Rt Hon Engr Uche Francis Agabige is an unusual politician.He wears calmness and humility as a badge. Forthright, gentle, humane and urbane, Agabige exudes kindness laced with meekness.As a lawmaker and representative of the people of Orsu State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, he operates an open door policy and always available and accessible to the people irrespective of religious or partisan divides.The spectacular thing about this ebullient and ranking Lawmaker that is on his second Missionary journey to the State House of Assembly is his very unique approach in dealing and relating with his beloved people.He does not allow undue protocols to come between him and his constituents and to avoid such hiccups, his home and office are open for whoever that wants to see him.
Agabige,who was first elected into the Imo State House of Assembly in 2015 was able to etch his name indelibly in gold inks before he left in 2019.His love for his people and determination to eradicate poverty and unemployment caused him to initiate a pet project for empowerment and self actualization captioned: ORSU SCHEME FOR EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT (OSED).This was a flagship initiative on equipping women and Youth with relevant skills to meet up with practical and realistic social and economic challenges.It was deliberately designed to deviate from the obsolete stereotypes of giving peanuts and motor bikes to youths as empowerment.The aim was basically to equip his people with skills and further provide them with takeoff grants, raw materials and startup packs so that they could be self employed and productive.According to the Petroleum Engineer turned politician,he was was driven by compassion and commitment to give back to the society and also teach the people how to fish for themselves instead of merely serving them fish to eat.The initiative was a huge success having churned out hundreds of beneficiaries in various fields such as tailoring/fashion and designing,cateering, Auto mechanic, poultry farming, piggery,fish farming, furniture making, paint manufacturing, interior decoration etc.
It was indeed the dawn of a new era of visionary and innovative leadership.His presence in the hallowed Chamber was purposeful and resultant.Agabige’s voice was loud and meaningful as he gave the people of Orsu a sense of hope and purpose.He initiated several bills and capped them with complementary motions.The most outstanding effect of this outstanding legislative creativity and its corresponding empowerment drive at the grassroots level was the enduring peace, hope, satisfaction and joy that prevailed in the land.Having engaged the youths meaningfully with productive socioeconomic activities which reassured them of sustainability and future economic prospects and survival,Orsu thrived in peaceful coexistence and productive activities.Under his watch peace reigned supreme!
The prevailing Peace and productivity that was nurtured and made to prevail between 2015 and 2019 gave Orsu LGA a conspicuous place of reckoning. The unassuming lawmaker made it possible and indeed received accolades and Awards for it.Unfortunately,Agabige couldn’t return to the State Assembly in 2019 to sustain his programmes and suddenly the horizon caved in and the once peaceful enclave became a hub of insecurity, lawlessness and gangsterism.Orsu Council Area witnessed an inglorious reign of impunity, destruction of lives and property that lasted for over five years, between 2020 and 2025.The reign of terror claimed the lives of over one thousand persons, burning of houses,burning of vehicles, destruction of roads, public buildings and infrastructure, looting and destruction of markets and shopping places suddenly became a norm.Schools,Town Halls, Council Buildings, office equipment and other critical infrastructure and social amenities were completely destroyed.Life came to abrupt halt and the people deserted and left the area in their droves as they ran for their lives.Peace vanished,Orsu lay in ruins and bled to death.
Whilst Orsu bled, soaked in blood and wriggled in pain, there was confusion which elicited fear,anger, anguish, poverty, hunger, diseases and helplessness.The situation appeared to have defied solutions and nobody knew what next to do.
