The Movie ‘76: Princewill, from a tycoon, to politician and now film maker

The Movie ‘76: Princewill, from a tycoon, to politician and now film maker

By Nwaorgu Faustinus

The name Prince Tonye Princewill does not need any introduction to any person who has been a keen observer of the political milieu or terrain in the Niger Delta region and to be more specific the Rivers State political game.

Born into the famous Princewill’s family in Buguma of the ancient Kalabari Kingdom in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Tonye who is fondly called ‘TP’ has made a name for himself not only as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, politician but also as a producer of home movie in collaboration with other famous and seasoned movie producers such as Izu Ojukwu and Adonijah Owiriwa.

For the sake of time, and because of Prince Tonye Princewill’s entrepreneurship activities as well as his political incursions and philanthropic works are issues that are in the public domain, which can easily be scooped even from the internet, suffice it say that this piece is going to dwell briefly on Princwill’s currently found love – movie making. 

Apart from TP’s initial hand in the sponsorship and production of NNENDA and Kajola, another breathtaking, awe-inspiring, suspense-filled, sit-on-the-edge and top-notch movie that is currently trending is ‘76.

‘76 is a romantic movie which tells the story of a young military officer from Nigeria’s Middle Belt region who gets entrapped in a steaming relationship and eventually marries a beautiful student from the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. 

The couple blossoming romance is jeopardized by endless military transfers, and they face the ultimate test when news of the soldier’s involvement in a botched coup attempt hits the headlines of newspapers.‎

When the movie was initially screened to select viewers in Lagos early February this year, the satisfaction of the viewers was glaring as the movie brought tears coursing down the chicks of everyone in the hall including one of the star actresses, Rita Dominic. 

According to TP, “76 is about Nigeria. My hope is that as people watch this powerful film, they see what I saw, escape from the day to day hassles and then immerse them in how life should be. If we succeed, we will get more youths empowered and that is the ultimate goal. Over 200 cast and crew were used in ‘76.

“76 is a deeply emotional movie, and it resonated deeply with me as I am sure it will do for viewers not just in Nigeria, but around the world.

“The movie’s message presents a number of questions including how we got here, amongst many other issues. 

“No doubt, ‘76 is the first movie we did on celluloid, first movie to be shot in an army barracks, first blockbuster in our pack, first movie to do a private screening within post production. First this, first that. But as it was challenging, it has also been very rewarding. To see the child grow into a man leaves a smile on the face. All in all it took us seven years to get here. I am my own worst constructive critic, but I can look back on ‘76 and say, wow, we tried!” TP commented.

‘76, directed by award winning director, Izu Ojukwu, is also inspired by events that culminated to and followed the failed 1976 coup d’état, and features real life, archived, actual footage that contributes to the movie’s overall authenticity. 

For Izu Ojukwu, “‘76 is a tale of love in a time post war.” 

“The movie deals with a range of issues including the plight of the African woman, and the usually invisible pain of a soldier’s wife,” he said. 

“76 highlight the enduring Nigerian cultural values of courage, resilience, patience, loyalty, faith and family and the nation’s ability to surmount all challenges.”

’76 set at the Mokola Army Barrack in the ancient city of Ibandan, Oyo State, the movie features famous Nollywood names including Rita Dominic, Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme, Ibinabo Fiberesinma, Memry Savanhu, Ada Ofoegbu, Daniel K. Daniel and a host of others.

The movie which is scheduled to be release officially by the 4^th Quarter of this year, promises to be one of the turning points in the movie making industry or rather Nollywood as many awaits its formal release with much expectation. 

Faustinus wrote in via ngorokpalaresearcher@gmail.com

12th AMA Awards held in PH: Gov. Wike’s white lies to the world

12^th AMA Awards held in PH: Gov. Wike’s white lies to the world

The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, said it has observed with disappointment the continuous churning out of white lies to unsuspecting Rivers people, Nigerians and the world at the slightest opportunity by the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.

