Hon. Ginger Onwusibe 


The member   representing Isiala Ngwa South/North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Ginger Onwusibe over the weekend charged members of Abia chapter of the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, (OMPAN) to remain steadfast in their factual news reportage in order to hold  government and political office holders accountable

Hon Onwusibe counselled the Association during an interactive session when a   team of  OMPAN Executives and members paid him a courtesy visit at his country home in  Amapu Ntigha, in Isiala-Ngwa North Local Government Area, LGA of Abia State. 

Onwusibe urged OMPAN to  maintain the culture of reporting events factually and truthfully without fear or favour in their the role as the watchdog of the society. 

The lawmaker further advised OMPAN not to praise the government if they are not doing well because it will lead  the government to derail in its administrative policies. He urged OMPAN to call the attention of the government to critical issues for proper guidance.

 He noted that Governor Alex Otti is working with imperfect people who may want to satisfy their selfish gain but believes that Governor Otti wants the best for Abians. 

"Encourage the governor by letting him know the things he is doing that are not right, don't play the role of praise singers,  because you people are fact finders. He may not know everything, even we, he may not be doing everything completely right", he  advised.

The lawmaker who rose from  LGA chairmanship to Abia State House of Assembly membership commended the transparency of the last OMPAN election which produced Chief Promise Uzoma Okoro as it's  duly elected chairman of OMPAN. 

“Let me Congratulate PUO on his election as Chairman of OMPAN Abia State and commend your association over the transparent and peaceful manner you conducted your election “

“That is why you still have peace in the organization, there's nothing as better than transparency. The majority will always have their way and the minority will always have their say. If that election was rigged, you couldn't have conveyed this number of people to this place today within the short notice “

He commended OMPAN so far for efforts which connotes putting the government and political officers on their toes through their activities and news reports. 

"Each time you report what is happening in the state, we know the truth, when we are doing well, we know, when we are not doing well we also know", he asserted

Onwusibe, while narrating the rigorous process of his emergence as a member of the House of Representatives,  applauded the leadership style of Governor Alex Otti and urged Abians to support the governor to ensure a better Abia as he is determined to foster synergy with the government of Governor Alex Otti for a better Abia.

He landed the prompt payment of workers salary which he urged the previous government to do. 

He also applauded the decision of Gov  Otti to stop the emergency employment of over 7,000 people by the previous administration during the campaign period. 

"You cannot bring in 7,000 people when you know you have lost the election, who do you want to give the burden, why didn't you employ them a long time ago?"  he queried 

Onwusibe listed his achievements while in office as House of Assembly member in Abia state and while currently in the National Assembly such as infrastructural development project in sports, bursary awards, health care centers, markets, agricultural development training for some beneficiaries and installations of solar street lights.

In response to the appreciation and counsel from Hon Onwusibe, OMPAN Chairman, Chief  Promise Uzoma Okoro appreciated him for his observations and counsel. He stressed that  as journalists and bloggers they are not  stooges for any politician or  political office holders or the government. 

“Let me reiterate my message in recent times, OMPAN members are not the  stooge of Government in power or politicians or attack dogs of the opposition politicians

"We adhere strictly to  journalism professional ethics of objectivity and neutrality and that is why we are fostering this relationship across the government, political stakeholders and the opposition

The  OMPAN leader urged the lawmaker to foster  a better working relationship with OMPAN in order to project his programmes for his constituency and  to promote and contribute to good governance in his constituency and the State at large. 

While responding to the question  by OMPAN Chairman over the killing of one of his constituents late Mr Richard Onumegbu, a civilian staff of the Federal Ministry of Defence, Nigerian Navy Base, Ojo, Lagos State who was beaten to death, Onwusibe said he has moved a motion for actions to be taken on the matter, adding that  the House of Representative will soon be on the matter by intervening in the Committee of the whole.