By Amb. Monyeazor Oluebube Sunday
NDC Bende Federal Constituency candidate, Hon. Pascal Karibe Ojigwe, has asked Ndi Bende to look beyond political party colours and personalities in the 2027 election, saying the real issue should be what elected representatives can bring back home to the people.
Ojigwe, whose name is on the final INEC list for the 2027 election, made the position known while outlining what he described as his agenda for Bende Federal Constituency.
He said the question voters should ask is simple: “After we vote in 2027, what will come home to us?”
According to him, Bende has seen different faces and political parties over the years, but many communities are still dealing with bad roads, water shortages, weak public facilities, unemployment and inadequate healthcare.
“Anybody can have a new face. Anybody can occupy a position. But what is the value of a new face if that face cannot bring quality road? What is the value of occupying a position if that position does not bring quality projects that benefit the woman selling akara in Bende market?” he said.
Ojigwe said his proposed representation would be built around what he called the “Bende Standard”, insisting that constituency projects must be completed to a standard that communities can actually use.
He cited roads without proper drainage, boreholes that stop working shortly after commissioning, school buildings without desks and toilets, and empowerment programmes where equipment is distributed without training or access to markets.
On roads, he said projects such as the Alayi–Uzuakoli, Bende–Ozuitem–Ugwueke and Item–Umuhu Ezechi–Okagwe routes should be approached as economic infrastructure because farmers need reliable access to markets.
For water, he proposed solar-powered boreholes with overhead tanks and fetching points, particularly around communities and markets where women and traders still spend considerable time looking for water.
He also proposed skills hubs covering areas such as ICT, solar installation, phone repairs, fashion design, hairdressing, barbing, computer training, fish farming, poultry, garri and palm-oil processing and snail farming.
For healthcare, Ojigwe said he would push for the upgrading of health centres and quarterly medical outreaches covering conditions including hypertension, diabetes, malaria and eye-related problems.
Community Monitoring Of Projects
A major part of his proposal is the establishment of Community Project Monitoring Committees (CPMCs) in wards where constituency projects are located.
According to him, the committees would comprise elders, women leaders, youths and community representatives who would monitor project execution, document progress and participate in certifying completed work.
He said contractors should not receive their final payment where communities have not confirmed that agreed standards were met.
Taking Bende’s Demands To Abuja
Ojigwe also argued that representation in the House of Representatives should go beyond speeches and voting during plenary.
“Quality representation is not about shouting ‘Yes or Nay’ in Green Chamber alone. It is about lobbying. It is about writing proposals. It is about following up. It is about using goodwill and contacts to attract what belongs to Bende,” he said.
He identified agencies and institutions including NDDC, UBEC, TETFund, SMEDAN, Bank of Industry, FERMA, the Federal Ministry of Works, the Ecological Fund and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture as areas where, he said, Bende could pursue more federal intervention.
His proposed areas include roads, erosion control, school rehabilitation, business financing, agricultural support and solar street lighting.
Ojigwe also referenced Bende’s historical importance, including the legacy of former Eastern Region Premier Dr. Michael Okpara, arguing that the area should have stronger federal presence.
“Bende First” Beyond Party Lines
The NDC candidate said the 2027 election should not be reduced to party colours.
“Bende has voted APC before. Bende has voted PDP before. Bende has voted APGA before. Bende has voted Labour before. But has our life changed because of party? No,” he said.
Ojigwe said that, if elected, constituency projects should benefit residents irrespective of whether they belong to NDC, APC, PDP, Labour or APGA.
He also promised what he described as an open approach to constituency spending, proposing quarterly town hall meetings to be rotated among Bende, Item, Igbere, Uzuakoli and Alayi.
At the meetings, he said, residents would be presented with information on constituency allocations, projects and expenditure.
He further promised an accessible constituency office rather than a system where residents have to go through lengthy protocols before meeting their representative.
On security, Ojigwe proposed support for community vigilantes through basic equipment and stipends, while insisting that local security structures should serve their communities rather than individual politicians.
He also called for greater unity among the different communities and clans that make up Bende Federal Constituency.
For Ojigwe, the central question for 2027 is therefore not simply who occupies the seat in Abuja, but whether the representative can attract projects, monitor them and remain answerable to the communities.
His campaign message is summed up in the phrase:
“Ka Bende Ga n’Ihu! Bende Will Be Okay!”
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