2027: Youths of Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency request ticket for philanthropist Ogalagu

Ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria, some youths of Ebonyi/Ohaukwu federal Constituency of Ebonyi State have urged stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in the area to give ticket to Chief Tochukwu Ogalagu to takeover their representation at the green chambers.

 

Ogalagu, popularly known as T-Man is a lawyer, businessman and renowned philanthropist, and a son of Amike-Izhia in Ohaukwu local government area of the state.

 

The constituents bared their minds in a vox pop conducted in the area recently by our correspondent.

 

The constituency is currently under the representation of Honourable Eze Nwachukwu Eze.

 

Some of the respondents, mainly youths who identified themselves as Peter Oge, Stella Nwebonyi, Emeka Nwankwo and Chikwado Agbo affirmed the need for the constituency to make a change of its representative in 2027 so as to begin to enjoy the benefits of quality representation.

 

They explained that Ogalagu, without any political position, has shown tremendous love for the people: built roads, paid WAEC registration fees and given scholarships to youths of the area; sponsors free medical care for people with disabilities and other indigents in the area, and floated various kinds of economic empowerment schemes for the people, among other gestures.

 

They expressed optimism that given the political platform, he would do much more for the people of the constituency.

 

Chikwado Agbo, who said he is one of the beneficiaries of Ogalagu”s sponsored WAEC registration scheme stressed: “Ogalagu is a principled man who likes to stand in the right place.

 

“I am one of the numerous persons he paid WAEC fees for, and people he has given scholarships are innumerable; is a very good man who has helped a lot of people in our constituency.

 

“Our conviction is that a person who is doing all these without political office, when he gets there, he will surpass others before him.

 

“And he has been doing all these without publicity.

 

“If all he has been doing were to be published, I don’t think any politician in our constituency could match him.”

 

Meanwhile, interacting with Chief Ogalagu in his Amike-Izhia country home in Ohaukwu local government area, the philanthropist said his interest in aspiring to represent his federal constituency come 2027 was in response to the yearnings of the people, adding that his political ambition is driven by the desire to sustain and consolidate on his humanitarian efforts which he has build over the years.

 

He explained that he has, through his foundation touched lives positively in many diverse areas: education, infrastructure, health, sports and youth development as well as employment, among others.

 

He said: “I have facilitated federal employment, supported the less privileged, and consistently intervened in areas of health, youth empowerment, and social welfare.

 

“Through my Foundation, I have paid hospital bills for numerous indigent patients and people with disabilities.

 

“We have some designated hospitals where such set of people go for treatments, including surgical and other critical medicare while we offset the bills.

 

“Recognizing that youth employment remains a cornerstone of development, I have seriously intervened in this area using my little connections and goodwill built over the years to secure federal jobs for the youths of this constituency and beyond.

 

“In the first year, we engaged 1,850 people, and in the second year, 1,740.

 

“This year, we initially planned for 1,900 but expanded it to about 2,200 due to public demand.

 

In fact, I have expended over N400 million as empowerment, skills and job-related support to beneficiaries across various communities, targeted primarily at indigent citizens.

 

“Over the years, I have adopted sporting activities, particularly football competitions, as a strategic tool for talent discovery, crime prevention, and community policing.

 

“When youths are engaged through football, you are harnessing talents and simultaneously policing the environment.

 

“It reduces crime and keeps young people meaningfully occupied, especially during festive periods as this.”

 

The APC chieftain criticised what he described as quota-based leadership selection, arguing that it breeds unaccountable and incompetent representation, and called for a shift from quota-based and elite-driven politics to a people-centred democratic system anchored on popular mandate and accountability.

 

Having had public service experience up to a very senior level in the Nigerian Police before resigning to a full time business life, Ogalagu emphasized that his venture into politics is a deliberate progression from a meritorious public service to impacting humanity.

 

He identified lack of exposure, poverty, and the quota system as major factors undermining effective leadership, insisting that genuine democracy must be anchored on the people’s mandate.

 

“Leaders who emerge through democratic elections feel a sense of responsibility to the people, but those imposed through quotas or godfatherism feel accountable only to their sponsors.

 

“When people fight for you and vote you into office, you cannot afford to betray them, and that is the difference between people-driven leadership and imposed leadership” he maintained.

 

Ogalagu who described himself as a committed party man with firm belief in possibilities and internal democracy in the APC, expressed courage and optimism that a divine door will be opened for him to actualise his vision, insisting that political power resides with the masses, not with political elites or self-styled stakeholders.

 

He expressed confidence that a people-driven political movement would ultimately prevail, stressing that sustained engagement with the grassroots remains the surest path to credible leadership and enduring democracy.

 

“I believe there is nothing impossible.

 

“Some people in the party are not faithful; they are there for personal interests, but I believe in the APC, and I believe that where there is no way, a way can be created.

 

“Stakeholders are former office holders with just one vote each.

 

“In a democracy, it is the people who decide.

 

“Nobody is God and power belongs to the masses” he emphasized.

 

Ogalegu, who is also a Patron of the Francis Frontiers Movement, a support platform for Governor Francis Nwifuru reiterated that the organisation has continued to mobilise grassroots support for the governor’s re-election in 2027 based on performance.

 

He extolled Nwifuru’s performance in all sectors including infrastructure, education, health, justice, security and human capital development as excellent, stressing that peace has returned to Ebonyi state under the Governor with visible development across all communities.

 

Investigations revealed that some communities within the constituency have bestowed chieftaincy titles on the aspirant owing to his philanthropic efforts. The most recent is the title of Ohabuenyi 1 of Ohaukwu, bestowed on him recently by the traditional ruler of Amike Izhia autonomous community, Eze Michael Nwankwo.