By Norbert Chiazor
On the floor and foyer of the National Assembly, he stands different. His looks, ever dapper-snow white “agbada”,blazing Anioma red cap, natty aura…
Vintage Senator Ned Nwoko.
But that is not why the PDP senator representing Delta North at the 10th Nigerian senate is a game -changer.
20 years after Prince Ned Nwoko bowed out in 2003 as the most vocal lawmaker representing Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency in the House of Representatives, he took the Senate by storm in 2023,creating records.
He was inaugurated into the red chambers of NASS on June 13,2023 along with over 100 senators.
All eyes on Senator Ned Nwoko for peculiar reasons:
Nigeria is a nation on its death knell. A sick sad country enslaved by inept leadership and social decay, in urgent need of solution.
Rescuers.Warriors.Exemplars… A name like Ned.
Entrepreneur, international lawyer, doyen of Paris club loans refunds, founder of first sports university, Arts and Tourism connoisseur,anti -Malaria environmentalist, Antarctica explorer – Nigeria needs Ned Nwoko.
Again, every politics is local.Anioma,a lofty land of excellent stunts needed the election of Senator Ned Nwoko as a miracle to pull Delta North out of a ridiculous mud of infamy it was plunged in the last legislative circle.
One year after, the Idumuje-Ugboko born Anioma son, has done much to uplift the nation and restore the wasted years the locust eat in Delta North.
His impact rings beyond political rhetoric.
At NASS,Senator Nwoko ranks among the most respected. He is a member of 16 strategic committees, a tribute to his tremendous capacity.
Senator Nwoko, flexing his charisma, attracted a whopping N3.5 billion Naira federal budget for the development of key infrastructure in Anioma land -roads water, electricity, markets, hospitals as well as capacity building. That he disclosed the amount in a country where politicians are notorious for opaque character, speak of exceptional transparency, in the conduct of public office.
He ensured that the Okpai electricity project and the Ogwashi Uku dam abandoned years ago come on steam.
Earlier in November 2023,Nwoko had empowered 250 youths and women at Asaba,Delta capital. Each beneficiary got a sum of #150,000, in a fulfilling poverty alleviation and wealth creation skill acquisition scheme.
On the stable of the senator is succour to over 1,000 people of Delta North through implementation of conditional cash transfer (#50,000 each) ,under federal government’s social programme.
Scheduled for this month under the watch of Nwoko are capacity development training for farmers on data-driven livestock feeding and alternative livestock feed methods in Delta North as well as digital training in branding and social media management for youths.
Senator Nwoko secured the freedom of some family members arrested by the military for manufacturing weapons in Onicha-Olona,a Delta North community.
The suspects according to reports, have the skills to build drones and modify Ak-47 rifle designed to hold 30 rounds to 60 rounds.The Senator had explained that he took interest in the family because the country needed to support the development of the skills of such talented persons.
He championed the release of the traditional ruler of Ewu- Urhobo kingdom,His Royal Majesty, Clement Oghenerukevwe Ikolo,Urhukpe 1,detained in Abuja by military authorities, following the March 14 killing of 17 soldiers on a peace mission in Okuama community. A senator representing beyond tribal boundaries.
The key function of a Senator is lawmaking.Nwoko is among the most active Senators in Nigeria with over 20 bills and dozens of motions to his credit. Amazing feat for a first time Senator.
The bills covered diaspora voting, gun ownership and security,rent,youth entrepreneurship grant programme,waste management and malaria eradication, parliamentary governance system among others. The latest, bill for the creation of Anioma, the oldest agitation in Nigeria’s history.
His motions and views include sanctions over crude oil theft, rehabilitation of Asaba -Benin road and East -West expressway, Gas flaring and compensation,anti kidnapping and security surveillance,IPOB and Boko Haram insurgency, as well as repatriations against colonialism.
Senator Nwoko’s labour of outstanding representation had been remarkably rewarding. Political stakeholders, traditional rulers, youths and women drawn from the nine local government areas of Delta North have at different times beginning from April 2024, passed vote of total confidence in him,for his excellent footing at the senate.
One year on seat, Senator Ned Nwoko…
Anioma and
Delta bask in national reckoning.
