by Tony Icheku

Baring the  unforseen, it is most certain that Ikwuano LGA in 2023 will produce the next Senator for Abia Central Senatorial District. From the PDP,  an Ikwuano son, Col Austin Akobundu, rtd, is already a Senatorial candidate, and two Ikwuano sons are tussling for APC's ticket.

 Ikwuano is enjoying this rare privilege courtesy of Nigeria's unique politics of 'rub my back and I rub your back', therefore as the Umunneato, the three Ngwa LGAs making up the Senatorial district looks towards the governorship, the Senate seat automatically fell on Ikwuano's laps.

If Ikwuano's ruling class really were to be pragmatic and proactive, they would have grabbed the opportunity of producing the next senator with two hands, and working across party lines would already be marketing their chosen candidate by now.

Let the truth be told, the Senate is not a play ground for kindergarten politicians, or for beginners, thus on the Senate floor one would hear words like 'ranking' Senator, or Senators with 'cognate experience'

As Nigeria's upper legislative house, its influence in governance cannot be over emphasised. With more and more former governors finding their way to the Senate, the Senate is assuming the character of a snobbish, elitist club where who you know seem to matter more than what you know.

That being the case, sending a greenhorn with limited insight into national politics and access to high networth personalities would rob Ikwuano of  all the benefits the position would have attracted. 

To begin with, a greenhorn may certainly never get appointed to chair an influential Senate Committee. He would certainly not be a Principal Officer as he would lack cognate experience.

In terms of contributions on the floor, he would have to queue up behind the big names and known faces before getting a nod to speak

But Ikwuano does not need to suffer the indignity of sending a neophyte to the Red Chamber. The gods seemed to have cracked Ikwuano's palm nuts for her: In the person of Rep Sam Onuigbo, Ikwuano has a worthy emissary who can represent Abia Central effectively and actively.

Indeed, electing Onuigbo to the Senate throws up almost unlimited opportunities for Ikwuano to finally get its share of the national cake.  First, Onuigbo would qualify to aspire to become a Principal officer and also qualify to chair an A-list Senate Committee.

Second, Onuigbo is already conversant with the layout of Abuja's corridors of power, therefore, he can navigate easier and skillfully  through it  to get things done 

Third, Onuigbo would be in the uneviable position of ensuring that the several Federal projects he had attracted to Ikwuano/Umuahia would be completed and commissioned, eg the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene road.

As a two-term Federal legislator,  one school of thought believes that Rep Sam Onuigbo is transforming into an 'extraordinary leader' able to read the pulse of the season and proffer solutions.

Mr Monday Ironcho, a public affairs commentator writes that as an  extraordinary leader, Rep Onuigbo stands-out,  leads at a higher levels,  shows that he cares about people, that he  makes decisions, sets direction, and inspires others with a strong vision for the future, while executing on the needed deliverables.

From his epochal Climate Change Act, his numerous motions and petitions touching on pertinent prevailing matters of the moment,  Rep Onuigbo has shown  skill, determination and uncommon courage as a lawmaker and leader

He has led from the front with vision, confidence and calmness,   inspiring  others  that they too  can excel  and offering assurances  that things can and will get better.  All of that could be read from his community intervention projects, skills acquisition and capacity building programmes

Perhaps an asset, that would  set him on a higher pedestal as a Senator is the powerful networking links - local and international -  he has cultivated  over time as member of the House of Representatives.

Over time, Onuigbo has displayed a strong set of communication and people skills. This is not surprising, but borne out of  his deliberately cultivated philosophy called Effectiveness, Accessibility, and Responsiveness, EAR, words which defines him as a lawmaker.

"The projects which I have attracted were not just randomly picked as a results of engagements with my  constituents to ascertain their most pressing need, and to lobby the executive to ensure that those needs are met within the availability of resources", he says.

If in appointing people to offices, the most experienced and most skillful is chosen, why take a different route in electing politicians to offices?  Of all the candidates that may emerge to contest the Senatorial position, it is not in dispute  that Rep Sam Onuigbo stands shoulders taller in innate and potential capacity and capability to redefine impact of the senatorial seat in Abia Central Senatorial district generally and in Ikwuano LGA specifically.