By Sunny Idika

Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa is often seen as a child of destiny. Some may say he was born with a golden spoon, but the truth is that he has earned every achievement through hard work, determination, discipline, and a constant desire to learn.

His political journey has never been easy. Since he stepped into the murky waters of Abia and Nigerian politics, he has faced many challenges. I will not dwell much on events before 2019, but from 2019 to his victory in 2023, it was clear that some people viewed his personality with unease. I sensed that some actions were driven by thinly veiled resentment, latent insecurity, and almost pathological antipathy. The pattern of hostility suggested what could be described as coordinated adversarial campaigns, designed to weaken his image. Yet, Ibe remained focused and confident that he would become a member of the House of Representatives. At this time, he was still in the APC.

He shared his vision with me early enough. His main focus would be youth development. I could see the passion in him. The only point of difference we had was his hide and seek approach for Elder Etigwe Uwa (SAN), whose governorship ambition I strongly believed in. Despite his respect for the learned silk, who is also his elder brother from his maternal village, Ibe had already built a strong bond with Dr Alex Otti. His loyalty to Otti was clear, and when I recognised that, I adjusted my position.

Hon. Ibe, alongside Maxwell Nwadike (now Mayor of Obingwa), Ihedigbo Mbaukwu, and Dodoh Okafor, openly told me as far back as 2021 that they would not support any candidate other than Otti in 2023. This was long before the elections when I was sharing Etigwe Uwa’s CV with some influential Abians.

Ibe’s loyalty never wavered. I recall him saying that he planned to buy his APC nomination form on the same day as Dr Otti. Days after buying the form, he invited me to his home to inform me that he was leaving the APC for the Labour Party with Dr Otti. I was surprised and asked about the APC primary. He said he was no longer interested and asked me to break the news. For clarity, they joined the Labour Party before Peter Obi entered the party.

As the Labour Party candidate, Ibe faced new challenges. From legal battles over his name on the INEC list, online attacks, sabotage, and betrayals. While others focused on showmanship, Ibe concentrated on meeting intellectuals, community leaders, and think tanks, sharing his ideas quietly but confidently. His strategy was simple: identify meeting days of community unions and attend them to present his plans. Engage respected community leaders, friends and associates to reach out to some politicians.

I remember him driving to my community meeting in Sauka Lugbe, inside FHA Lugbe, FCT, one Sunday afternoon. Within days, he visited again to see Chief Joe Kalu Ibe; later he went to Apo Resettlement to see Chief Kalu Idika Okwara and several other stakeholders from Abia, Amaekpu, Ihechiowa, Abam and beyond. These men later played major roles in the Labour Party’s victory.

His respectful approach and commitment to rebuilding the constituency brought together respected figures such as Chief Awa Kalu SAN, Chief Umeh Kalu SAN, Elder Etigwe Uwa SAN, Chief Sunny Mbila, Chief Charles Nkata, Chief Linus Iro, Dr Eni Kalu, Dr Michael Kalu Mba, Chief Fab Uche, Barr. John Awa, Mr Nnamdi Awa Kalu, Chief Kalu Idika Okwara, Dr Nkem Palmer, Coach John Obuh and many others. They endorsed him as the consensus candidate for Ohafia at an event held at Chief Awa Kalu’s law firm in Jahi, Abuja.

These leaders mobilised support based on his strong CV, good background, refined personality, and natural charisma. His candidacy restored pride to the constituency. And for clarity, I do not believe he won only because of Peter Obi. Although the Obi wave helped, I firmly believe his victory came mainly from the unity of our leaders and his own character. After all, despite the wave, many candidates lost in their strongholds.

Since his swearing-in, Rep. Ibe Okwara Osonwa has impressed many across the constituency. His work has stayed true to his promises; focusing on youth and women. He once told me he would move away from handouts and instead provide sustainable empowerment through education, agribusiness, and human capital development.

His office is one of the few open Monday to Friday, even during recess, to attend to the needs of his people. His staff work with a discipline often seen in the UK.

His target is to train 5,000 youths and women and support them with grants. So far, hundreds have been trained in agro-processing, ICT/renewable energy, cosmetology, fashion design, metal and wood fabrication, plumbing, food processing, and baking.

In partnership with the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria and SJG Ventures, hundreds of youths from the 22 wards received training on food storage, organic manure, and entrepreneurship.

On 1 March 2025, he empowered more young people with digital skills. Each participant received a brand-new HP laptop and a certificate from CREEDTEC Engineering Limited.

In July 2025, he empowered over 200 widows and women with vocational training in hairdressing, soap making and make-up artistry. They received start-up kits, financial support, and certificates.

He has also supported female farmers across the constituency with improved seedlings. About 30,000 cassava stems, 5,000 yam seedlings, melon, and maize to boost food production.

Every day, young people from Arochukwu/Ohafia receive recommendation letters, employment letters, and other documents that help shape their future. He has facilitated employment in EFCC, FIRS, the Federal High Court, NCC, NNPC, NASC and others. He is also pushing for foreign scholarships to the United Kingdom.

Today, he is launching his scholarship scheme for dozens of students, a major step that has redefined representation in the constituency.

The lawmaker also unveiled a string of brand new classroom blocks he built for schools in some communities in the constituency. The schools include Abia Primary School Ohafia, where he built a modern six-classroom block; Abam High School where he built another brand-new, fully furnished block of three classrooms; and Ukwa Nkporo Community school where he built a new and fully- furnished block of three classrooms.

Do not forget that the Smart School initiative of the Otti administration came through his efforts when the governor visited Ofali Agwu Secondary School. That visit led to the employment of about 20 smart teachers from the constituency through him.

Yes, he is close to Otti, and his loyalty is showing in the ongoing infrastructural transformation across Arochukwu/Ohafia like the Omenuko Bridge, Ndi Okereke Abam Road, Asaga–Amuke Road, Ndi Orieke, Okagwe–Nkwebi Road and others. It is loyalty and friendship in action, and Rep. Ibe Okwara Osonwa is truly keeping his word.

Sunny Idika writes from Ndi Ibe Ohafia.