Hon. Karibe Ojigwe Speaks on Good Governance and Accountability

By Monyeazor Oluebube Sunday

Hon. Karibe Ojigwe has declared that good governance and accountability will be the cornerstone of his representation of Bende Federal Constituency, warning that public office is a trust, not an opportunity for personal enrichment.

Speaking during an interactive meeting with Bende constituents, Hon. Karibe Ojigwe said the people of Bende have suffered for years due to lack of transparency in the management of constituency funds, abandonment of projects, and poor representation at the National Assembly.

He described the past years as a period of missed opportunities, where Bende, despite its rich human and material resources, has remained one of the most neglected constituencies in Abia State.

“When you drive from Bende to Umuahia, from Uzuakoli to Item, from Alayi to Ozuitem, you will see roads that have been abandoned for decades. When you visit our schools, you will see classrooms without roofs. When you go to our health centres, you will see facilities without drugs and staff. Yet, every year, money is allocated for these projects. Where does it go? That is the question we must ask,” he said.

“Public Office is a Trust, Not a Business”

“Public office is a sacred trust. The money that comes for constituency projects is not for the legislator, it is for the people. It is for our roads, schools, health centres, water, and jobs. When a leader treats it as personal money, he is stealing from his own people,” Hon. Ojigwe said.

He stated that under his leadership, every kobo allocated to Bende Federal Constituency will be accounted for publicly, with periodic reports to the constituents on projects executed, funds received, and challenges encountered.

He added that Bende deserves a representative who will not hide behind Abuja, but will stand before the people to explain every decision taken on their behalf.

He said he will introduce a digital platform and notice boards at his constituency office where all projects, budgets, and expenditures will be displayed for public scrutiny.

He further promised to organize annual budget presentation sessions where the people will be told how much was allocated to Bende, how much was received, and how much was spent on each project.

Hon. Ojigwe promised to run an open-door representation, where the people of Bende will have direct access to their representative, not through middlemen or gatekeepers.

“My office will be your office. My phone lines will be open. My constituency office will be a place where any Bende son or daughter can walk in and be heard. You will not need to beg to see your representative,” he assured.

He said he will hold quarterly town hall meetings across the 13 wards of Bende to listen to the people, give account of his stewardship, and receive feedback on what needs to be done.

He further pledged to establish a Constituency Advisory Council made up of elders, youths, women, and community leaders from each ward, who will help prioritize projects and monitor execution.

He also promised to appoint liaison officers in every ward who will serve as the link between the people and his office, ensuring that no community is left out in the distribution of projects.

“We will not run a government of a few. We will run a government of the people. Every ward, every village, every community will be carried along,” he added.

The NDC candidate lamented that many constituency projects in Bende exist only on paper, while the people continue to suffer from bad roads, dilapidated schools, and non-functional health centres.

“I will not be a National Assembly member who sits in Abuja and collects allowances while Bende remains underdeveloped. I will ensure that every project awarded in my name is executed to specification and completed. I will personally monitor projects, and I will invite the people to monitor them with me,” he said.

He also pledged to publish a yearly Constituency Scorecard, detailing all projects, empowerment programmes, and legislative activities, so that the people can judge him based on performance, not propaganda.

He vowed to engage credible contractors from within Bende where possible, so that constituency projects will also create local jobs and boost the economy of the constituency.

He said abandoned projects from previous administrations will be revisited, completed, and handed over to the communities for use, rather than starting new ones that will also be abandoned.

“Why start a new borehole when the old one is not working? Why build a new classroom when the old one has no roof? We will complete abandoned projects first, then start new ones. That is accountability,” he said.

Hon. Ojigwe vowed zero tolerance for corruption in his office, warning his aides and contractors that any attempt to divert funds or cut corners will be dealt with.

“I am coming to serve, not to be served. Anyone who wants to use my office to enrich himself will be shown the door. Bende has been shortchanged for too long, and I will not allow it to continue,” he declared.

He said he will work closely with anti-corruption agencies, the media, and civil society organizations to ensure that every project in Bende is transparent and properly documented.

He also warned against the culture of vote-buying and political thuggery, urging the people of Bende to reject politicians who use money to buy conscience, only to abandon them after elections.

“A politician who buys your vote for N5,000 will steal N5 billion from you. Do not sell your future for a bag of rice. Your vote is your voice,” he said.

Beyond constituency projects, Hon. Karibe Ojigwe said he will be accountable in the National Assembly by pushing for laws that benefit Bende and the nation, including legislation on job creation, agricultural development, security, and good governance.

“You will not hear that your representative was silent in Abuja. I will speak for Bende, I will move motions for Bende, and I will attract federal presence to Bende. My voice will be loud and consistent,” he said.

He noted that effective legislation requires knowledge, courage, and constant engagement with the people, which he said he possesses through his years of community service and leadership experience.

He said he will also support bills that strengthen local government autonomy, promote youth employment, and protect the rights of farmers and women.

Hon. Pascal Karibe Ojigwe said Bende needs a new culture of leadership, one where leaders are servants, not masters.

“Leadership is not about titles and convoys. It is about service, sacrifice, and accountability. A leader who cannot give account to his people is not a leader, he is a ruler. We will not have rulers in Bende, we will have servants,” he said.

He called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, and civil society to hold him accountable if he deviates from his promises.

“If I fail to deliver, call me out. If I fail to be accountable, vote me out. I am not above the people, I am because of the people,” he added.

Accountability is the New Bende

He said his campaign slogan, “Vote A New Bende”, is not just a political catchphrase, but a commitment to a new era where leadership is measured by service, not by power.

“A new Bende means a Bende where projects are not abandoned, where funds are not stolen, where leaders give account, and where the people are proud of their representative. That is the Bende we will build together,” he said.

He called on the youth, women, elders, and traditional rulers of Bende to join him in demanding accountability from leaders at all levels, noting that good governance begins when the people refuse to be silent.

He concluded by urging the people to collect their PVCs and vote wisely, reminding them that accountability starts with choosing the right leader.

“Do not sell your votes. Your PVC is your power to hire and fire leaders. Use it wisely in 2027,” he said.

GET YOUR PVC. VOTE FOR NDC. VOTE FOR HON. KARIBE OJIGWE FOR MEMBER REPRESENTING BENDE FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY. VOTE A NEW BENDE.