OJEMA RECEIVES MASTER OF MEGA PROJECTS AWARD
–Group Calls for Competence over Zoning
By Ojila Monday Yahaya
The Member Representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency, and Chairman, House of Reps Committee on National Inland Waterways, Chief Hon Pst Ojotu Ojema FESMI, has bagged “Master of Mega Projects” Award.
The award was conferred on the Aboh-OcheK’Idoma on Thursday, 27th March, 2025 at Apa Luxury Resorts by a group called Apa Enlightenment Forum (AEF).
The Leader of the group, Comr Adah Adoyi while presenting the award to the Federal Lawmaker, recognized the fact that Hon Ojema took Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency by surprise by going against the norm and bringing a new order that must be sustained.
“Apa Enlightenment Forum is a congregation of graduates who are inspired by quality over quantity. We believe in what works, and we are committed to sensitizing the younger generation to take the path of excellence. Therefore, this group had a critical evaluation of your administration, and in just less than two years, you stand out in terms of quality delivery. We took a tour of the Engla/Ogwule and Ofoke/Igoro asphalted roads; we monitored the distribution of Fifty Thousand Naira scholarship to over 600 tertiary education students; we saw how you paid the Tuition Fees of the 3 best students in each class in all the Secondary Schools, payment of JAMB fees of prospective students; we witnessed the empowerment of women with Sewing and Grinding machines; the distribution of tricycles, pumping machines and human resource development. These facts are not lost on us, and it’s visible to the blind and audible to the deaf that you are indeed God-sent,” Adoyi narrated on why Ojema is deserving of the award.
“This group has structures across the 11 wards of the local government, and we make bold to say that we are not distracted by those snorkeling against 2027 and using zoning as the only campaign slogan. We are gone past this medieval thinking, and excellence, rather than regional entitlement, will determine the 2027 election,” he added.
His Agatu counterpart, Comr Jeremiah Inalegwu maintained that Agatu Enlightenment Forum stands in solidarity with the direction of Apa chapter, noting that the group is driven by the ideology to develop the constituency to an enviable height, a page that Chief Ojema is famed for.
In his reaction, Hon Prince Antenyi Antenyi applauded the group for standing in the gap to recognize competence over any jejune consideration that encourages mediocrity.
“I have been in politics for 25 years and I can tell you for free that there has never been zoning in the constituency. I was party of the people who canvassed for zoning but our efforts were sabotaged by party bigwigs who collected motorcycles and worked against zoning. That’s why Late Hon Solomon Agidani was never part of it and contested for the 4th term. Hon Ademu Entonu went against zoning and won the PDP’s ticket for the third time. He even contested the 2023 general election alongside other Apa sons. What Ojema has done is not what we can gloss over. I believe in consolidation,” Hon Prince Antenyi summited.
Apa LGA PDP Chairman, Hon Abel Aboje ably represented by his Deputy, Hon Oki Saleh, saluted Apa Enlightenment Forum for being observant in what Ojema has done thus far, encouraging others to support Ojema for sustained development.
Responding after receiving the award, Chief Ojema dedicated the award to God for His Grace while noting that what he has done so far represents just 30% of what is to come.
“I’m happy that people recognize my efforts, and like it’s stated, the voice of the people is the voice of God. My joy is that, nobody has found fault in my performance, and the only thing they have against me is zoning even though I have not indicated interest to seek re-election. What you’re seeing now is just 30% percent of what’s to come in the next one year. If I want to seek re-election, I will seek the face of God even though I believe the voice of the people is the voice of God,” Aboh-OcheK’Idoma quipped.