SmearBusters Investigative Desk
For years, residents across Oju and Obi Federal Constituency have echoed the same concerns; dwindling development, poor representation, neglect of rural communities, and the weakening bond between leaders and the grassroots.
These challenges have created a silent frustration, one that is often spoken about in marketplaces, at village meetings, and across digital platforms by a population yearning for leadership that listens and understands.
In the course of our independent assessment, SmearBusters Investigative Desk reviewed the manifesto of Barrister John Ogbu Moses, a seasoned barrister, community-rooted advocate, and respected son of Ukpa (Anyigbodo) in Ikachi. What emerged is a document unusually aligned with the constituency’s most pressing needs, not in lofty political language, but in grounded, reality-based commitments.
Unlike the buckets of recycled promises that flood political seasons, Ogbu’s manifesto reads like a response letter to the very issues locals repeatedly complain about.
His core vision to “bring government closer to the people through quality representation, developmental projects, equity, justice, and fairness” speaks directly to the long-standing perception that the constituency has been too distant from the heartbeat of Abuja.
One of the striking strengths behind Aduma’s proposals is the authenticity of his connection to the people. Being from Anyigbodo community in Ikachi, Oju LGA and grounded in the realities of Ukpa council ward, he is not approaching governance with second-hand knowledge. His manifesto reflects a familiarity with what local farmers, traders, youths, and rural dwellers experience daily.
The investigative team found that the manifesto speaks the language of someone who has lived the problems, from dilapidated schools to lack of rural access roads, poor legislative push for federal presence, and minimal economic participation for young people.
One of the persistent criticisms against past representation has been weak legislative engagement, motions unpursued, federal opportunities untapped, and constituency issues barely gaining traction at the national stage. Ogbu’s outline of quality representation, integrity, and honour is positioned as a corrective tool for this lapse.
His legal training is not overemphasized but clearly visible in how he frames governance; structured, accountable, and process-driven. For a constituency that has endured inconsistency in legislative follow-through, this orientation offers a strategic advantage.
SmearBusters noted that the constituency is heavily youth-populated, yet historically deprived of inclusive empowerment. Ogbu’s emphasis on youth participation, bridging democratic imbalances, and building sustainable opportunities directly aligns with this demographic reality.
His history of youth engagement, cited by community testimonies, backs the credibility of these manifesto points. It’s not a new-found mission but a continuation of an existing pattern, which strengthens public trust.
Equity, justice, and fairness are recurring themes in Ogbu’s document. Oju/Obi remains a constituency where political marginalisation narratives are common, often fuelled by zoning controversies, elite dominance, and misallocation of public resources.
His commitment to restoring fairness is not merely rhetorical, it is positioned as the foundation for unity, shared development, and political stability.
SmearBusters’ independent analysis highlights an interesting observation;
The manifesto does not promise the impossible, it promises what has been missing.
Representation that is present, not distant
Legislation that is proactive, not symbolic
Development that is intentional, not accidental
Youth empowerment that is structured, not seasonal
A leadership rooted in the constituency, not outside it
This alignment makes the document feel less like a campaign tool and more like a constituency audit translated into a solution framework. In a political environment where vague manifestos are the norm, Aduma’s stands out for its clarity, its grounded tone, and its synchronization with local realities.
From an independent journalistic standpoint, the manifesto of Barrister John Ogbu Moses appears to be one of the few in recent cycles that genuinely reflects the constituency’s challenges and proposes feasible remedies. Whether the electorate embraces this sincerity and clarity remains a decision for the people of Oju and Obi, but the blueprint itself passes the test of relevance, coherence, and responsiveness.
SmearBusters concludes that if governance is to shift from rhetoric to results in Oju/Obi, the kind of manifesto Ogbu presents could very well be the template the constituency needs at this critical time.
Link to access the manifesto of Barr Ogbu; https://dailywire.com.ng/manifesto-of-barr-john-moses-a-new-dawn-for-oji-obi-federal-constituency