The party in a statement signed by its spokesman, Senibo Chris Finebone and made available to journalists today in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Capital said “the latest of this ignoble past time of the governor took place last Saturday during the 12^th African Movie Academy Awards [AMAA] that was gratuitously hosted by the governor to burnish and shore up his fledgling public image as a dangerous desperado who climbed on the blood of innocent people to become governor. Curiously, as Gov. Nyesom Wike was talking down his predecessor as having left no legacy, he was having good time at the poorly organized awards night in the magnificent Obi Wali International Conference Centre, an edifice built and named after an illustrious personage of Ikwerre land, late Dr. Obi Wali by the same predecessor and former boss of Nyesom Wike, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi CON.”

Continuing, the statement noted that, “the hosting of the AMA Awards by Gov. Nyesom Wike is only part of a well-calculated agenda to create image makeover for the governor at great cost to the Rivers taxpayer. But most significantly is the fact that each of the events ends up being held at one of the epochal landmark legacies conceptualized, built and commissioned by his predecessor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi as against what Gov. Wike would want his audience, Nigerians and the world to believe. The Adokie Amiesimaka 40,000-seater magnificent stadium conceptualized and built by former Gov. Amaechi has hosted countless of such events by Gov. Wike even as he insists his predecessor did nothing. That is white lie number 1."

The statement reads: “On the more important matter of security, Gov. Nyesom Wike is blaming everyone else but himself for the insecurity ravaging Rivers State. Hear him: "We have tackled insecurity with decisive steps in conjunction with the nation’s security agencies, so much so that Rivers State has now become one of the safest places to visit, live and do business in the country. As a result, we have been hosting several local and national events to the joy and applaud of the organizers, participants and visitors” The APC would want Rivers people, Nigerians and the world to score this statement. However, we consider this statement the most criminal, insensitive and blatant lie told by man in this Century. Indeed, this is Wike’s white lie number 2.

“For the benefit of those who may not know, records show that over 35 souls were dispatched to the great beyond across Rivers State in a space of 5 days before the Saturday event. Cases of daylight robberies, shootings and killings are daily reported in Port Harcourt alone. Yet still, the governor mindlessly and unconscionably spewed his lies to the innocent audience in Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre main hall.

“It is perhaps necessary to remind Gov. Nyesom Wike that the Information and Communications Technology [ICT] has collapsed the world into a small global village where information virtually circulates with the speed of sound. Much of Nigeria and the world know exactly what the security situation is in Rivers State, meaning that as the governor spoke at the event that night, many in the audience would have been quietly chuckling and wondering whether he just returned from outer space before attending the event.

“The truth remains that two things appear to hold the key to immediate and relative peace (howbeit temporarily) in Rivers State and both are in the hands of the governor.

“Firstly, Gov. Nyesom Wike must disarm his private armies and militants he used to kill and intimidate voters to enable him write election results for himself and his party candidates with the active connivance of Jonathan-era INEC and  security agents. His warning to the CTCs he recently appointed to fight insecurity in their LGAs is neither here nor there as it amounts to merely sending a thief to catch a thief. Secondly, Gov. Wike must go beyond appointing the leadership of his hoodlums and ex-militants as Caretaker Chairmen and members of LG Councils; he alone must devise the means of engaging the other ranks in his private armies who feel abandoned and have turned to robberies, killings, kidnapping and other common crimes as a means of subsistence.

“The APC believes that no amount of casting blames on cult groups today or threatening oil companies tomorrow will bring peace in Rivers State. Gov. Nyesom Wike has served drinking water to the baboon and it is him that must retrieve the cup he used in serving the baboon. He has himself to blame, not cult groups and oil companies. Indeed, Gov. Nyesom Wike needs to look at himself in the mirror.”

NDDC: Semenitari disowns fraudulent mail, bank A/C

NDDC:  Semenitari disowns fraudulent mail, bank A/C

The Ag. Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said her attention has been drawn to a fictitious electronic mail currently in circulation purporting to have its origin from her.

A statement signed by Bekee Anyalewechi SA on (Media) to the Ag. MD/CEO of NDDC explained that “To make it (the fictitious electronic mail) bear the emblem of authenticity, those behind it hacked into Semenitari’s official email portal, subsequently signing-off the mail in her name.”

