The present Imo State Deputy Speaker, Hon. Amara Chyna Iwuayanwu is a young, focused and vibrant politician to watch. He is determined to personally make a difference and positively impact the society. His community and his colleagues in the House recognise this which has assisted in his trajectory in politics. This report by Daniel Obi looks at his contributions.
Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu, the present Deputy Speaker of Imo State is an institution. The older he grows, the more useful he becomes to the society. The young politician, who is Imo State House member representing Nwangele LGA is simply a role model with desire and hunger to achieve, weaved around him. Hon. Amara is a young entrepreneurial giant who has his legacies built around integrity. He comes from a family of philanthropists in Amuzi, Dim-Na-Nume, Isu of Nwangele Local Government whose community interest is at their heart.
His father, Elder Chyna Iwuanyanwu who earned the respect for cordial relationship and willingness to assist, knew God from his early age. He imbibed the Christian teachings early in life which he practiced and transferred this to his three children.
Amara’s grand-father gave birth to 10 children with his father, Chyna being the fourth among his nine siblings.
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After his healing by God, Amara’s father, Chyna Iwuanyawu single-handedly built an ultra-Modern new Covenant Anglican Church in his village Amuzi Isu in about 2013 to thank God for His mercies upon him. The Church was personally dedicated by the former primate Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Nicholas Okoh and other renowned Anglican clergies. Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan was represented at the occasion by his Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo.
Elder Chyna was a former journalist with Radio Nigeria and Champion newspapers. He was also a public relations consultant, politician, author who was close to his community. He was also the pioneer Chairman, University of Lagos Alumni Association, Abuja branch.
Elder Chyna Iwuanyanwu contested the national chairmanship of the People’s Democratic Party in 2008 and national publicity secretary of the party in the 2012/2015 National Convention
Before and after his passing unto glory on August 13, 2018, his son, Rt Hon. Amara Iwuanyanwu had continued with the traits of his father.
Amara was very close to his father. He revealed this in his tribute to his father during the interment when he said his father used to call him Enyinaya, Samara, My Soulmate, my Eagle.
Hon Amara was born in Owerri, Imo State in 1980s, grew up in Surulere, Lagos where he attained secondary education as Kings College and later proceeded to University of Nigeria, Nsukka for a degree in Banking and Finance.
Prior to Amara’s intention to run for the Imo State House of Assembly under PDP representing Nwangele LGA, Hon Amara who is youthful both in character and personal relationship had assisted communities and individuals.
He personally undertook the rehabilitation of roads in some wards. In his speech during the flagging off ceremony at Nkwo Onyeukwu market Square Abajah in December 2017; Amara Iwuanyanwu who defected to APC in April, 2020 for better political alignment, pointed out then that the project was non-partisan, adding that the well-being of an average Nwangele Indigene is his major concern.
He testified to God’s goodness in his life and that of his father indicating that it was this grace that was the genesis of the initiative rather than to score cheap political points. His actions since then are a reflection of the courage and unselfishness that his community and other individuals in Imo State have come to recognize in him.
Amara, popularly called Mr. Capacity today was widely commended for the community philanthropic activities. ‘Mr. Capacity’ was his mantra for the campaign to the House of Assembly, an indication that he has both the mental and physical ability to represent his people.
Since his election into the Imo State House of Assembly in 2019, Rt Hon. Amara Iwuanyanwu has shown that he is a grassroots man, focused, touching base with his community. This is part of what he inherited from his father.
As the Covid-19 ravages global economies, businesses and individual families, Amara continued to remember his people, showing milk of kindness to the less privileged. He has made donations of food stuffs and medical equipment to various communities to alleviate the biting effects of the pandemic.
Indeed, Covid-19 created new needs as well as put enormous financial pressure on individuals and families. Without such support, it would be catastrophic for many homes. Amara who is employer of labour with various companies in some sectors, has invested in the lives of many people within and outside his community before and during Covid-19.
The Deputy Speaker gesture was apparently in support of government’s effort in providing palliatives to the vulnerable during the Covid -19 pandemic. Evidences show that the lockdown implemented by the Federal Government to slow the spread of the pandemic had disproportionate impact on the people especially the poor and most vulnerable in the societies. This is why donations from organisations and individuals like Hon Amara’s hand of fellowship to people were most appropriate to cushion the effects of the pandemic.
The politician’s efforts did not stop at donating gifts but mounting grassroots awareness campaigns to complement the Nigerian government’s efforts to fight the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease to help forestall further spread of the disease which was mainly recorded in cities of Lagos, Abuja and a few other states.
The awareness campaign is to further educate people in communities on the recommended hygiene protocols to keep individuals and families safe. Hon. Amara’s type of philanthropy is not just about money, it’s about feeling the pain of others and caring enough about their needs to help.
Amara whose legacy is that of creativity, hardwork, dedication and excellence is a very quiet speaking personality whose actions carry more weight. Obviously, it is not always easy to find the prized virtues of humility and selflessness domiciled in a single individual of outstanding means as it is in Hon. Amara Iwuanyanwu. His exemplary lifestyle and humility is evident for all to see.
One must say that Hon. Amara Iwuanyanwu called Mr. Capacity is a quintessential personality, philanthropist, community fan, an epitome of decency, an iconic transformational politician, a personification of humility and a team player.
The young politician who has his base and quality friends both in his community and outside as supporters because of his good relationship, readily comes to mind when the issues of impactful living and philanthropy is mentioned. From early stage, he has shown that he belongs to that rare class who will give Nigeria’s politics new meaning of positive impact.
Truly, Amara, as a philanthropist and one who has touched many lives has distinguished himself in many ways. No doubt he recently emerged as Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly amidst strong contenders from Ideato North State constituency and Isu State constituency.
It is no surprise that his friend, Rt. Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo, popularly known as OzB who also represented Nwangele Constituency but now a federal law maker, was Deputy Speaker of the 8th Imo State House of Assembly. Fortunately Amara from the same constituency has taken over the same seat in the 9th Assembly.
With the confidence on him by his colleagues and his community, there is no doubt that Amara will put in his best in this assignments of legislative business to support the Government of Shared Prosperity Mantra of the Hope Uzodinma, the Executive Governor to ensure that the government delivers on the promises to Imo people.
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