By Blessing Patrick
A member of the House of Representatives from Enugu State Hon. Chimaobi Samuel Atu, has formally explained his decision to dump the Labour Party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing what he called the APC’s track record of performance, commitment to inclusive governance, and delivery of key infrastructure to the South East region.
Speaking during an interview shortly after his defection on the floor of the Green Chamber last Thursday, the Atu said his move to the APC was not driven by personal ambition but by the need to align with a party that has consistently responded to the developmental needs of his constituents.
“Why not APC?” he asked rhetorically. “Which other party has practically shown interest in the development of my people? The Labour Party has its internal challenges, but what’s most important is what I can do for my people, not what they can do for me. That’s the spirit I bring to representation.”
The legislator pointed to several federal government projects executed or ongoing in the South East under the APC-led administration, including the Second Niger Bridge, the reconstruction of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, and the dualisation of the Enugu-Abakaliki road. According to him, these interventions had been promised for years by past governments but were only fulfilled under the APC.
“Chimaobi said for decades, my people gave PDP 100% votes. They promised but didn’t deliver. It was the APC government that completed the Second Niger Bridge. It’s the APC government working on critical roads like Enugu-Port Harcourt and Enugu-Abakaliki. They responded swiftly when a section of the expressway collapsed in my constituency—within eight months, it was fixed.”
He also highlighted the rehabilitation of the Enugu airport runway, which was completed within two weeks under the APC government, contrasting it with the prolonged closure during previous administrations.
Beyond infrastructure, the lawmaker commended the APC-led federal government for giving the South East a stronger voice in national security matters. He cited the appointment of an Igbo son as the Chief of Naval Staff and the inclusion of South East officers in high-level national security meetings, describing it as a gesture of inclusion not previously extended to the region.
“In the past, we had no one in the security architecture. But under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our people now have a seat at the table. That is significant. It means we are no longer being ignored.”
He insisted that joining the APC was necessary to “curate” the renewed hope agenda of the president and ensure his constituency does not remain on the margins of national development.
“I didn’t come to the National Assembly to warm the seat. I came to represent my people and make sure they benefit from Nigeria’s commonwealth. That’s what the APC has offered us, and I must align with that.”
Reflecting on his two years in the National Assembly, the lawmaker reeled out a list of projects and interventions undertaken in his constituency. He said his focus had been on tangible impact rather than tokenism.
“I didn’t come to give out wordless projects. We are lighting up our communities with solar lights to tackle insecurity. We’ve provided scholarships at both secondary and university levels. We’ve supported women and youth in agriculture, especially poultry, and empowered commercial drivers by giving them their own vehicles.”
He also mentioned road construction as one of his key achievements.
“We’ve done not less than four kilometres of road to help farmers transport their produce. The road was in terrible shape for years, but we intervened.”
Other interventions include the renovation of science laboratories and provision of mobile labs for secondary schools, distribution of relief materials to the poor, medical outreach programs, and payment of hospital bills for indigent patients.
“I want the child of nobody to become somebody. That’s why we invested in science labs and scholarships. People like Elon Musk didn’t come from wealth—they came from opportunity.”
On the legislative front, he disclosed that he had sponsored no fewer than 15 bills and had presented several constituency-related complaints before the National Assembly, many of which had received positive responses.
“We are lawmakers, not executives. But within the limit of our mandate, we have pushed for policies and laws that will benefit our people.”
The lawmaker expressed gratitude to his constituents for their support, pledging not to betray the trust reposed in him.
“They are the reason I’m here. Not the party. The people. And I will continue to serve them to the best of my ability.”
He urged other South East leaders and the wider Nigerian public to look beyond party lines and support any government that shows genuine interest in equitable development and national unity.
“This is not about sentiment or emotions. It’s about what is real and visible on ground. The APC government has given my people hope, and I’m here to make sure that hope translates into reality.”
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