Popular comedian turned politician and lawmaker representing Ikeduru State Constituency in Imo House of Assembly, Uche Ogbuagu has opened up on why he left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The renown phylanthropist and owner of My Radio FM Owerri, lamented that after vigoriously working to ensure the victory of his party, in his LGA and the state, he was dubious sidelined and made to look like an unwanted stranger in the party he gave his all.
While speaking during an on Friday morning on My Radio, Ogbuagu narrated that he is still the same Uche Ogbuagu that everyone know irrespective of the party that he is in.
Speaking about how the position of Deputy Speaker which would have been his was fraudulently denied him, he said;
“During the midnight meeting to decide who will become the deputy speaker (in the house of an Ikeduru man, the former minister, Chuka Odom), there was an agreement to zone it to Mbaike Federal Constituency since Mbaise has Governor and Owerri federal Constituency has Senator. In Mbaike Federal constituency, Mbaitoli has a ranking member in the Federal House of Reps. That means that Ikeduru was in the vantage position to produce the deputy speaker but all the leaders said noooo! I said, okay, let’s vote on it. They agreed. Then we were all sent out from the venue and Hon. Nwawuba went in and rigged the election with Chuka Odom. I cried for the injustice and all Odom could do was to tap me on the shoulder.”
He also went on to reveal how he was never informed when key positions in his constituency, Ikeduru were given out, as the leaders of the PDP deliberately decided to keep him in the dark despite the fight he put up for the party prior the 2019 general elections.
When he was asked what the then governor Emeka Ihedioha did about his ordeal in the party, the talented comedian said that Ihedioha always told him to wait, but never looked into the issue as though it was a thoroughly planned conspiracy against him.
“A day before the supreme court judgement, I got information that the Governor has ordered Imo speaker in his Asokoro residence to suspend me and the member representing Aboh Mbaise and Ahiazu in the house, because it was rumoured that we complained on how the government bought refurbished cars with outrageous amounts.” he said.
Uche Ogbuagu went further to reveal that part of his wrong doings was because he spoke openly about how Owerri became dirtier during the time.
He said: “I discovered that ENTRACO wasn’t doing their job very well, as refuse took over Owerri without prompt action from the government. I called different people in the government to complain, all of them asked me if I was incharge of refuse evacuation. I had no other option than to go on radio to advise the government. After I did that, I was summoned, queried and humiliated for advising the government I fought hard and contributed my quota to bring to power.”
On the sidelining from his LGA, he added, “If I call the T.C chairman of Ikeduru to know how much that was coming in and the project we could do for our people, he will tell me that they said he should not tell me.”
“I later discovered that they have completed projects in Ikeduru on papers, fully completed, but in reality jobs have not gone up to 30 percent.
On his role in the House of Assembly as a chairman house committee on budget and appropriations, he said, “I didn’t contribute any quota on the budget as the chairman of the committee to look into the budget. I was completely shut out on the order of the government.”
When he was asked to comment on the rumour that he was once slapped by the Deputy governor, he said, “Leave that for another day because my wife begged me to leave anything concerning Emeka Ihedioha and his deputy to God, because if I open up on what I passed through, people will go crazy.”
When asked why he chose APC that he had previously castigated, Ogbuagu said he joined because the current Deputy governor is from his LGA. He said he wants to team up with the deputy governor for the betterment of Ikeduru, his constituency.
Finally, he was asked to comment on PDP’s statement, that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should declare the seats of the defected lawmakers vacant.
He said he is waiting for their letter as it will enable him to finally open up on what he has been keeping from the public. He said he was tactically avoiding opening up on so many things that took place in that government because of his wife’s advise. And would respond accordingly when he gets a legal notice.
Uche is a disgrace to Ikeduru. U have finally became a political stick. That same Rochas u abused, will show u were to belong. U are not a politician, better return to ur comedian career. If not ur career will be ruin. Mark my word. This ur decision was the worst u took. Very bad!