Full text of the statement reads: “The said correspondence claims that Semenitari is seeking various financial gratification to the tune of N700, 000 from various contractors and vendors doing business with NDDC. However, a little scrutiny would reveal that it lacks the characteristics of coherence, quality diction and grammatical fluidity which are trademarks of correspondences originating from Semenitari.

“The fake mail reads, “Good day, I’ve a personal outstanding totalling the sum of 700,000. I will need you to credit Mr Onos account details with the required amount. Find below his account information. Jonafuvwe Onos, 0040271951, Diamond Bank. Please note this is not official and should be treated as such”.

“Semenitari, whose knack for prudence, frugality and respect for rules is open to staffers of NDDC, the Commission’s contractors and vendors,  does not know any Jonafuvwe Onos, nor has she a link to the said Diamond Bank A/C. If the particulars referenced in the email are verifiable, Semenitari shares no relationship whatsoever with them.

“Obviously the handiwork of fraudsters, who would stop at nothing to rubbish and denigrate the reforms Semenitari has brought into NDDC, the email clearly bears the signature of commonplace, online criminals tagged as yahoo yahoo boys and official pick-pockets who lurk around the fringes of nobility and character which Semenitari represents. But rather than aspire to attain such pedestal through hard work, the fraudsters mire deeper into ignominy and opprobrium.

“Semenitari, a discreet public servant verse in public financial rules and regulations, had at no time, either in person, or through an intermediary, front, proxy, Special or Personal Assistant, commissioned anybody to solicit for or accommodate any gratification on her behalf. It is on record that one of the first official actions she initiated upon assumption of duty in December 2015 was a campaign against corruption that included kick-back and bribery. Till date, her zeal in extending the tempo and sustaining the success so far achieved in that regard remains fresh.

“Therefore, we counsel contractors, vendors and the general public doing business with NDDC not to subscribe to the scam mail and its content. They should watch out for fraudsters who would stop at nothing to sabotage genuine efforts at reforming NDDC and repositioning it to fulfil its core mandate of driving development in the Niger Delta region.

“Since her appointment, Semenitari has worked hard to reposition NDDC, including evolving a new culture of transparency in government business. It is a worthy legacy Semenitari would not compromise for as long as she remains the CEO.”

Towards preserving a bio-diverse environment for future generations – Ibim Semenitari

BEING THE SPEECH OF MRS. IBIM SEMENITARI, AG. MD/CEO OF NDDC AT 2016 WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

It is my pleasure and pride to make comments at this year’s World Environment Day (WED) celebrations. This is so because of the significance of this year’s celebrations to us in the Niger Delta region and especially at the NDDC as it marks the beginning of the fulfilment of the Federal Government’s promise to clean up the region, starting with the strategic Ogoni clean-up exercise.

When we visited Governor Seriake Dickson on April 12, at Government House, Yenagoa, during our regional tour, he said, “For us in Bayelsa, our wealth is in the sea.” That profound statement underscores the immense endowment of the Niger Delta’s ecosystem. What is unfortunate however is how this same resource is constantly abused and denigrated by repeated violations brought about by decades of bad behaviour. From government, with its weak regulatory frameworks, to oil companies and multinationals who do business in the region, to communities and individuals, who for different reasons wreak havoc, the environment in our region has taken a hard beating.

Covering about 70,000 square kilometres, the Niger Delta region is home to one of the largest wetlands in the world and Africa’s largest delta. It has at least five distinct ecological zones. These range from the montane and savannah belts in Northern Cross River to the mangrove swamp forests, near the Atlantic coast, which embody some of the last remaining untouched forest resources and centres of endemism in Africa.

These bio-geographical attributes are known to have created the complex and rich environment of habitats that supported the evolution of its fantastically wide range of plant and animal lives. Some say the Niger Delta is home to all of Nigeria's endemic or near-endemic mammal species. Others say Niger Delta harbours many locally and globally endangered species, and approximately 60-80 percent of all plant and animal species found in Nigeria.

