Akobundu: My Late Inauguration in Senate Cost Abia Central Tinubu’s Christmas Palliatives 

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

 The Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, Senator Austin Akobundu, has blamed his delayed inauguration in the 10th Senate for the failure of his constituents to benefit from the Christmas palliatives from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Akobundu took his seat at the 10th Senate on November 15, 2023 after reclaiming his mandate from Darlington Nwokocha of Labour Party, who the appellate court eventually ruled was not the rightful owner of the mandate.

Speaking at a New Year get-together he organised for party leaders, stakeholders, women and youth groups at his Amuzu Oloko country home, Ikwuano, Akobundu said that he did not receive the said presidential  palliatives.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator explained to his constituents that the processes for the sharing of the palliatives to National Assembly members had been concluded before his arrival at the Senate.

President Tinubu had reportedly doled out N200 million worth of food items, including 6,000 bags of rice to each federal lawmaker to share in their respective constituencies.

 Though some members of the National Assembly have continued to claim ignorance of the food palliatives from Mr. President, Senator Akobundu appeared to have confirmed its authenticity, saying that it would have been very beneficial to his constituents.

However, the brand new Abia Central Senator, promised his constituents that he would “very soon” provide them his personal palliatives to cushion the effects of the present economic hardships.

He used the occasion to show his report card to his constituents covering the short period he has been in the Senate before going on recess for the Christmas/New Year celebrations.

Akobundu said he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs owing to his quality performance even as a first time Senator.

Recalling his long journey to the Senate, Akobundu thanked both God and members of the PDP in Abia Central for making it possible for him to eventually emerge as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He reiterated that he will remain “a Senator for everybody” in his constituency irrespective of political party affiliations, adding that he would do all in his power to attract dividends of democracy to his constituency.

 According to him, the inputs he made in the 2024 budget would yield good result and be beneficial to his people, adding that he remained committed to fulfilling his campaign promises as encapsulated in his five-point agenda.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Abia PDP, Alwell Asiforo Okere represented by the State Deputy Chairman of the party, Chief Obinna Nwachukwu, described Senator Akobundu as a seasoned administrator with demonstrable capacity for effective representation.

The Director General of Austin Akobundu Campaign Council, Pastor Emeka Inyama, had earlier in his remarks expressed his gratitude for the divine intervention that guaranteed victory for “a man of destiny”.