CLO Hails Umeh’s Advocacy for South-East Inclusion, Education

By Fatima Saka

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Anambra State Branch, has commended Senator Victor Umeh for his legislative interventions on South-East inclusion, erosion control, educational empowerment and the protection of traders, describing his activities as people-oriented representation.

The organisation said Umeh, who represents Anambra Central Senatorial District, had consistently raised issues affecting the South-East at the National Assembly, including the establishment of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), the inclusion of the region in the national railway modernisation programme and the allocation of federal resources.

The commendation was contained in a statement issued to journalists in Awka on Sunday and jointly signed by Vincent Ezekwueme, Chairman of CLO in Anambra State; Chidi Mbah, Secretary; and Peter Oke.

According to the organisation, Umeh has demonstrated commitment to socio-economic justice, equity and the welfare of his constituents through legislative advocacy, constituency projects and humanitarian interventions.

The CLO particularly praised the senator’s role in advocating the establishment of the SEDC, noting that he moved motions, sponsored bills, engaged stakeholders and mobilised fellow lawmakers to support the initiative.

It said the commission was necessary to address the developmental challenges confronting the South-East, including the lingering effects of the Nigerian Civil War and widespread erosion.

The organisation also recalled Umeh’s intervention over the demolition of shops and business premises belonging to Igbo traders in parts of the country, particularly Lagos.

It said the senator visited affected traders, raised the matter during Senate proceedings and demanded justice and compensation for those affected.

The CLO further commended his position on the prolonged closure of the Onitsha Bridgehead Drug Market, describing his call for dialogue and a more humane regulatory approach as an effort to protect traders, patients and the wider health sector from avoidable hardship.

On regional development, the organisation said Umeh had consistently challenged what it described as the marginalisation of the South-East in federal budgetary allocations, infrastructure development, political appointments and the national security architecture.

It also credited the senator, alongside Senator Osita Izunaso, with raising a motion on the devastating effects of erosion in the South-East, which it said had attracted attention from the Federal Government and development partners.

The group added that Umeh’s advocacy contributed to the inclusion of the South-East in the national railway modernisation master plan after the region was initially excluded.

On education, the CLO described the senator’s empowerment initiatives as a major part of his constituency interventions, listing scholarships, bursary awards, free Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) registrations, educational materials, school uniforms, desks, classroom blocks and information and communication technology centres.

The organisation said the initiatives had benefited thousands of students across Anambra Central Senatorial District.

Beyond legislative activities, the CLO highlighted Umeh’s road construction and rehabilitation projects across the district’s seven local government areas, saying the projects had improved access to previously disconnected communities.

It also cited his housing programme for indigent widows, under which the senator reportedly built and furnished bungalows for beneficiaries, as well as his support for religious organisations, schools, hospitals, youth groups and other vulnerable members of society.

The organisation said these interventions reflected its view that political representation should prioritise public service rather than personal enrichment.

It, however, called on senators, members of the House of Representatives, state lawmakers, local government chairmen and political appointees to adopt what it described as a selfless and people-centred approach to leadership.

The CLO maintained that public office holders should be assessed by their contributions to addressing the challenges facing their constituents and the country.

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It added that Umeh’s legislative and humanitarian activities had, in its assessment, redefined representation in Anambra Central and provided an example for other political leaders to consider.

The organisation urged elected officials to speak against injustice, promote equitable development and ensure that their communities receive their constitutionally due share of national resources.