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TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH
Special Report
Hon Agbonayinma: His Election Is Call To Duty
H
society has made some bookmakers to put his name among the crop of emerging politicians that Edo people can look up to for a positive direction towards taking the state to the next level.
is mission in the 8th National Assembly is to use his vast experience in political settings and business ventures — locally and internationally — to contribute to the development of his nation.
Many people may be wondering why Hon. Agbonayinma came from USA, where he has achieved so much, to join politics in Nigeria and what he hopes to achieve.
A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, popularly known by his friends as 'E.J.', was elected in the March 28, 2015 general elections to represent Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency (Edo State). A Coordinator (Africans) for the Bill Clinton Campaign Team in Houston Texas, USA, in 1991 and 1995 respectively, his CV speaks of the massive experience he is bringing to bear in the House of Representatives. He attended Agbado Primary School, Benin City, between 1973 and 1978; Airewele High School, Benin City (1980 to 1983) and later proceeded to the University of Houston, Texas, USA in 1988, where he studied Security Intelligence. He was also at San Jacinto College, Texas, USA (1989 to 1990), My Real Estate School, Texas (2004) and Tombail College, Texas in 2006, where he obtained different certificates. Hon. Agbonayinma’s working career stated in 1983 in Nigeria - when he joined the then National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), Imo State branch as Technical Officer in the Communication Department. Between 1987 and 1989, he worked at O’ Hare Flight, Houston Hobby Airport, Texas, as Assistant Manager - in the Communication Unit. In 1989, he established EJ Auto Dealership in Houston Texas – the first automobile dealership owned by a Nigerian and licenced by the State of Texas. Hon. Agbonayinma was the Floor Manager at Bill Heard Chevrolet, Sugar Land, Texas and conducting sales and marketing of inventory, preparing budget, recruiting, training and supervising staff members and providing quality assurance to the employees of the company. He was appointed as Advisory to the State of Texas, Forth Bend Country PCT. 2 Police Department in USA in 2003. His interest in public service in Nigeria started in 2003 when he was appointed Chief Consultant to the National Assembly (House Committee on Petroleum). Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State later appointed him as Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs in
Hear his response: ‘’I hope to achieve a lot; I see myself as a good politician. Like they say every politician in Nigeria is a crook; I do not think so; I am here to do what people can see. You know it is not about what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country’’.
2009 but he resigned in 2011. Hon. Agbonayinma was appointed as Executive Director of Westminster International, a security firm in over 60 countries – with its headquarters in UK. He is also a Board Member of the Nigerian Railway Corporation. He has a reputation built on integrity and customer services and is committed to valued added businesses as well as developing new generation of innovative business solutions that meet the everchanging energy/gas and real estate needs of the populace. Hon. Agbonayinma is the President/CEO of Texoil Energy & Gas Nig Ltd, Texoil Global Corporation USA and Century Property Consultants based in Texas. Today he is one of the few real estate agent practitioners that has taken it to a different height. In fact, he is licenced as Real Estate Practitioner by the Texas Real Estate Commission in USA. An astute businessman cum politician, Hon. Agbonayinma belongs to many professional groups: Members, State of Texas, USA Registered Lobbyist; United States Chamber of Commerce; Houston Association of Realtors, Texas; National Association of Realtors, USA; etc. E J is a household name in Edo State politics. His pedigree, charisma and dedication to assisting the down-trodden as well as the development of the larger
True, Hon. Agbonayinma’s aspiration derives from the fact that he really wants to serve his people. Those who know him very well have consistently said that his purpose of coming from US to participate in Nigeria's politics is to contribute his quota to the development of his community and not basically to enrich himself. ‘’I have used my personal resources to try to assist my people, but I have also realised that holding an elective office in trust for the people will afford me a better opportunity to do more. So, I urge them to put me in their prayers so that together we can make a difference’’, he recently stated. As a registered lobbyist in US, Hon. Agbonayinma in 2014 helped to facilitate the formation of the Congressional Nigerian Caucus in US parliament. The Caucus is to spearhead pro-Nigerian initiative and legislative efforts and foster continued friendship, understanding and cooperation between the United States and Nigeria and provide the people of Nigeria and US more jobs and economic opportunities. A very influential US Congress member, Sheila Jackson Lee, had acknowledged Hon. Agbonayinma’s efforts in a ThankYou-Letter she wrote him on July 24, 2014 saying: ‘’Thank you for your leadership and persistence to organise a congressional Nigerian Caucus’’. As the 8th National Assembly is inaugurated today, Hon. Agbonayinma has a message for his colleagues: ‘’Our election is a call to duty and we must respond to the clarion call. We must accept the challenge of building an egalitarian society in Nigeria’’.