By Felix Uka, Abakaliki
The political climate in Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State has recently been hot.
The Election Petition Tribunal sittings at Abakaliki have been turned into political rallies of sorts.
Each of the days, Hon. Lazarus Ogbee’s supporters throng the court premises where the tribunal sits. Ogbee is the incumbent member of the House of Representatives, who is enjoying second term at green chambers.
Supporters of Comrade Chinedu Ogah, who is challenging the declaration of Ogbee as the winner of the 2019 elections also has his owm supporters who join him in solidarity at the tribunal
The situation is as if the supporters’ presence would influence the judgment of the tribunal.
Recently, Ogah busted out, said that Ogbee betrayed some of a number of his, Ogbee’s political allies including former Governor Martin Elechi in favour of incumbent Governor David Umahi. He made sundry allegations against the law maker.
Uncomfortable with such representation of his personality, Ogbee in an interview with our Correspondent in Abakaliki explained that he has remained a trustworthy political ally.
His words:
I came from the political dynasty of the late Senator Vincent Obasi Usulor, so there would not be anyway somebody would be alleging that I betrayed innocent Chima. I have never worked under him as my master or as my colleague in the political community and there is no way I could have betrayed him. Without prejudice to the image of chief Innocent Chima, he has been freelancing from APP to ANPP, PDP and now he is back to APC but I have remained in PDP except for once that I joined my master with Senator Ngiji Ngele, Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku very briefly in ANPP and we returned to PDP.
On the side of my father, Chief Martin Elechi, we came together in 2007 when I was appointed coordinator in his administration. I later became chairman of Ezza South local government under him and was coordinator for two and half years before I contested for chairman and won.
If I was a betrayer, I wouldn’t have been allowed to serve as chairman. After just one year and few months, I had the opportunity of being accessed by NUJ and others. Even the committee for LGA in the National Assembly and at each quarter, I was adjudged the best. So many other factors culminated in my emergence the second time as chairman Ezza South LGA. A betrayer wouldn’t have been so successful if I was one.
Thereafter we had a tumultuous period in the politics of Ebonyi state in 2014 as to who would replace Elechi. He had presented three names he wanted to succeed him. When they told me to make a choice, I mentioned David Umahi with every sincerity, thereafter, went all out to campaign for him; that was not betrayal.
Eventually, the then government of the state went out of their way to drop the three candidates they earlier mentioned, and went for architect Edward Nkwegu. Nobody said anybody betrayed him; I made my choice out of the three and I went for my choice. So many other LGA chairmen went for their choices and so many joined me in the quest for Engr David Umahi to become the next governor. I don’t have regret about my decision. When it was time to present him to the national working committee of our party, I was with him. When it was also time to present another person to the secretariat I did not go. That didn’t show that I was a betrayer.
Ogbee is fondly called Oyechimereze, meaning the one crowned by God
He explained thus: I don’t have any enemy; I have male and female friends. If any one comes to me for assistance, I offer as long as it is within my boundary because I represented not only the people of Ezza south/Ikwo, but every body.
Nobody that had ever represented my constituency can come close to my achievements within the four years I was in the green chamber. You can go round the state and find out how many of my colleagues were able to do what I did in education. I have been able to attract primary school buildings both in Ikwo and Ezza south where l come from.
If you go to Central School Oronha and Amagu community in Ikwo LGA, you would see the building there attracted by Laz Ogbe. So also Community School Ameka Ikwo Community School Amezekwe, Community School Ndiagazu, Ezza High school Amuzu where I attended. That is it on education. You go to health sector, the little time we have here will not be enough for me to enumerate my achievements, but I have catalogue of what I have been able to attract for my people.
In the power sector, I have completed electricity projects in Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Enyibuchiri, Uminwagu Idembia and several other places. I have sponsored bills in the House, moved motions. Anybody saying that Laz Ogbe did not move any motions, supported or seconded any motion is actually nonsense and the person cannot actually say he/she knows the workings of the National Assembly. I cannot blow my trumpet but the people can do so. I have helped to secure federal jobs for a lot of people both in police, military and so on. In Alex Ekwueme Federal University, I have people that got employment there through my request. I attracted employment to some people at the Bureau of Public Procurement Abuja, in the foreign Affairs, I have two persons from Ebonyi state and they are still there.
Just like I mentioned police, it is not a boast but in the last police recruitment, I had three ASP and six inspectors. I wont be counting rank and files, I’m counting from officers cadre. So also in the army and every other areas of employment. Anybody saying that I have not attracted employment is a joker.
Why I don’t bother myself on such issues is that people making such allegations have never contested elections. It is out of jealousy that they are talking rubbish. I will be doing favour by replying them. I’m only putting the record straight.
As concerns his chances at the tribunal he asserted:
I am not bothered at all. That is not the first time I’m being taken to tribunal. When I won the local government chairman of Ezza South for the fist time, I was taken to tribunal; the second time again, I was taken to tribunal. When I won for the House of Representatives in 2015, I was taken to tribunal and I won. So, I don’t think that should bother me. I am more concerned on how to deliver dividends of democracy to my constituent. No amount of campaign of calumny can make me to capitulate the face of unfounded allegations by passer-by in politics.
Relationship with Goveemor Umahi:
I don’t think a father and son will go out to the market and say this is how we are relating. If I have any need to make any request from my father the governor, I will go straight and do that. Our relationship is very cordial. He has called my attention on some matters. That is why we accessed his performances and called for a second term. My governor has always been happy with me as a son. For the Abuja group of politician, it is a mere insulation. We are working very much together, just as I did not take excuse from anybody to support my governor, himself did the same for me at the 2019 general elections.