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By Isaac Mission
Residents and indigenes of Awlaw community in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State have called on Senator Osita Ngwu to account for his representation of the Enugu North Senatorial District, alleging that the community has received no constituency project from him in the last four years.
The demand was made during the monthly meeting of the Awlaw Strategic Development Initiative held at the Sir GTN Tabansi Civic Centre, Ubaha, on Monday.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, members of the group resolved that political office holders seeking another term should first present an account of their stewardship and explain how their constituents have benefited from their representation.
In a communique issued after the meeting, the community specifically challenged Senator Ngwu to explain what it described as the prolonged neglect of Awlaw and the lack of visible constituency interventions in the area.
Speaking during the meeting, the Coordinator of the Awlaw Strategic Development Initiative, Mr Imah Felix, expressed disappointment over what he described as a pattern in which politicians pay attention to the community mainly during election campaigns.
Imah, who is also the Founder of the Centre for Strategic Leadership and Youth Orientation (CENSTLEYO), said residents were no longer prepared to accept political promises without corresponding development projects.
He referred to constituency intervention funding available to federal lawmakers and questioned why, according to the community, no meaningful project had been delivered to Awlaw by those representing the area.
The community leader also said residents would expect a more structured approach to empowerment, insisting that the people should be consulted before lawmakers decide on projects or interventions for the community.
He said that going forward, prospective lawmakers would be expected to engage directly with residents, identify their priorities and be subjected to closer scrutiny over their performance.
Also addressing the gathering, Ichie Martin Aguzi praised the initiative for encouraging residents to take a greater interest in political and governance issues.
Aguzi said the wider Awlaw community supported the group’s efforts to promote accountability and ensure that elected representatives remained responsive to the needs of their constituents.
The community’s position comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gradually intensify, with residents increasingly demanding that prospective candidates demonstrate their records of service and commitment to constituency development.