From Chuks Collins, Awka
It was only in the days of yore, in the era of the sage and political icon, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the late former Governor General of Nigeria that candidates get nominated and go on to win elections by the popular vote and wish of the people.
It was when power truly belonged to the people, the voters. When superior points of argument, one’s antecedents earn him a position. It was when the people actually impress on their son to come out to represent them, ‘because you have proved your self worthy in little things, we therefore have no doubt you will discharge duties honorably in bigger things, even at the Federal level’, used to be the refrain with which delegates sent by the community normally use to woo and win the confidence of the would-be representative.
So it was in the case of Mr Dozie Nwankwo; a beautiful face of a man. A kind hearted young industrialist who tasted and know the pangs of hardship from the cradle as a result of the demise of his dear mother so early in life.
But from dint of hardworking and the favor of the Almighty God, he oil services line of business became so blessed that he insisted on giving back to the society a substantial chunk of his earnings, annually. As a result, he had a very easy smooth ride to his nomination at the party primary where an overwhelming majority cheerfully voted him to seek election to represent them in the National Assembly, in the forthcoming general election.
So for the past twenty- two years, Dozie Nwankwo, popularly calmly “onye ndozi”, literally means ‘the beautifier’, has continued to provide free medical treatment, Keke Napep, scholarships, widow support, women/youth empowerment, skill acquisition and revolving soft loans among other poverty alleviation schemes.
Conservatively, more than six hundred thousand (600,000) persons and families have benefitted and rehabilitated from this kind selfless gesture. Little wonder the citizens of the various communities of his immediate constituency impressed on him to come out to run for the Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia Federal Constituency seat. They said that since he had been taking so much care of them with personal resources that having a leverage of being close to the seat of power in Abuja, he would attract bigger welfare packages for them.
A silent and quiet transformer and grassroots man, Nwankwo has before now sent some indigent sick constituents to overseas for medical treatment, undertook various forms of surgeries for more than two thousand persons, sent others overseas for skill acquisition. He has also provided jobs and soft loan for others to commence practice of their trades. Instructively he has continued to decline the pressure for chieftaincy titles from communities in appreciation of his kind works. He said he chose to accept to go to the National Assembly because truly acknowledged it would avail him opportunity to do more for his constituents.
His policy is, live and assist others live, believing so much that there is so much joy in sharing. He appealed to the citizens to close rank and work together as a unit. And the politicians to accept the wish of the people in good faith and wait for another day.
He also advocate stronger synergy and support to the state in every ramifications especially by the state’s National Assembly caucus to enable them speak at the national arena with one voice always, to the benefit of the citizens.
He said that his resolve in the peoples’ mass support was extensively buoyed by his landslide victory at his party’s- the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) primaries where he garnered more than ninety-nine percent(99%) of the votes cast by the delegates.
As he rode shoulders high home from the White Castle Hotel, Neni, Anaocha LGA, venue of the event, local residents and natives joyfully lined up the nearly five kilometer route chanting solidarity songs to his praise. It was a thing to behold, and it visibly drew tears from his eyes, and that of many. The supporters simply assured him that his good deeds have been speaking for him, and that they would remain with him-‘because we know you and you know all,of us too well’.
Nwankwo was said to have started his act in philanthropy far back in his days as a secondary school student. That there was nothing he would eat or take alone. He likes sharing and seeing happiness go round. The spirit of giving and sharing has become part of his natural routine, as he admitted to be constantly thinking of better ways of helping out those in need around him.
In an interview shortly after winning the party’s primary, Nwankwo appealed to all other aspirants who lost out to come under one umbrella with him in the interest of the people of the constituency. He admitted that no one man can do all the task of moving the place forward alone.
He then appealed to the citizens to work even harder in the election so as to deliver him and other candidates of the party.
Source: Chuks Collins, Awka
