One Year In The Senate: Eulogies Pour In For Senator (Dr.) Victor Umeh, OFR.

Registered Igbo socio-cultural organization, the Anambra Central People’s Forum (made up of well-meaning Professionals of various calling, Traditional Leaders, the Clergies, Presidents-General, Youths and Captains of industries), has poured out eulogies and extolled the virtues of Senator (Dr.) Victor Umeh, *OFR(Ohamadike Ndigbo)*, Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial Zone, as he marks his productive and momentous one year in the Senate.

In a Press Release made available to journalists in Awka yesterday, and signed by its Chairman, Achebe Chris, Esq., the reputable organization acknowledged the many achievements of Senator Victor Umeh, efforts and sacrifices made for the progress, growth and development of Nigeria as well as democratic institutions.

“We earnestly believe that the Anambra Central Senatorial Zone in the country’s political configuration had not lacked a forceful and credible voice of persuasion with your sojourn in the Senate”, the statement noted.

Describing Senator Victor Umeh as a courageous and result-oriented Representative, the association’s Chairman, noted with delight how Senator (Dr.) Victor Umeh quickly rose to the occasion to prevent the unjustly expulsion of Igwe Chukwuemeka Cyprian, a final year undergraduate of University of Abuja who hails from Ichida, Anambra State.

Achebe said: “Most recently, we heard the harrowing story of the embattled Igwe Chukwuemeka Cyprian. When he cried out for help, you did not turn deaf ears. You let the disenchanted victim(Constituent) know that his voice counts. Indeed, the voice of every Nigerian counts, and the 10th Senate lent its ears to them. You were alive to your responsibility to those whom you serve, and you engaged with them on their terms. This was ground-breaking. It should be a matter of pride to all 109 Senators and to our worthy Representative that, in the hallowed Senate Chamber, you put humanity first. We will always be proud of the humaneness of the 10th Senate; a Legislature with a human face, the personal touch moved by the milk of human kindness”.

Achebe continued: “Whenever the situation demanded, you left the edifice of the National Assembly to tackle pressing social issues at the very heart of the communities most affected. You showed that parliament belongs to the people, and that there should be no barrier between lawmakers and those they represent. Notable among these were the one of your major acts upon inauguration which was the visitation on Friday, July 7, 2023 to the dreaded Oba Erosion site which nearly splitted the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway.

At the tragic development, you said you would help end the devastation, and you kept the promise. You not only dialogued for solutions with the relevant Federal Government Agencies and the Senate – We saw the positive outcome. It must have been a grand burst of eloquence! This is both record-shattering and record-setting. You have made your mark here and the record reflects it, Achebe added.

He concluded: “I am avid stakeholder and proud to be and will maintain the strong position to partner with Senator (Dr.) Victor Umeh to achieve all the goals and targets of taking Anambra Central Senatorial Zone to the Next Level of development and prosperity. The Anambra Central People’s Forum must collaborate to do that”.

Also speaking, one of the Patrons of the Igbo socio-cultural organization and erstwhile President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Anambra State chapter, High Chief (Engr.) Prof. Philip Nwabueze Atanmo, praised Umeh’s efforts in the 10th Senate and said that the lawmaker’s pivotal and landmark Motion on *”Urgent Need to Upgrade the Eastern Rail Line(traversing Port Harcourt to Maiduguri) from Narrow Gauge Rail to Standard Gauge Rail”*, had remained impressive.

Atanmo said that Umeh, as a Federal lawmaker, is outstanding, and remained a leading light in every facet of his senatorial duties, whether to his Constituency or in his Committees’ duties as well as his usually articulate contributions to Senate debates.

“As a Senatorial Zone, we will continue to be proud of your insightful contributions towards realizing the dream of a vibrant legislature that is fully aware of its rights, duties and responsibilities to Nigerians, and committed to upholding and discharging them in an equitable manner without fear or favour.

“I can attest to your sterling accomplishments in terms of infrastructural and human capital development and these laudable achievements will continue to inspire many in nation building.

“As we commemorate this milestone, I join your family, political associates, constituents and admirers to congratulate you, my dear brother and friend, Senator (Dr.) Victor Umeh, *OFR,* on the occasion of your one year in the 10th Senate anniversary.

“It is our prayer that God will continue to bless you with good health and many more years of great accomplishments”, he added.

Corroborating High Chief (Engr.) Prof. Philip Nwabueze Atanmo, the Publicity Secretary of the association, Dr. Uchechukwu Okeke *(JP),* said, “We rejoice with Ohamadike Ndigbo, and shall continue to support his quest in providing quality representation and selfless service to Ndigbo.

Commending the ebullient Senator for his diligent effort so far in the 10th Senate, Okeke said: “His sterling accomplishments in the 10th Senate which will take big volumes to be compiled, is an eye opener to the people of Anambra Central and the entire South-East geo-political Zone of what a visionary, purposeful, dynamic and progressive Senator could do in lawmaking, democratic governance and delivery of democratic dividends”.