Hundreds of youths of Ogbunike Community in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State on Thursday protested alleged abysmal represention by the immediate past member representing Oyi constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Mrs Vivian Okadigbo.
The protesters under the agies of Oyi Youth Initiative (OYI) demanded proper accountability from the ex-lawmaker for the eight years of her two terms at the House of Assembly.
The angry youths who carried placards with different inscriptions, marched from Awkuzu junction to Oyi Local Government Secretariat, Nteje to express their displeasure with the lawmaker.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Comrade Mbamalu Uchenna said they were saddened that the former lawmaker had nothing to show her constituents between 2011 to 2019 she represented them.
He alleged that Okadigbo had not been accountable to her constituents through constituency projects and town hall meetings for the period she held sway.
He said, “We are here to express our dissatisfaction over Hon Okadigbo’s inability to give account of her stewardship over pronounced discrepancies allegedly experienced in the state Assembly.
While noting that it was not the first time the youths were protesting on the matter, Uchenna regretted that their appeal had always fallen on deaf ears, urging her successor to ensure the issues were addressed.
“We’ve been having this kind of protests in the past but our voices have not been heard. We commended the current representative, Charles Obinma for doing well within two years in office, but urge him not to take the youths for granted,” he added.
Reacting, Mrs Vivian Okadigbo said the protest was sponsored by her political opponent and wondered why such protest could not take place earlier under her tenure.
She attributed her two terms tenure in the house to the quality represention she offered to her constituency.
She said, “It was the dividends of my quality representation that made me serve for two terms. I was the only lawmaker that worked so well in Oyi than any other representative and had given them account in several occasions.”
