Rep. Eugene Dibiagwu
A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Eugene Dibiagwu, says his interest in joining politics is to uplift the downtrodden.
Dibiagwu, representing Ohaji-Egbema/Oguta/Oru West Federal Constituency, sated this when he received members of Izombe Leaders of Thoughts on Sunday in Abuja.
He said that God who made him rich did not do it for him to keep such enormous wealth for himself.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dibiagwu had, on March 1, held a mega empowerment programme for his constituents at Mgbidi, Oru West in Imo.
The lawmaker, at the empowerment programme, gave out 33 shuttle buses worth N5.1 million each, 37 motorcycles, 45 sewing machines, grinding machines and more than 95 stoves.
He also distributed more than 1,400 bags of rice and gave a financial grant of N500,000 each to 105 persons, totalling N52.5 million, for small businesses.
Dibiagwu said that he was driven into empowering people because he was uplifted by God at no cost and, therefore, believe that he should equally give out freely.
“Before joining politics, I was a private sector operator and doing very well, by the grace of God.
“Today, I am in politics and I strongly believe that my being in the National Assembly is to protect the weak and uplift them.
“For instance, in Izombe, I strive to emulate great patriots like Chief Vitus Egwuagu, a former Deputy Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Mr Joe Nwosu, a former Deputy Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service.
“People like Retired General Kalu Egwuagu and many other great sons of Izombe who made enormous contributions to uplift our people of the well-known oil bearing community in Imo State,” he said.
The lawmaker, who enumerated a number of projects he had attracted to his constituency since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in n June 2023, said that such efforts were targetted at improving the living standards of the people.
”I have constructed twin six-classroom blocks at Elee and another twin six-classroom blocks at Ohaji.
“I attracted a 5km road to Mgbidi, while work is ongoing at Awa-Izombe road, Umualoma Akabuo-St Anthony Catholic Church, Akabuo road, with rehabilitation of Izombe-Mgbele billed to commence in two months time, among others,” he said.
Dibiagwu further stated that some deserving sons and daughters of his constituents had equally gotten jobs through his efforts.
The lawmaker, who commended the group for the visit, noted with regrets that some people in the community, rather than help in promoting peace and harmony, were fanning the embers of disunity.
“Izombe has a lot of potential to be great, but some people are just interested in dragging the community down.
“But for the love the governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, has for Izombe, a lot of things would have been so bad today, and I remain eternally grateful to him for the support to fight violent crime in our place,” he said.
The lawmaker used the opportunity to call on sons and daughters of Izombe to unite in the interest of the community, which, he said, is very strategic in state, that it should not be lagging behind.
Earlier, Chief Vitus Egwuagu, former Deputy Managing Director, NAN Technical Services, commended Dibiagwu for his people-oriented representations.
Egwuagu appealed for the construction of Ndionwuanaibe-Ndiawa-Amakofia ring road, saying that the ‘very important road’ had been left undone for years.
Other members of the delegation, Sir Alex Ihesie, Rev. Eze Obizue, Mr Valentine Onwuka and Mr Francis Onyeukwu, in their separate speeches, commended Dibiagwu and told him not to be dispirited over distractions from the opposition.
Onwuka specifically commended the governor for his love for Izombe people, especially with the emergence of Dibiagwu and Dr Kyrian Uchegbu as the state representative in Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board.
“For the governor to have supported two Izombe sons to occupy such important federal positions means that he wants the rebuilding of damaged structures in Izombe after the crisis.
“I request that you people should look into the community and assist the victims of the crisis, while extending your services to other areas,” Onwuka pleaded.(NAN)
