Dennis Oguerinwa Amadi is member representing Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency of Enugu state in the House of Representatives, on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). He said the wave of cross carpeting of members of his party in Enugu state was no threat to the PDP because the party was rooted in the state.
What efforts are you making to fix Enugu/9th mile road that has been in a bad shape?
For the records, the first motion I moved on the floor of the House was a call on the Federal Government to urgently embark on total resurfacing and reconstruction of 9th mile – Obollo/Afor – Makurdi Road. The said motion raised all the security risks and economic implications of leaving the road dilapidated. The motion was supported by my colleagues who identified the strategic importance of the 9th mile as a gateway to all the geo-political zones of this country; It is equally gratifying to say that I am lucky because the Chairman, Committee on Works is from my Senatorial zone, Tobby Okechukwu and I am leveraging on his portfolio as a ranking member while also drawing from the huge goodwill from the healthy working relationship of the governor of my state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and our members of the National Assembly. These relationships have brought tremendous developmental strides to my constituency when added to those which the Deputy Senate President has continued to provide, for which I cannot begin to enumerate now.
As we speak, work has fully commenced on the Onitsha and Enugu bound of the road which transverse my constituency with additional by-passes constructed by Enugu state Government from both the Enugu axis and Onitsha axis of the 9th mile to ensure pressure reduction at the nerve center. Our vision is in line with the development plan of our state governor to ensure that 9th mile develops into industrial and commercial hub. That is what we have in mind for our people and we shall go all the length in supporting the state Government in realizing this noble goal. The by-passes already constructed have increased the value of lives of the people of my constituency. The value of land has appreciated, traffic along these areas increased thereby increasing patronage for itinerate traders around there.
What is the South-East caucus of the National Assembly doing to end the incessant attack of farmers in Enugu and other states in the region by Fulani herdsmen?
Legislators from the South-East especially members from Enugu state have been able to raise motions to rehabilitate and compensate our people who were victims of herdsmen attack, we ensured that the parliament condemned the killing of farmers in Enugu and other states. We opposed creation of grazing land in any part of South-East, just as our people travel to the Northern part of the country to purchase raw materials such as maize to run their poultry and fish ponds, our brothers in the North should do likewise if they feel that the grass in southern part of Nigeria is critical for the growth of their cow, then they are encouraged to purchase the grass in bulk and truck to their Ranches rather than creating grazing land all over the Country.
What can kind of compensation did the Federal Government give victims of herdsmen attack in Enugu state?
We mounted pressure on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other relevant agencies to visit the affected places for provision of relief materials.
What are some of the challenges you faced, while trying to deliver dividend of democracy to your people through legislation?
Yes, there are challenges that are visible in the course of legislation. By this I mean positive challenges which tries to put me on track daily especially as a first-timer in the National Assembly. Your ears must be on ground to hear if there is a policy that is of economic and political value to your people so as to strive to attract such accordingly. So, I will say that information management is the major challenge. You need to create opportunities and networks so that you will have access to people and they too can have access to you.
Which faction of PDP do you belong?
The crisis in my party is a learning curve of a large opposition party after been in power for 16years. We believe that the PDP which we are part of for 16years is a mass movement irrespective of what is going on; there would be solution in near future. So, I don’t belong to any faction rather, we in the National Assembly are members of PDP and we are doing everything to settle all issues accordingly.
When you say those in the National Assembly, are you not bothered about the increasing number of PDP lawmakers who have decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)?
Those who cross over from PDP to APC in Enugu are no threat to our party because Enugu is the heartbeat of Eastern Nigeria. The wave of cross carpeting of members of my party in Enugu should have been a threat to PDP but because the party is rooted in the state coupled with the visible impact of PDP leadership in Enugu especially the good works of the governor, the effect of such cross carpeting has no impact on the populace. Yes, APC is the ruling party at the centre hence the level of infiltration. Our people look up to their leaders especially the current leadership in my state led by my amiable governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. This is the reason I said, APC is not a threat to the survival of the conscious movement of our people who with their votes at the appropriate time will prove that Enugu aligns completely with good governance of their leaders and remain PDP state.