It is a known fact that in the political game of partisan politics, few things set boys apart from men, especially when every actor believes he is the man with the magic wand to cause change. Yet, notwithstanding every initial “Gra-Gra”, along the line, the men will be separated from the boys and the journey continues. Hon. Lawrence Odoemelem has stepped above the bar of making his first political statement in the buttress of his readiness by picking up the expression of interest and nomination form for the Umuahia Central State Constituency in 2023.

Recall that OHAFIA TV News had, the penultimate week Chronicled and analysed the capacity of the individual candidates who are likely to step into the Big Shoes of the current Abia State House of Assembly Speaker, Engineer Chinedum Orji (Ikuku Abia). We got some positive and negative responses like commenters insisting that some of the analyzed contesters will not go beyond the initial show of interest as they would not purchase the expression of interest and nomination forms at the party levels.

In as much as all the candidates are not in rhe same political party, yet true to his words in a show of capacity and pedigree, Lawrence Odoemelem has become one of the few to walk the talk as a PDP Contestant.

In review, let us a flashback to our permutations and response from pundits and political watchers of Umuahia Central State Constituency on Odoemelem:

HON. LAWRENCE OKEZIE ODOEMELEM

Hon. Lawrence Okezie Odoemelem is an American returnee with an intimidating profile aspiring to succeed in Engr. Chinedum Orji as the member representing Umuahia Central State Constituency at the Abia State House of Assembly in 2023. 

Hon. Odoemelem has held several senior corporate and government positions in Nigeria and the United States of America which include Special Adviser to Dr Okezie Ikpeazu on Investment Promotions & Public-Private Partnerships (PPP-IP) championing the ‘Made-in-Aba shoe revolution at home and across the globe.

Political pundits believe that Hon. Odoemelem stands a greater chance of clinching the PDP ticket as well as winning the general election because all the boxes check in his favour and offer him a huge advantage.  Some of his advantages include but are not limited to the facts that:

(a) He is from Afaraukwu-Ibeku where the position is zoned to.

(b) He is brilliant and a strategic thinker who will bring to the job, vast experience and contacts spanning across the globe.

(c) He stepped down his ambition in 2015 and 2019 for Rt. Hon Chinedum Orji, when asked to do so by party elders and even worked for the victory of Rt. Hon. Orji was Head of his campaign’s media team during the 2015 elections.

A PDP elder and stakeholder that spoke with OHAFIA TV News under the condition of anonymity described Hon. Odoemelem is humble, respectful, obedient and loyal. He submitted that it was time to reward Hon. Odoemelem for not challenging the decision of Party Elders and Stakeholders when he was directed to step down on two occasions in the past.

Indeed, the die is cast and the game is on for the future of Umuahia Central State Constituency.