Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor was on Tuesday 27th November 2023 sworn-in, for the third term, in House of Representatives.
Full Text: What Chike Okafor said after Inauguration in The National Assembly
I hereby re-dedicate myself to the people and service of Ehime Mbano, Ihitte Uboma, Obowo Federal Constituency,
To God be the Glory.
I have, for the third time, taken the oath of office, to resume in the 10th National Assembly, as the member Representing Ehime Mbano, Ihitte-Uboma and Obowo Federal Constituency, in the House of Representatives.
It is a very brief event that takes place within the days’ sitting, so nothing is specially earmarked for it.
I wish to state, categorically, that all that had transpired before now, including the election, court processes, the presentation of Certificate of Return to me, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and, indeed, everything that led to my being sworn in, 5 months after the inauguration of the 10th NASS are part of our politics.
I urge everyone, especially my supporters and even the opposition, to take nothing personally, but rather be sportsmanly and magnanimous in both divides. I reiterate that there is no victor, no vanquished. Okigwe South is for us all.
Believe me, when I say that now that I have crossed the river, I will not turn back to look at my shadow. I bear no grudges and no ill will towards anyone and I have resolved that I will not look at who did what or not for or against me, either in the election process or in the course of recovering the mandate of the good people of Okigwe South.
I would rather face the business of the effective representation of my people and the legislation of the 10th Assembly for the generality of Nigerians.
Let me reassure you all, that, I will work with everyone in the Constituency, irrespective of where they stood during/after the election.
Permit me to use this medium to thank the judiciary for being firm and fair despite all manner of obvious pressure.
My immense appreciation goes, first, to God, for seeing us through, to this day; to the party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Imo State, especially, for the platform and leadership; to the Imo State Governor His Excellency, Distinguished Sen. Hope Odidika Uzodimma (Onwa Oyoko), for his fatherly disposition and unwavering support, all through this process and to my good people of Ehime Mbano, Ihitte Uboma, Obowo, for being calm and standing by me, while all these lasted.
Finally, I am super grateful to the entire Ehime Mbano ,Ihitte Uboma, Obowo Federal Constituency for working with me to ensure that our dear Governor and Governor-Elect, Sen. Hope Uzodimma won in ALL the 31 wards of the federal Constituency and across the 3 LGAs.
I am not unmindful of your goodwill, and I will not let you down.
We are back to the Green Chambers of the National Assembly and I assure the leadership of the House of Representatives, of my unalloyed support and commitment, as I bringing along with me my wealth of experience garnered from the organised private sector (banking, spanning 14 years and across 4 different commercial banks), where I was, before my incursion into Nigerian politics and governance, starting with my stint as Commissioner for Finance, to my stewardship as Chairman Committee on Healthcare Services as well as Adhoc Committee on Non Oil Revenue and Remittances, in the 8th Assembly, not forgetting my being part of the 9th Assembly.
I have already hit the ground running, to discharge my duties, so as to give a good account of the mandate freely given to me by the good people of Ehime Mbano, Ihitte-Uboma, and Obowo Federal Constituency.
Thanks, and God bless us!
Chike Okafor, PhD
Federal House of Representatives, Abuja.