Lugard Osuji, a former Majority Leader of Imo State House of Assembly, has said he is in the race, to return to the State Legislature, to do more of effective representation for the people of Owerri Municipal.
Speaking to newsmen in Owerri, Osuji, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for Owerri Municipal State Assembly seat, said his records as a first time lawmaker, was impressive and outshines those of his predecessors and successors.
“No one can challenge my performance at the State Assembly.
“I initiated a total of 98 bills during my first tenure as member of the House.This is unprecedented” he said.
Osuji said he is in the race to win, arguing that Owerri municipal has never in the history of the State Assembly produced a Speaker or Deputy Speaker.
He said “Owerri Municipal has never produced a Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly.
“And I stand a chance to change this narrative and achieve this feat, if I return to the State Assembly a second time.
Osuji said he performed creditably during his first tenure in his oversight functions, by facilitating the creation of autonomous communities, administrative centres, indigenous wards, including facilitating the employment of 150 jobs for graduates for Owerri Municipal.
On his role during the demolition of Eke Ukwu Owerri market, Osuji said it was not in his capacity to stop the then Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha to demolish the market.
“I never played any role. Issues concerning markets are not within purview of the State Assembly. It is with the local governments.
“But, it is important to say that if Ikedi Ohakim had returned for a second tenure as Governor of Imo State in 2011, he would demolished the market.
“Ohakim had during his first tenure with the consent of some leaders in Owerri Municipal agreed that the Eke Ukwu market be demolished.
“He had sent some Owerri leaders to under study how markets in other States were re modelled. And he would have implemented his plan, if he had won a second term.
“And because government is a continum, Okorocha followed suit” the ex lawmaker stated.
He said APGA remains the party to beat, because the APC will become un-marketable to the electorate during the 2023 general elections