In this piece, Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka, Our Managing Editor, in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), informs the public that on his birthday in Abuja, the Labor Party’s candidate in Orumba North/South Federal Constituency of Anambra State, Chibuike Echem (the Okenwa Ogbunka and Orumba) received more than birthday wishes. Leaders of Orumba in the FCT endorsed him for House of Reps, citing generosity, experience and a promise to move beyond boreholes to, among others schools, health and jobs. Excerpts.
It was meant to be a birthday. But on Wednesday in Abuja, the celebration of Chibuike Echem, the Okenwa Ogbunka and Orumba, the LP candidate for Orumba North/South, turned into a town hall on leadership.
The hall was filled with Orumba sons and daughters resident in the FCT, as well as people from all works of life. To them, Echem is not just “candidate.” He is “Okenwa Ogbunka,” a title earned from years of paying school fees and helping families back home.
The first endorsement came from Chief Ugochukwu Johnson, Chairman, Ogbunka Development Union (ODU), in the FCT. From Awukka Ogbunka, he spoke with the directness of an elder.
“For the constituency, he is the most qualified for the job,” Chief Johnson said. “From his wealth of experience, we have confidence that he will deliver. He has our full support.”
When asked what experience, he pointed to Echem’s track record: former President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria and holder of several other positions.
“Just let him keep believing in God, and then keep being a good person that he has always been,” the ODU chairman added.
The second voice was Ikenna Nwankwor, President General of Orumba Town Peoples Union, FCT, an umbrella body for all towns in Orumba North and South.
Nwankwor’s test was simple: look at the crowd. “You can see the caliber of people that attended this birthday. It shows that he’s of the people in Orumba that has what it takes to represent us.”
He described Echem as “a very benevolent human being, a generous man” who has been consistent in supporting education in Ogbunka.
That generosity, he said, is why a young man was made a patron of the Orumba Peoples Union in Abuja. “At his age, he’s supposed not to be a patron, but because of what he’s doing, we made him one.”
But the endorsement came with a challenge. Nwankwor did not hold back on past federal representation of Orumba North/South.
“If you watch the representation of Orumba people at the federal level, you will see that it all entails people coming to tell us I will do this, I will do that, and when they enter, they will not do anything.”
His frustration: “They will just partake in only sinking boreholes. They think that it’s only borehole that people need. But most people can afford boreholes.”
He listed what the constituency truly needs: schools, hospitals, electricity, quality legislation, women and youths empowerment and programmes to pull people out of poverty through SMEs.
“These are parts of the dividend of democracy,” he said. And he believes Echem is different because “Okenwa emphasized more on education. That’s why he’s paying so many children’s school fees.”
When Echem addressed the gathering, he returned to purpose. “The reason behind my motivation is to serve, not to be served,” he said. “Since all my life, I have been serving and I still want to continue to serve the people.”
He admitted contesting previously under YPP for Orumba South. That experience, he said, showed him what was missing: focus on education, health and empowerment.
“Some of those who represented Orumba North/South at the Federal level ignored so many things which are not difficult to do,” he noted. “These… shouldn’t be toyed with.”
He promised that if elected, those areas would get to the people. He also thanked everyone and pledged to “involve God in everything as usual.”
Conclusion: The message from Abuja was clear. Orumba leaders are not just endorsing a candidate; they are setting a benchmark. For Echem, the title “Okenwa Ogbunka” now comes with expectations, to legislate well, to invest in people, and to prove that representation can be more than boreholes.
