By Finian Chuks
“When I found myself in the eighth assembly, I was made the chairman of the health committee, that was when I started the medical outreach and I built over 22 health centres and furnished them. I also made sure that over 45 health centres across Imo state were renovated and equipped.
“In the last ten years, I usually go across the constituents and identify indigent students and pay their WAEC. The last time I checked I have paid for over 4,700 students. This year, I have paid for about 780 of them. You also know about my annual surgical outreach which was an advanced part of medical outreach.
“Medical outreach does more of clinical, consultations and prescription of drugs but surgical outreach does more on very deep medical outreach such as surgeries. Last January we had over 180 successful surgeries, ranging from fibroid, hyena, appendicitis, and other very complicated surgeries. These surgeries were handled by very qualified medical consultants. So, these were very impactful programmes I have embarked upon.
“My intervention in the area of job creation for our teeming youths is unprecedented. In my first tenure I caused a stir among my colleagues, and I had to take my time. In one swoop, I secured employment for 25 youths in NAFDAC. At a point I had to engage the traditional rulers and my coordinators to draw up lists.
“In the Central Bank of Nigeria, I have given jobs to many, ditto to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Umuahia and Asaba where I have secured over 30 employments to young doctors and dentists. Of course, I can’t count the nurses. I think I have secured over 150 employment opportunities across different sectors and segments of the economy.”
Those were the words of Hon. Chike Okafor, member representing Ehime Mbano, Ihitte Uboma and Obowo Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, in an exclusive interview with ThisDay Newspaper in April 2022.
For a man who believes that the essence of holding political office, whether elective or appointive, is to bring development to the people, Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor was well equipped prior to his winning election into the Federal House of Representatives. And ever since he became a member of the Green Chamber, he has never shied away from distributing developments to communities in his constituency.
And for the good people of Ehime Mbano, Ihitte Uboma and Obowo Federal Constituency, it has never been this good when it comes to effective representation at the Federal House of Representatives. It has been a feast of dividends of democracy.
Hon. Dcn. Chike Okafor is a quintessential legislator. He is not only a well-grounded legislator but a legislator par excellence. Little wonder his constituents have continued to repose confidence and trust in him, reelecting him into the green chamber, and are poised to reelect him come 2023.
In the political annals of this Federal Constituency, Hon. Okafor stands out as an achiever and exceptional representative. This claim is attested to by the multitude of projects he brought to the Constituency, that have touched the lives of the constituents.
As a commissioner under the administration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Hon. Okafor used his contacts for the benefit of his people, and in appreciation, the good people of Ehime Mbano, Ihitte Uboma and Obowo Federal Constituency beckoned on him to go represent them in the House.
“My journey started with my appointment as a commissioner and cabinet member by the then governor of Imo State. I became Commissioner for Finance and held the position almost throughout his first tenure.
“All of you here, my brothers and sisters will bear testimony that all I did within that period was to use the goodwill and contacts of that office to see how much I can impact the lives of our people because my mantra was and still remains the reason for holding political office either elective or appointive is to bring development to your immediate constituency,” he told his constituents when they presented him with the APC nomination form for the 2023 House of Representatives election.
At his birthday celebration last year, Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila had described Hon Chike Okafor as an asset to the legislature and recalled the contributions of the lawmaker from the 8th assembly to the current assembly, describing him as good ambassador to the Green Chamber.
“You have been with us here in the House for several years and your input in the House, your representation of your people cannot be underestimated. You’re a great legislator, you have been very supportive. My prayer is that God continues to spare your life, that He will continue to protect you, that the sky will be the beginning for you and not the limit.
“You have been one of the most productive legislators. From the last assembly where you headed the House Committee on Healthcare Services, even as commissioner of Finance in Imo State, your records speak for you. I congratulate you on behalf of the leadership of the House and pray that God continues to be with you,” Gbajabiamila said.
Hon Okafor had admitted that what he has found himself doing in politics has been to better the lives of his constituents, ensuring that the programmes or projects he attracts to his people in terms of infrastructure or service are beneficial to them.
Hon Chike Okafor has attracted numerous projects to his constituency, and has empowered a lot of people, which has resulted to so many completed projects and interventions that cannot be published here for want of space.
Having secured his party’s ticket to contest for the same office in 2023, Hon Chike Okafor expressed his appreciation and noted that as a ranking member in the chambers, everyone wins, including his co-contestants and all.
“There are individual and collective benefits to be harnessed for our constituents when a ranking member, and a potential third-term member at that, is elected to represent our people. I thank you all for your understanding and mature disposition.
“This is the more reason I consider my emergence not a personal win but the collective victory of the people of Okigwe South. Which is why you will not find any of my supporters gloating in celebration but more or less working on reaching out, building bridges and rallying our people so together we can win big in the general election,” he said.
As Hon Chike Okafor marks his golden birthday this week, I pray God to grant him good health of mind and body and the enablement to discharge his duties in the House. May he never relent in his exemplary legislative duties that has endeared him to the hearts of his constituents.
Happy birthday the indefatigable, exceptional legislator.