However, the globally significant environment and biodiversity of the Niger Delta are in grave danger. Some endemic fish species of the region are in grave danger of extinction due to many reasons, including environmental degradation and over-exploitation among others. Likewise, some animal species such as the endemic African Monkey (Guenon species), one of the world’s most beautiful monkeys found mostly in the West African rain forest region (the Niger Delta Region inclusive), are at the risk of extinction.

This is why we must all rise to the daunting and pressing challenge of preserving our bio-diverse environment for future generations. We all owe future generations a responsibility to preserve the bio-diverse environment of the Niger Delta. As the countdown begins for us to join people from across the globe to celebrate WED on 5 June 2016, we all need to take part in environmental action and become agents of change for positive impacts on the planet. Today’s tree-planting exercise typifies such action.

This year’s theme is on the illegal trade in wildlife, which is eroding Earth’s precious biodiversity, robbing us of our natural heritage and driving species to the brink of extinction.

The NDDC is statutorily mandated to tackle ecological and environmental problems in the Niger Delta region. Evidently, the killing and smuggling of wildlife constitute ecological and environmental problems. They also undermine economies and ecosystems, fuel organized crime, and feed corruption and insecurity across the globe.

Tackling the scourge of illegal trade in wildlife requires concerted action. We need to understand the damage this illicit business is doing to our environment, livelihoods, communities and security. We must change our habits and behaviour so that demand for illegal wildlife products falls. But it is not just the demand for illegal wildlife that must fall. It is also the demand for illegal crude, the destruction and vandalism of pipelines in the region. Our ecosystem is our wealth, and the protection of our region is, first and foremost, the responsibility of all who live and do business in the region. Saying no to everyone who dares to destroy our environment, whether they be government, corporations or individuals, is our collective responsibility.

This year’s theme for WED – Go Wild for Life – encourages each one of us to celebrate all those species under threat and take action of our own to help safeguard them for future generations. This can be about animals or plants that are threatened within your local area as well as at the national or global level - many local extinctions will eventually add up to a global extinction! Whoever you are, and wherever you live, show zero-tolerance for the illegal trade in wildlife and the destruction of our environment, in word and deed, and make a difference.

According to Roxanne Paul, “Every little bit helps. It's amazing how much you can do when you choose to give a little bit of that natural habitat back.”

Thank you for your attention and God bless you."

Cancel your plans to sponsor protests against flag-off of UNEP cleanup – APC tells Gov. Wike

Cancel your plans to sponsor protests against flag-off of UNEP cleanup – APC tells Gov. Wike

The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress [APC] said it has come to its attention that the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has concluded plans to sponsor PDP members, tugs and hoodlums to protest and disrupt the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Rivers State to flag off the UNEP cleanup of Ogoniland on Thursday, 2^nd June, 2016.

The APC in a statement signed by its spokesman, Senibo Chris Finebone and made available to NF-Reports said, “it has also come to our notice that the protesters will disguise as citizens who have been mobilised to give Mr. President a rousing welcome on his visit before they will turn on their protests with placards and dangerous weapons with the singular purpose of embarrassing Mr. President, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Magnus Abe, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and the All Progressives Congress, APC, amongst others.”

“Indeed, the APC finds it curious that Gov. Nyesom Wike will claim to mobilise his party members to welcome President Buhari, the same person he has repeatedly spoken about derogatorily in the past. The only reason Gov. Wike would engage in his planned subterfuge can only be to score a cheap political point due to his desperation for political advantage in Ogoniland - something way out of his reach under a peaceful atmosphere” the statement explained

The APC noted that it was solely political desperation that drove the governor to hurriedly flag-off the dualisation of Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono Road last week to deceive Nigerians that Wike cares about Ogoni people after sponsoring militants to kill them, adding that “the fraud behind the Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono Road has been uncovered as the governor deliberately refused to mention that the project is in phases. He also cunningly went silent on the number of kilometres of the road is covered in the phase 1 of the project he flagged off, just to deceive the people of Tai, Gokana, Khana, Opobo/Nkoro and Andoni LGAs.”

