The just concluded national conference of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA in Owerri, the Imo State Capital, could be said to have afforded relevant stakeholders in Okigwe zone, the golden opportunity to call for the development of Okigwe senatorial zone and enable it be at par with other zones in the state.
At an expansive dinner outing organized in honor of the lawyers which was held at the Speakers? lodge in Owerri, the lawyers who came in their large numbers, together with their friends from other neighboring states, expressed optimism the decision of the Speaker to convene a get-together with the aim of rescuing the??zone from the throes of under-development.
In his speech, the chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mbano ? Etiti judicial division, Barr. Max Nwokenta, stated that members under the above division, which comprises lawyers in the present day Okigwe zone of the state, were appreciative of the giant strides Uwajumogu has made in his capacity as the Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
Barr. Nwokenta, who could not hide his joy at the Speaker?s positive disposition towards the development of the zone, disclosed that Rt. Hon. Uwajumogu, remained the only political officer holder, both past and present from the zone, who has appreciated with deep respect, the contributions of the members of the bar to the growth and sustainable development of the Okigwe senatorial zone.
The chairman, further described the Speaker as one of the strongest pillars of the ongoing transformation of the state, adding that his fruitful handling of the state Assembly over the past three years was an eloquent testimony of his assertive leadership qualities aimed at bettering the lots of the people.
He commended?Rt. Hon. Uwajumogu, for his unbeatable tract record and purposeful leadership in the zone, as well as his humane personality and political sagacity, maintaining that the level of development recorded in the zone has changed the famous deriding aphorism which states that other zones in the state have been fully developed except Okigwe and Orlu.
He also thanked the Speaker for his hospitality, humility and strong passion for service, assuring that lawyers from the zone would reciprocate such an uncommon gesture at the appropriate time.
Responding, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu, stated that the decision to host the lawyers was informed out of the need to familiarize with his brothers in the legal profession who hail from the zone to brainstorm on how to move Okigwe zone forward without any political coloration, adding that the National conference of the NBA had offered the ample opportunity to fraternize with them.
He described the judiciary as one of the potent factors in any surviving democracy, pointing out that the role of the judiciary in nation building cannot be over-emphasized, even as he expressed joy that the lawyers from the Okigwe zone of the state have succeeded in making the area proud.
On the activities of the state house of assembly in the last three years, the speaker averred that the house has created a viable frame work which has midwifed the speedy development of the state through the enactment and passage of bills and motions which have direct impact on the welfare of the people of the state.
Rt. Hon. Uwajumogu, maintained that the visionary transformations being witnessed across the nooks and crannies of Okigwe zone were the brain child of strong legislative backing effected by his leadership.
He further asserted that the total renewal of Okigwe town to give it urban status, the construction of the Malaysian international modern market located in Obowo, establishment of the state college of education (technical) Ihitte Uboma and the attraction of the Umunakanu campus of the Imo State Polytechnic, the proposed Imo Turkish University to be cited in Obowo, as well as numerous road construction projects scattered in the area were indications of his desire to continue with his service to the people.
He also thanked them for identifying with the current wind of change in Okigwe zone and pledged his continued support to the programs of the lawyers to enable them succeed.
