The Rise and Rise of Hon.Patrick Asadu.

Of all the lies told against Hon. Patrick ASADU, Member representing Nsukka/Igboeze South, none is as unconscionable and provocative like  the one that claims that he is a bench warmer in the green chambers. 

I am not from Nsukka or Igboeze South, but I have lived in Nsukka for more than eight years and as such, conversant with the happenings around here. I don't know any leader apart from Governor Ugwuanyi, and Hon Utazi whose name rings more bell than and whose popularity can match that of Hon Pat ASADU in Nsukka.  Hence, I'm shocked that a man whose name was once on people's lips as a champion of the people has suddenly become a man who has never done anything for Nsukka and Igboeze South People, a man who must be given a bad name to facilitate his exit from power. 

From experience in the Nigerian politics, people tend to sermonize your name, glory in your achievements when you are fresh in power, but begin to launch an unnecessary attack when election is around the corner. This attitude, many a time stems from two possible drives: it's either the attacks are sponsored by political opponents or the people doing it want monitory compensation for their attacks. 

I have watched video  clips from the green chambers, saw how often Hon Pat, contributes to the deliberations in the house, discovered, that he even heads one important committee in the house[Asadu is the the Chairman of House of Representatives committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways], and was convinced that this man is not a bench warmer in the green house.  

Again, sometime last year, Nsukka people held this man's name in high regard for the football competition he sponsored in Nsukka which was aired on AIT.   I have a friend who played in that competition although his team was knocked out early on in the tournament. I also have seen reports photographs and videos  of a similar football tournament he single- handedly sponsored for all 36 wards of his constituency and even the UNN team inside the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Stadium in his earlier term as a parliamentarian, which Team UNN won. 

However, one of his supporters, who preferred anonymity told Johnbull Tv that no matter how some people tried to play politics of bitterness, Asadu’s performances were there for all to see.
According to him, “it is unthinkable for some persons to just come up and start telling bare-faced lies simply because they are interested in a position being occupied by someone else.
“To set the records straight, it is pure fallacy for anyone to say that he has not sponsored any bill in the House. He has so far sponsored not less than nine bills and five motions, including a Bill for an Act to amend the River Basin Development Authority Act; A Bill to repeal the Nigeria Ports Authority Act; A Bill for the establishment of Forensic DNA Database in Nigeria; A Bill to establish the Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy to provide for courses leading to the award of degrees, among others.
“I can also authoritatively tell you that there are several motions to his credit. So, for some people to say he is a bench-warmer, they are far from the truth.
“It is a contest and their attacking billboards and printing funny posters has firmed his determination to test his relationship with the voters.”
When asked to comment on the issue of constituency projects, he said the lawmaker championed the study centre of the National Open University in Opi, renovated the Ovoko Boys Secondary school, and was also involved in ‘Obu Nsukka’ projects.
“Now, those who are saying he is taking money meant for constituency projects, how is that possible? Cash it from the budget document or move to executive arm and award it to himself, process the payment and pocket the money?” He quipped.
Meanwhile, one of the aides to the lawmaker, Mr. Chineme Onyeke, was earlier reported in the media as saying that the rejection posters were the handiwork of some intending aspirants who were afraid of the of Asadu.
“Those afraid of the achievements of Dr. Asadu are the ones hiding under the ‘Nsukka Say No’ campaign poster.
“I’m part of Nsukka and I am not aware of any decision to bar him from contesting in the 2019 National Assembly election. It is his constitutional right to stand for the election”, Onyeke was quoted as saying.

Yet some group of persons want to demonise this man because for purely selfish reasons. Knowing some of the characters apparently hired for this hatchet job and those being fingered as their mentors in this ignoble “pull Asadu down” project, all men and women of goodwill must condemn both the selfish project and the purveyors of all these shameful lies. Nigerians need to drift away from this kind of politics. 

Biko!!

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Franklin Okeke