The APC urged the governor not to push his luck too far as there will obviously be grave consequences if he insists on over-reaching himself along the line he has chosen as he will be held responsible for any breach of the law, order and further undermining of the fragile peace of the State at this time.

“But if the governor insists on sponsoring people to disrupt the flag-off with the purpose of embarrassing Mr. President and others, we wish him the best of luck” the statement concluded.

GTNMT Commends President Buhari and Ameachi For commitment to the development of The Niger/Delta

GTNMT Commends President Buhari and Ameachi For commitment to the development  of The Niger/Delta

The Greater Together New Media Team has commended President Muhammadu Buhari and his faithful lieutenant in the vineyard of the government of change, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Hon Minister of Transportation, for demonstrating extraordinary and sincere commitment to the development of Nigeria, and in particular, the Niger Delta region by insisting that the strategic Lagos-Calabar Rail Project be captured  in the 2016 Budget in spite of blistering antagonism from some quarters.

A statement signed by the  Chairman of GTNMT, Ken Minimah said, “That sacrifice of love and quest for even development for all sections of the country paid-off when, on the 6th of May, 2016, the President finally signed into law the 2016 budget, with the contentious Lagos-Calabar Rail, undoubtedly  one of Africa’s biggest infrastructure projects duly captured and appropriated for in the Budget of Change expected to herald massive capital  spending capable of reviving Nigeria’s ailing economy for the benefit of the generality of Nigerians.”

The  statement reads: “The economic benefit of the Lagos-Calabar Rail to the people of the Niger Delta is massive. It will open up the area to trade and investment. It will will employ thousands of young people in the region who daily rummage the streets in search of non-existing jobs. As young people are meaningfully engaged, criminality and other anti-social tendencies that give the region bad name will abate. The lives of the people will be more meaningful. And above all, the project will not only engender a sense of belonging in the people, it will also assuage their frustration occasioned by lack of infrastructural development in the region for the last six years. Indeed, it will also induce the inescapable understanding that power should not be looked upon as an end in itself, but a means to an end, which is development for the benefit of the people.

“The rail project is routed through Rivers State, and for the first time in six years, the people of the state can look forward to a significant Federal presence/infrastructure befitting the economic status of the state. That, essentially, was the reason Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi implored people of the state to support President Buhari and the APC during the 2015 election. The State is finally poised to reap bountifully from that great vision of yesterday.

“We salute the courage, stoicism and equanimity displayed by Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Hon Minister of Transportation, who endured and took in his stride all manner of savage attacks on his person for daring to stand firm in defense of the interest of his people and vision of the President to bring about development that will open up all sections of the country to economic possibilities. All great leaders in history suffered similar fate in order to bring happiness and joy to their people. All through the controversy that attended the 2016 budget as it relates to the Lagos-Calabar Rail Project, it was Ameachi’s deep seated love for his people and patriotism that shone through. Today, we have a reason to be proud that we have in you a worthy Nigerian from Rivers State.

“We have no doubt that working closely with President Buhari, the Minister of Transportation will deploy his trademark of aggressive pursuit of people-oriented development project to ensure that the Lagos/Calabar Rail Project achieves superlative execution/implementation to bring succor to Nigerians in general and Niger Deltans in particular.

“We pledge our continued support to President Muhammadu Buhari and Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as they continue to work hard to make Nigerians feel the positive impact of change.”

Amaechi: Rivers APC Applauds UNITAR, Igbos for Awards

Amaechi: Rivers APC Applauds UNITAR, Igbos for Awards

……Describes Transportation Minister as God’s gift to Nigeria

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has applauded the appointment of Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as a member of the Board of Trustees, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), even as it hailed the choice of Amaechi as the 2015 Igbo Man of the Year by the Pan-Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Rivers APC in a statement signed and issued on Sunday 31 January, 2016 in Port Harcourt by its Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, described Amaechi as God’s gift to Nigeria described the honours are well deserved, adding, “The appointment of Rt. Hon. Amaechi as a member of the Board of Trustees of UNITAR for an initial three-year term from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018 did not come to us as a surprise knowing the antecedents of Amaechi as a great achiever. It is well deserved by the man during whose tenure as Governor, the Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt, became the first African city to be declared The UNESCO World Book Capital in 2014, out-bidding other great cities such as Oxford in England and Moscow in Russia, among others.

