By Ngwuta Chinedu, Abakaliki
Rt Hon Chief Joseph Nwobashi is the current member representing Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency in the green chambers of the National Assembly. Before his elevation to represent the good people of Ezza North /Ishielu Federal Constituency, he was a former member of Ezza North legislative council, a two term member of Ebonyi State House of Assembly where he rose to the position of the Leader of the house.
Nwobashi was elected under the platform of All Nigerians people’s party (ANPP) to represent Ezza North East State constituency in the Ebonyi state House Assembly at a time People’s Democrat party (PDP) was in power in the state and came for a second term in 2015 and served as the leader in the hallow chamber. At the end of tenure in the hallowed chamber of EBHA, was appointed SSA on Airport Project by the then Governor of the state David Umahi.
In 2023, Nwobashi had informed his people of his intentions to represent them at the green chambers of the National Assembly, some thought he was a joker but horridly forgot how he had emerged in the other positions he held in the past.
He contested in the 2023 general election against the immediate past chairman of Ezza North LGA Dr. Nora Aloh who was endorsed as the APC flag bearer for Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency contest. In Ebonyi context, it is assumed that anyone that is enjoying the backing of the government in power wins electoral contest.
But in the case of Nwobashi, such notion does not matter in his life. Though, the gubernatorial candidates of the All progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof Bernard Odoh was one of the strong contenders in the 2023 general elections. All the elections he had contested and won has always been on the platform sheered determination backed by “Grace of God” what a unique man indeed?
As if that was not enough, Hon Nwobasi faced post primary legal battles that made him unsure of his party ticket until few days to the election, but he never lost focus.
Many political pundits in their scholarly analysis believed he was not going to stand for the election, let alone winning the election, but, Hon Nwobasi didn’t just stand the election, he stood and won the election successfully.
The seasoned Lawmaker is adjudge the most luckiest politician who has won all his elections irrespective of the political party he ran under.
After the election, people believed he was not going to do well considering the level of legal tussles and stresses he went through to become the party flag bear of A progressive Grand Alliance, APGA. Again Hon Nwobasi disappointed his traducers, thus breaking the jinx of quality leadership unprecedented in the history of Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency.
His December 20th, 2024 Empowerment Program was adjudged the best in the history of the Constituency. He Empowerment over 300 constituents with Mini-buses, Motorcycles, sewing machines, Grinding machines, Medical equipment, Cash gifts, among other items.
Worthy of note, is that despite winning without the support of many stakeholders- due principally to the nature of his political party, and the fierce power of incumbency of the state ruling party, Hon Nwobasi never used his victory against anybody that didn’t vote for him during the 2023 General Elections. He equitably distributed his Empowerment items across the two local government and 27 wards in his constituency.
The 20th December, 2024 outing will continue to stand him tall among his contemporaries, as the constituents affirmed he was first to attract the highest number of Empowerment items in the constituency
In an interview, Rep Joseph Nwobasi has this to say:
“what motivated me to empower my Constituents is their support for my candidacy during the 2023 electioneering campaign and even after the election.The kind of support I enjoyed from them is what propelled me, and that’s why I decided come rain, come shine I must empower them because they have not disappointed me”
“whatever, I know I will do to attract government presence to our constituency I will do it. Whatever thing I am sure that can help me empower them I will do it. They supported me despite that I was not in the ruling party. I contested in a party that was not too known in the state. They said they must vote for me and they voted for me and I won the election”
“So, with the powers of the ruling party, they declared the election inconclusive, yet they voted for me against all odds at the April 15th, 2023 supplementary election. So, I owe them a lot, I owe them appreciation, I owe them gratitude. Like today’s occasion featured Empowerment, scholarships, distributions of palliatives and many other things. I have earlier appointed over 40 Special Assistants. I pay them from my little resources not the ones that are under the federal government payroll, why, just to ensure that I appreciated them for the good job they did to me. The people that got empowered today are not less than three hundred. Some got Mini-buses, grinding machines, Tailoring machines, motorcycles cash gifts etc”
.” I will continue to thank God who made it possible for me to go to the Federal House of Representatives. I have sponsored three bills, motions and co-sponsored three other motions. These bills and motions are the ones that can touch lives of average Nigerians when they are passed into law”
” In the area of social amenities, I facilitated the building of Six class room blocks at CSS, Oshiegbe, I also attracted solar powered street lights which has been installed at many villages: Amuzu, Ezeuphu, Izuphumirri, Egwudilegu villages and other areas in Ezza North LGA. Also, Azuoffia, Azinyaba Ward, Onunworie and Onunwafor in Ezzaegu, Ishielu LGA were not left out”.
“Like I earlier said, I appointed not less than forty Special Assistants(SAs) that am paying from my purse not the ones that are being paid by the national assembly and I do it just to help lift them out of poverty, that is why I decided to pay them monthly salaries above the national minimum wage. In the area of health, I have also equipped Oshiegbe health center which was delivered today to help our rural women and aged fathers access quality medical treatments”.