- By Chimezie Okere
With the 2023 general elections fast approaching, concerned citizens and political stakeholders are disrupting the political norm by advocating to ensure that established business entrepreneurs get elected into leadership positions to address the myriad of challenges confronting the country.
As More candidates continue to declare their interest to vie for one position or the other in the 2023 general elections ,conversations and questions about their source of income, wealth and business ventures have been intensified.
Perhaps one might ask “why the need to elect politicians who are private sector players”?? Well it has been observed that in the country Politicians without any viable source of income prior to getting elected see public office as a means to an end hence their abysmal performance.
In Nigeria, synonymous to other African countries, many politicians never retire; even when they have failed in delivering on their democratic dividend mandate and are no longer useful in the system, they always prefer to die in the corridors of power.
In electoral politics, the political entrepreneurs come from all sides of the traditional left-right spectrum. Political entrepreneurs are a set of well grounded political players with well established entrepreneurs and employers of labour , they are people who create ideas and innovations, and act as new leaders in the field of politics.
Narrowing the conversation to the 2023 parliamentary elections into the various Senatorial and Federal constituencies in the country, one Federal constituency which will be in the public eye is the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal constituency under Abia-North in Abia State, South East Nigeria.
Definitely the narrative will be no different as the good people of Isuikwuato/Umuneochi beckon for qualitative and quantitative leadership come 2023.
Amobi Ogah comes under the spotlight being a founding grassroots mobiliser of the ruling All Progressive’s Congress (APC) during its formation stages in 2014.
Chief Amobi Godwin Ogah an accomplished entrepreneur, philanthropist and chieftain of the APC spearheaded the propagation of the Nation’s ruling party in his native Isuikwuato/Umunneochi constituency.
He has remained undaunted in building the party at the grassroots level in his constituency and the state at large vis a vis his empowerment, philanthropic and job creation initiatives.
Amobi fits perfectly into the “paradigm shift” Advocacy for Political Entrepreneurs being an experienced Politician and a successful young entrepreneur is an employee of labour.
Amongst other companies he is the Chairman Pauli-Mama group which has over 3000 direct and indirect workers. The company has interests in Oil and Gas, Manufacturing, Trading and Food and Fashion.
Born in 1980, Amobi ogah, sits as the Chief Executive Officer of Pauli mama Group of Companies with interests in Oil and Gas, Departmental Stores , Eatery, Agriculture, Construction, Fashion, Hospitality ,Oil Haulage Company and LPG.
The consummate Politician, Economist and successful industrialist bagged his Executive MBA professional qualification in addition to his membership of chartered institute of Economics.
Chief Amobi also known as the Grassroots Mobilizer, galvanised both human and capital resources to lift the APC in Abia from zero to a significant level which was eminently reflected in the increased number of votes cast in the last general election.
His UGO Abia political structure has become a political house hold in the state and beyond has also spurred the membership drive of the APC in Abia State.
Amobi is no newcomer in Political conquests , in 2019 to the admiration of all, Chief Amobi formally declared his interest Federal House of Representatives Isuikwuato/Umunneochi at a grand declaration rally held on August 6 2019.
Amobi’s quest to represent his constituents was seen as a reward for hardwork and the bold move for qualitative representation at the green Chambers.
The ever-pragmatic Chief Amobi attracted distinguished party stakeholders to grace the rally which was a very rare feat. The massive rally had the attendance of former governor of the state and current Chief Whip of the Senate Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, erstwhile:APC National Vice Chairman South East Emmanuel Omachkwu, APC State Working Committee members, APC Abia North Zonal Chairman Chief Chris Ajah and other party leaders including friends and supporters.
Chief Amobi’s grand rally sent a strong statement that he is fully in touch with his people . This was as result of the unprecedented mammoth crowd that besieged the rally ground.
However, in the interest of peace inorder to douse rising political tensions and selfless rare display of non desperation Amobi heeded the call of Political elders to sheath his political contest a night before the party’s primaries in order to pave way for the incumbent Hon. Nkeiru Onyejeocha, thus sacrificing his six years of hard work for the party to support a new entrant.
As the 2023 Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal elections fast approaches it is expected that Amobi Ogah will be massively supported by all to take the mantle of leadership to represent the good people of his constituency having paid his dues and being eminently qualified in all ramifications to represent his people at the Federal House of Representatives.
With a proven track record of philanthropy Chief Amobi created the Amobi Ogah Foundation through which countless numbers of youths have been empowered by skill acquisition, job facilitation, financial support, just to mention a few.
Chief Amobi, inspired by his passion for the development of youths has been providing assistance to lots of youths in isuikwuato, umunneochi LGA and Abia State at large in the various fields they wish to embark on.
He demonstrates a peripatetic attitude in search of progress for the sake of the welfare of people. Chief Amobi also possesses a highly distinguished human relation approach with the ability to keep in touch with people and relate with everyone around him on the same level regardless of age, sex, religious, tribal or economic differences despite is wealth and pedigree as if they are the same.
Amobi is reputed to be among the league of political entrepreneurs whose perspective to politics is seen as an end in itself and not a means to an end.
Being a successful astute Politician and accomplished entrepreneur with undisputed political contacts, Amobi will no doubt deploy his arsenal to formulate the required bills, motions and facilitate infrastructural projects as well as 21st century empowerment for his people.
Chimezie Okere a political analyst writes from Umuahia