“As we thank the Secretary General of the United Nations for this great honour bestowed on our Leader, we wish to assure him that Amaechi will surely work in accordance with the rules and guidelines of UNITAR to ensure that its objectives in Nigeria are achieved.”

On the choice of Amaechi as the 2015 Igbo Man of the Year by Ohanaeze, Rivers APC said that it confirms the status of the Minister as an outstanding newbreed leader devoted to putting Nigeria on the path of greatness. The party commended Ohanaeze “for this bold step of honouring Amaechi, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Dr. Ogonnaya Onu and other great Igbo leaders during the forthcoming award ceremony in Enugu as it will serve to inspire them to render even greater service to Ndigbo as well as Nigeria and the entire humanity.”

Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,

SSA on Media and Public Affairs to the State Chairman, APC Rivers State

Hon. Andrew Uchendu: From Quintessential Rep to Senator

Hon. Andrew Uchendu: From Quintessential Rep to Senator

By Eze Chukwuemeka Eze

In my efforts to present and highlight the capabilities of the candidates presented by All Progressives Congress (APC) for the February,6th, 2016 re-run elections, permit me this time to present before you a man described in some quarters as the Leader of leaders and embodiment of what selfless services entails.  HON. ANDREW IGBONULE UCHENDU was a 1992 recipient of the Federal Government National Productivity Merit Award, the highest honour that can be conferred on any worker in the public service in Nigeria; he was in 1994 drafted into politics by the Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation. He represented Emohua, Ikwerre and Obio/Akpor LGAs at the 1994/1995 National Constitutional Conference.

One of the best members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Uchendu has moved six crucial motions. These include the motions on Ogbakiri crises, Rehabilitation of the East/West Expressway, Establishment of the Oloibiri Oil Museum, Youth Unemployment and Youth Restiveness in Nigeria, Insecurity in the Niger Delta, and the Invasion of the Rivers State House of Assembly by Hoodlums. He has, in addition, sponsored three fundamental Bills in the House. They are the Standard Tendering Procedure for the Award of Contracts in the Public Service (popularly known as Due Process), the National Youth Development Programme, and the Amendment to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund Act.

THE MAN: RT. HON. ANDREW UCHENDU

ANDREW IGBONULE UCHENDU was born more than sixty three years ago to the Royal family of Uchendu Osi in Mgbuitanwo, Emohua. He obtained his First School leaving Certificate in 1962, West African School Certificate (Grade one) in 1971 and attended the Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, where he acquired his Higher School Certificate (HSC) in 1973.

In 1973, he was admitted into the prestigious University of Ibadan, where he graduated with B. Sc (Hons) Second Class (Upper Division) in Agricultural Economics.

He worked in so many Organizations including the Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Nigerian Agricultural and Cooperative Bank Ltd, Kaduna and the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority.  In 1985, he applied to be the Secretary to the Board of Risonpalm Ltd. After a very rigorous interview, he was appointed the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer in March, 1985. In 1989, based upon his performance, he was elevated to the position of Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, and thus became the first Managing Director of a Rivers State-owned Company. During his tenure in Risonpalm, the Company made profits in seven consecutive years. In consideration of this excellent performance, the Federal Government conferred on him the 1992 National Productivity Merit Award. This award is the highest honour that can be conferred on any Worker in the Public Service in Nigeria. Andrew Uchendu disengaged from the services of Risonpalm in September, 1993.

In 1994, the Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organization drafted him into politics, thus becoming the first Ikwerre man to be so honoured by his people. He represented Emohua, Ikwerre and Obio/Akpor LGAs in the 1994/1995 National Constitutional Conference. He fought with other Compatriots in Ikwerre to ensure that the Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality was not split into two separate proposed States during the Conference. He has since then been in active politics. From 2003 to 28^th May, 2015, he represented the Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency. He is now the APC Flag bearer for the Rivers East Senatorial District for the 2015 General Elections.