As Orsu boiled with heads rolling and lawlessness escalating with no solution in sight,many prayed and sought divine intervention.At this verge of despair, ensued the issue of who will be elected into the state Assembly and that was at the front burner being vigorously debated.Lo and behold,Orsu APC political leaders converged, sought and adopted Engr Uche Francis Agabige as candidate for a return to the State House of Assembly for the second Missionary journey.They saw a badge of peace upon his forehead and he was hope personified! That was precisely in 2022 and as the Candidate of the ruling APC in the Orsu State Constituency election held in 2023,he won and got reelected.The good news is that prior to his reelection, and shortly after his nomination as the party’s Candidate, Agabige ran a robust campaign that was deeply rooted in spirituality and hope.He named his campaign: ORSU PEACE AGAIN CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION.According to the Eziawa,Orsu LGA born lawmaker,his mission and vision was rooted in a peace concept in which the aim of translating it to concrete reality was predicated on ensuring that restoration of peace formed the corner stone upon which every other thing could be anchored and pursued to the logical conclusion.The youthful lawmaker was emphatic on this peace mantra and refused to make phantom promises of water, electricity,road and the usual campaign stereotypes.His reason being that doing so would be hypocrisy and mere deceit hence no serious person talks about development of any type in a chaotic and violent riddled setting as exemplified by Orsu at that material time.He meant every word of his and insisted that he was on a mission to pursue peace and recover of Orsu first and other things will follow.Further encapsulated in his peace again campaign mantra was a package for vigorous campaign for implementation of marshal plan by the government which will be a follow up to the restored peace.The Concept of Peace Again for Orsu was designed to have spiritual and communal appeal with strong conviction that Orsu as a people had to seek the face of God and collectively denounce violence and insecurity and then partner with the government by providing local content in the fight against insecurity.It was a project that needed all hands on deck as well as identifying with various security interventionist measures.
When Agabige eventually won the election as stated,he took off on a solid foundation upon which he pursued the actualization of his Peace Again Campaign mantra.From his inauguration ceremony at the hallowed Chamber,he returned to his house where his constituents and other well wishers were gathered to join him to fellowship and commune with God Almighty and jointly proclaim the commencement of Orsu Peace Again journey.Yes; a new chapter and journey to peace and restoration of the homeland!He reassured of his determination to search, pursue and actualize peace.In unison and in the holy Assembly of Orsu people, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, political leaders, community leaders and other stakeholders, Agabige concretized and covenanted the Peace Again Initiative as promised in his campaign and it became both an Anthem and new code in the land.
Rt. Hon. Agabige successfully drew a roadmap for restoration of Peace in Orsu and went ahead to search and found distinguished Orsu patriots and like minds who were prepared to partner with him in the peace project.He mooted and promoted the idea of local content so that government interventionists efforts could be enhanced by local content for supply of intelligence and vigilantee backup.This partnership birthed Odimma Orsu Initiative which beefed up joint forces of locals and external security Agencies.The takeoff of this direct local content security intervention helped to sensitize, mobilise and galvanise the people to cooperate with the government.It was a turning point and the beginning of the end of reign of terror.
Agabige never relented as he sought the return of the Police Authority in Orsu as a way of consolidating on the milestone already achieved by the security forces in the field.His Excellency the Executive Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma granted approval to his request and caused the renovation of the Divisional Police Headquarters and posting of Officers and men to commence operations.
Furthering his pursuit of peace,he suggested the establishment of more security bases at the regional levels and expanding its scope of operation at autonomous community level with indigenous vigilante on ground. The situation in Orsu improved with the total involvement and support of various segments of the indigenous population who realised the need to own up the fight by volunteering to help in the fight against insecurity.The idea was that no amount of outside intervention would yield positive results without members of the affected communities providing useful information to burst and nip insecurity in the bud.
In search of Peace Again in Orsu,Agabige gave his all and best.He sacrificed his mansion in his country home which was looted and burned down because he refused to chicken out of the contest and peace project despite enormous pressure and threats.He gave his time, energy, resources, contacts and everything at his disposal for peace to return.His penchant for providing strategic and logistical support was amazing.It is indeed expensive to procure peace as Agabige example is typical,nevertheless he stood firm and provided the platform for it to thrive upon the cost and encumbrances.His quiet intervention and assistance to Orsu refugees and displaced persons at various times were enormous and reassuring.To the Glory of God the Peaceful lawmaker eventually succeeded and conquered with peace.Normal life and peace has eventually returned to the Orsu homeland.Kudos to our visionary Governor, Senator Hope Odidika Uzodimma whose endorsement of the Peace Again Project paved way for the huge success story.More accolades for the Architect of Orsu Peace Again Project,Rt Hon Engr Uche Francis Agabige (Ifechukwukwuru).
