Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, have passed a vote of no confidence on the lawmaker representing Ohafia /Arochukwu federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Uko Nkole.
The stakeholders had at a meeting in Umuahia, withdrawn their support and accused Nkole of non performance since 2015 he was elected into the House.
Some of the stakeholders including former SSG, Mazi Donatus Okorie; former Commissioner for Commerce and lawmaker, Dr. Sampson Orji ; former Arochukwu LGA Chairman , Kingsley Ngunu; James Kalu; former Speaker , Arochukwu Legislative Council, Nwabueze Okoro ; former LG PDP Chairman, Tony Nwankwo, and Obinna Nwankwo; Engr. Isaac Nkole ; Chief Felix Ukpabi; former lawmaker, Chief Tom Ezikpe; Frank Nwafor; and PDP women Leader in the council, Ugoeze Ochioha Okereke; among others ,threatened to commence the process of recalling the lawmaker if he fails to sit up.
However, Nkole, who is believed to be nursing ambition to succeed Gov.Okezie Ikpeazu, had in a swift reaction dismissed the stakeholders meeting as ‘cloud without rain.’
He argued that no genuine stakeholders’ meeting could hold without his knowledge as the highest political office holder from the constituency, or the consent of the council Chairman.
The PDP Chairman in the Council, Odum Okemini, also dissociated himself from the stakeholders’ meeting, describing those in attendance as impostors. Both the party Chairman and Nkole, urged members of the public to disregard the position of the “purported stakeholders “.
But reacting to the duo’s response, the stakeholders also comprising former and serving commissioners, former Secretary to the State Government, former and current Special Advisers and Assistants to the Governor, former Council chairmen, and ex-PDP chairmen, in Arochukwu PDP, insisted that Nkole had dug his political grave.
Giving reasons where they withdrew their support for the lawmaker, the stakeholders alleged that Nkole is yet to sponsor a single bill in his five years in the House of Representatives and queried what he has achieved with the N750 million constituency project funds in five years at an average of N150m per annum.
They further accused him of sabotaging the PDP during the Abia North senatorial poll where the party’s candidate, Senator Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, failed to retain his seat.
They also alleged that Nkole has abandoned his legislative duties preferring to be at his village, Abam, where he has been receiving delegations from around Abia North zone and embarking on consultations on his ambition to emerge governor in 2023.
Continuing, the stakeholders queried Nkole; “What is the situation of Nmuri Bridge and why have you failed to secure repairs from the federal government agencies? Why is Ndi Ebe Bridge another failed project under your watch? Why are you maintaining grave silence on the Okobo Bridge, and have woefully failed to attract NDDC to the road?
“Why are you desperate to be called the Leader of Arochukwu stakeholders despite the fact that Chief Mao Ohuabunwa is a two time House of Reps member and a one time member of the Senate? Why are your constituents not getting briefing/up-dates from you on the ongoing Arochukwu -Ohafia federal highway which was attracted by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa?
“Why was a paltry N30m allocated to such a key project in the 2019 budget under your watch as Federal House Member? Why are you not just talking on the floor of the House of Representatives like other prominent lawmakers from Abia State? Why are you in Abam receiving delegations from around Abia North even when you are neither a senator nor the Governor?
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“Why are you not making contributions on the floor of the House of Representatives like other prominent lawmakers from Abia? Why were you not considered competent to chair a House Committee or even to be a Deputy Chairman despite being a two-term House member? Your counterpart representing Bende federal constituency,Hon.Ben Kalu, who is just a first timer , is a Chairman of a committee and doing well, yet you are docile.”