During his tenure as a Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Andrew Uchendu moved about six motions namely, Ogbakiri crises, Rehabilitation of the East/West Expressway, the Establishment of the Oloibiri Oil Museum, Youth Unemployment and Youth Restiveness in Nigeria, Insecurity in the Niger Delta and the invasion of the Rivers State House of Assembly by Hoodlums. This last motion led to the take-over of the Legislative functions of the House by the National Assembly. It is worthy of note to mention that the resolution taken by the House on the crises stemmed the imminent mayhem and bloodletting that would have taken place.

He sponsored three fundamental Bills in the House. They are: the Standard Tendering Procedure for the Award of Contracts in the Public Service, (popularly known as Due Process), the National Youth Development Programme and the Amendment to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund Act. In 2007 – 2011 he served as the Chairman of the South-South Parliamentary Caucus and is presently the Chairman, House Committee on Public Service Matters.

In the course of his tenure as a Member of House of Representatives, Uchendu attracted a number of Federal and State Projects, namely;

Water projects at Oduoha-Ogbakiri, Rumuche-Emohua, Ovogo and Rumuodogo II in Odegu.

Primary Schools at Mgbueto in Emohua, Ipo and Omademe in Ikwerre LGA

National Skills Acquisition Centre at Elele.

Youth Development Centre at Emohua.

Solar Street Light at Mgbuitanwo, Emohua.

Community Computer Centre at Ndele and Emohua.

Distribution of Secondary School furniture and books for Emohua and Ubima.

Distribution of Transformers for Mgbuetor, Rumuche, Elele, Isiokpo, Aluu and Elele Army Barracks.

Community Town Hall at Aluu.

Scrap Metal Melting Plant at Emohua.

Rumuche Internal Roads.

Influenced the Construction of Mgbuitanwo General Hospital, Mgbuetor Road.

Rumuakwunde Internal Road

Influenced the Construction of the East/West-Elibrada-Oduoha-East/West Road.

Okporowo-Ogbakiri Internal Road.

Credit Assistance to 100 Widows

Skill acquisition for over 30 Youths

Financial support to 300 indigent Citizens of my Constituency

From his personal savings, he embarked on the award of bursaries to indigent students in the Tertiary institutions in his Constituency. In the first phase, he had 64 Beneficiaries, two in each ward of the Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency. In the second phase, he extended the Bursary to about 140 Beneficiaries, 5 students per ward in his Federal Constituency. Already, payment for the first year has been completed.

In addition, he has facilitated the employment of over 15 Constituents into the Federal Public Service and Parastatals.

During the period, Rt. Hon. Andrew Uchendu was in the service of Risonpalm Ltd, he obtained the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Management from the University of Port Harcourt in 1987. And in the course of his years in the House of Representatives, he attended a number of Leadership Development Programs at the Universities of Florida, Oxford and Harvard in the United States of America.

As a grass roots Politician, Uchendu is always in touch with his people. He is an active member of his Age Group, Ikwerre Development Association (IDA) and Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organization. As a result of his services to the Community, he was conferred with the Chieftaincy Title of Ochi Aliri II of Emohua and only recently, he was initiated into (Ohna), the highest Traditional Council in Emohua Kingdom.

It is in consideration of all these that Rt. (Hon.) Andrew Uchendu was conferred with yet another Honour in 2008, the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

He is married with five children. Rt. Hon. Andrew Uchendu is a man of the people, if he is in the Senate, you are there. Please give him your vote.

Conclusion

Hon. Andrew Uchendu is not only an embodiment of selfless services to humanity but also a promoter of empowerment for anybody that comes across him. There is no stopping this epitome of leadership on his march to the upper chamber of parliament, the Senate.

Eze Chukwuemeka Eze is a Media Consultant based in Port Harcourt

Email: ezemediaconcept08@rocketmail.com