Competence and Uncommon Courage: The Political Journey of a Consistent Performer - Senator Uche Ekwunife
Kingsley Chukwuemeka Ubani...writes from Awka.
The ability to switch Jobs for a higher reward, better satisfaction or to make more impact is often referred to as job mobility. Few people are able to leave an industry or job were they have established a name, dominance or comfort. Those who stayput often do so either for lack of courage or further ambition. But then, it requires a great deal of competence and consistency in performance to be able to perform across fields, industries and political platforms.
In 2006, Senator Uche Ekwunife after attaining the position of Regional Manager at Standard Trust Bank, Head Public Sector at United Bank for Africa (UBA) decided to step into the murky waters of Nigerian politics by declaring her intention to serve the people of Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia federal constituency in the House of Representatives. As uncertain and as tough as the political terrrain was, Ekwunife emerged victorious against the candidates of other political parties in a fiercely contested election.
Three years later, precisely in 2010, Ekwunife took her ambition up a notch - she declared her intention to govern Anambra state in the 2010 governorship election. She was the only female out of the SIX governorship candidates that contested in that election, polling 9,595 votes in the process despite running on a platform of a relatively unknown party.
Barely a year later, in 2011, Ekwunife while seeking for a second term in the House of Representatives, found herself in another political battle. Faced with strong competition, Ekwunife needed to up her game. After a very competitive contest, Iyom Uche Ekwunife emerged the winner once again.
In 2013, Ekwunife was back to the field over her ambition to be Governor of Anambra State. In a primary election which she constested with five other contestants, Ekwunife, the only female in the race came second, behind Chief Willie Obiano the incumbent Governor of Anambra State.
In 2014, while Iyom Uche Ekwunife was Chairman, House Committee on Environment; Leader Anambra State Caucus and Leader of the Caucus of her party in the House of Representatives - positions she held for four years, she declared her intention to represent the people of Anambra Central Senatorial district in the 2015 general election. Again, the opposition was fierce, she was up against, the incumbent Senator and a former governor of the state and the then National Chairman of the ruling party in the state. Against all odds, she won the election to become the first female to serve Anambra central as Senator.
However, an Appeal court judgement of December 9, 2015 denied her the chance of further serving in that capacity. The judgment which was discredited by many legal analysts and political observers was considered a very unusual decision, unseen and unheard of in Nigeria's judicial space. According to the judgement, the decision of the court was based on the irregularities in the party primary that produced Senator Uche Ekwunife - the same primaries that produced the other two Senators in the state, all the State and National Assembly Candidates of the party.
Notwithstanding, Senator Ekwunife during her short stay as Senator became the first south eastern Senator to Chair the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream. She moved a motion for the immediate intervention of the Federal Government on Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, as well as assistance in checking the increasing devastation of erosion in Anambra state and went to ahead to facilitate the inspection of the state of erosion in Anambra State by the Barnabas Gemade Senate Adhoc committee on works. Within six months as Senator, Ekwunife sponsored 5 Bills, one of which was recently signed into law. She facilitated the Construction of St. Joseph’s Road Nri and the Construction of Okelue Road Enugwu-Agidi - the former was completed, the later was near completion before she took leave from the Senate.
Today, Senator Uche Ekwunife is on the board of the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS. She has continued to serve the society in many other dimensions. She has further deepened her commitment to mentoring young women, giving back to the society through charity and various empowerment programmes, and awakening the interest of women in governance through various awareness programmes.
Senator Ekwunife, a philanthropist, a devoted wife and mother, has presented herself once again for service, service to the good people of Anambra Central. With untainted records in previously held public positions, Ekwunife, without doubt, has the pedigree to once again serve Anambra central as Senator.
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