Former Abia Speaker to formally declare intention to run for governor

The former Speaker Abia State House of Assembly and member representing the people of Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike will on Monday July 30, 2018 formally declared his intention to run for the governorship position in the state.

Azubuike would be aspiring to fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) if things eventually go his way.

The event according to the media aide of the lawmaker, Mr. Clinton Ubah would be taking place at the APC party secretariat located at Azikiwe road by Adelabu Street in Umuahia, the state capital. While time for the event is 12noon.

Azubuike would be squaring up against the likes of Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, Comrade Chris Akomas, Barr. Friday Nwosu, Sir Bob Nwannunnu, Ambassador Okey Emuchay and among others yet to make their intention known in the party ahead of scheduled APC primaries later this year.

Meanwhile, here is a profile of the guber aspirant

Rt. Hon. Martins Okechukwu Azubuike, the member representing Isiala Ngwa North State constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, the former speaker of the 6^th Assembly and former Deputy National Chairman, conference of speakers of State legislators in Nigeria is a man of many parts. He is a consummate politician, legal practitioner, a businessman, a bridge builder, dogged fighter, crowd puller, grassroots mobilizer, proven vibrant lawmaker, a man of moral clarity, role model, visionary leader, a man of integrity and outstanding intellectual acumen.

These qualities bestowed upon him by God puts him poles apart from his contemporaries. And like the popular axiom in WILLIAMS SHAKESPEAR’S world acclaimed literature “TWELFTH NIGHT”, some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them”. It can be said without equivocation that Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike was neither born great, nor did he achieve same by having it thrust upon him. He achieve  greatness through dint of hard work, impeccable character content, dexterity with fixation on success and a large heart in being exceptionally accommodating with uncommon humility and respect for all.

Born on the 16^th day of July, 1969, in Onitsha, Anambra State, maybe without so much fun fair, to the family of Late Sunday Onyedinma Azubuike and Late Mrs. Harriet Sunday Azubuike of Umuezenta village, Umuomanta Autonomous community, Nbawsi, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State. He is the third son in a family of six males and a female. Today he has become a political colossus and a rallying point to all men goodwill.

EDUCATION:

He started his early academic pursuit at community primary school, Nbawsi, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State. After his primary education, he proceeded to Midtown Commercial School, Nbawsi, where he spent just one academic year, before leaving for Community secondary school, Nenu in the present day Obingwa LGA, Abia State.

In 1989, he gained admission into Abia State University, Uturu, where he bagged an LLB Degree in Law (BL) and was subsequently called to bar in 1995. He added the prestigious certificate of the Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC) in 2003.

WORK EXPERIENCE

He started his legal practice after his compulsory National Youth Service (NYSC) with COMFORT CHAMBERS, Abuja in 1996. He later joined HARMONY CHAMBERS, Abuja from 1996 as a junior counsel. In 1997, they jointly opened CRYSTAL CHAMBERS, from a partner to Managing Partner of the chamber from 1997 to 2005, and would soon become the principal partner of PRUDENT CHAMBERS, from 2005-2007.

He joined active politics in 2001 and later contested election for Abia State House of Assembly seat to represent Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency in 2003, which his attempt failed. In 2007 he again ran for Abia State House of Assembly seat to represent Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency but the election became an object of litigation, until late 2008, when his mandate was recovered through the court.

Again, in 2011, he sought for another mandate which the good people of Isiala Ngwa North gladly revalidated. Subsequently, in 2015, the stakeholders and the good people of his constituency insist that he must once again represent them due to his years of quality representation, thus he was duly elected once again in Abia State House of Assembly. To crown it all, exactly on June 11^th, 2015, the Honorable Members of the Abia 6^th Assembly elected him as their speaker and he served meritoriously till 29^th December, 2016 when there was a change in the leadership and he has been an active member of the sixth Assembly, making laws and meaningful contributions for the improvement of the state.

When he emerged as the 6^th Abia Speaker, Rt. Hon Azubuike’s humility, cognate legislative experience, likeable personality, charm, charisma, political sagacity, calm, candour all came to play in the legislative house as one of the best brains ever produced by successive Abia State House of Assembly Leadership as he carried all the Honorable members along in the legislative business in the hallowed chamber. It was a known fact that the state Assembly as constituted then was bipartisan, as the leading opposition party (APGA), had significant presence. However, the peace, harmony and cooperation that existed in both side and outside the hallowed chamber were clear testimonies of his accommodating leadership style as he always see himself as a servant, not the leader.

