close to their people due to the fact that they do not have an assigned contact place within their constituency, where their constituents can come and see them for reporting or discussing some of their bothering issues.
Someone can also come into the office and drop his/ her opinion/ Suggestion at the suggestion box in the office, if the matter is not something that can be discussed immediately or face-to-face with the legislature or with our legal team.

This is why we will get the Aba Central State Constituency office when elected in a centralized place within our constituency that can be accessible by my constituents during my tenure.

10. LEGAL AID FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF MY CONSTITUENTS:

We will have legal experts that will engage in protection of the Fundamental Human Rights and fight against police intimidation/brutality and human rights abuses of our people Aba Central state constituency.

THE NARRATIVES MUST BE CHANGED TO BETTER OUR LIVES – Mathew Uchechukwu Okorie said.