PHILANTROPY

You can call him Mr. Empowerment, as Rt. Hon Azubuike belief so much in empowering the vulnerable and indigent people to be self-reliant, a task and giant strides he has been promoting through his various self-sponsored programmes. In the past, through MARTINS AZUBUIKE EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME, he was giving out bursary to 100 undergraduates’ from Isiala Ngwa North origin in tertiary institutions in the country. At the primary level, he sponsored the primary school quiz competition in the whole LGA. At the secondary level, he instituted secondary school yearly quiz and debating competitions, now in its fifth edition. He also has a yearly football league, now in its fourth year, as a platform where talents are discovered through grassroots soccer competition. In his absolute belief that good health is a relative state one is able to function well physically, socially and spiritually. Rt. Hon Martins Azubuike’s medical intervention enables him partner with doctors and hospitals in his immediate constituency to provide healthcare for the teeming constituents. He later expanded his free healthcare delivery frontier by engaging the services of DIVINE GRACE MEDICAL MISSIONARIES, HOUSTON TEXAS, UNITED STATES, and the group has been caring out free medical programmes in all the wards in the LGA and fully sponsored by him.

Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike has also been rewarding party faithful over the years, from the stakeholders, ward and LG officers to the least party loyalist with cars, keke Napep, motorcycles, generators, sewing machine etc.

This aspect of his pay-back to the constituency has been replaced by a more robust MARTINS AZUBUIKE LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION (MALF). Recently, the honorable member embarked on massive roads construction and rehabilitation cutting across the 10 political wards in Isiala Ngwa North LGA which attracted very positive reactions from the constituents as they lauded him for such explosive community intervention. Through  the foundation, he had and still sponsoring singing competition in partnership with the Ministry of Praise, of the Anglican Communion in the following diocese of the Anglican Church viz; Isiala Ngwa Diocese, Aba Ngwa Diocese, Isiala Ngwa South Diocese, Umuahia Diocese Ikwuano Diocese.

Recently, he flagged off the first phase of MARTINS AZUBUIKE AGRICULTURAL EMPOWEREMENT PROGRAMME, targeted at rural farmers, with initial N10 million shared among the first 100 beneficiaries, with the second phase in view.

Apart from his official staff working directly with him while he was the speaker of Abia State house of Assembly, the member representing Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency, had 132 people, mostly youths, women and the vulnerable in his monthly payroll. This feat is unequalled in the history of politics in Nigeria by a singular politician. That is why Rt. Azubuike is loved by many and has till moment, diehard grassroots followership across Abia State as he imparted to people even beyond his immediate constituency.

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENT

As a secondary school student, he was a DEPUTY SENIOR PREFECT, while as an undergraduate of Law in Abia State University; he was found worthy and consequently elected as a Deputy Speaker, Law students Association House of Assembly (ABSU). He was one time Legal adviser to prestigious Abuja based organizations, Ngwa forum, as well as Legal adviser, Ngwa Cultural and Development Association, and one time Chairman of Umuomianta Progressive Association, Abuja.

As a lawmaker in Abia House of Assembly, he became famous as the House Committee Chairman on Appropriation, a task he carried out with passion for many years, apart from being a member of other House committees. Ever since his departure as the speaker, the state house of assembly exists only on paper as his departure took away the soul of the once vibrant house the period he held sway as the speaker.

HONOURS/AWARDS

The list of Honour/Awards bestowed on Rt. Hon. Azubuike are too numerous to mention; notable amongst them are: Ambassador of Christ by Diocese of Isiala Ngw North (Anglican Communion) Emmanuel Church, Aba; Vocational Service Award by Rotary Club fo Aba, Golf City, District 9140; Award of Excellence in Leadership by Umunna Nsulu Patriots; Community Service Award by Rotary International club, Abia zone for distinguishing himself in community services, and contributions to the development of the society and promotion of goodwill; Merit Award  by Associations of Nqwa land, Abuja; Merit Award by Okpulo Ngwa Autonomous Community, Isiala Ngwa North LGA for Excellency in Leadership and Representation; Distinguished Award  by Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Aba branch; Recognition Award for Legislative Excellence by Abia State Polytechnic, Aba; Leadership Excellence Award by Abia Youth Assembly and many others.

SOCIAL LIFE

He is an easy going gentleman who loves to unwind, mostly with his family and friends, especially the academia. He is the BOT Chairman of MARTINS AZUBUIKE LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION (MALF), a non-Governmental Organization saddled with Leadership Training Programme, Entrepreneurship development, scholarship/bursary awards and ensuring balanced development and the patron of ALL UKWA NGWA YOUTH ASSOCIATION.

CHRISTIAN LIFE

Rt. Hon. Martin Azubuike is a devout Christian of high repute in the Anglican Communion. He so much belief in the power of the Almighty God and at one time, the coordinator in the Care Group system of family worship centre, Abuja.

MARITAL AND FAMILY LIFE

Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike is happily married to Mrs. Kate Martins Azubuike and they are blessed with five children. His hobbies includes: Reading, Building relationships, sprints and football.