Lawyer and African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial aspirant for Enugu State, Ogochukwu Onyema, has said he turned down opportunities to serve in government after the 2023 general elections in order to focus on expanding his legal practice.
Speaking in an interview with The Guardian, Onyema said the decision has paid off, revealing that his law firm has grown significantly and now employs 43 lawyers.
According to him, “I refused to serve any government after 2023 because I wanted to develop my law firm. Today, I have 43 lawyers in my firm, one of the biggest in Nigeria.”
During the interview, Onyema also criticized the performance of the 10th National Assembly, arguing that it has fallen short of public expectations, particularly in carrying out its constitutional oversight responsibilities.
He maintained that while lawmakers are not expected to constantly clash with the Executive, they have a duty to independently scrutinize government policies and decisions in the interest of Nigerians. As an example, he pointed to the National Assembly’s approval of several presidential loan requests, arguing that legislators should have subjected such requests to more rigorous examination in light of Nigeria’s growing debt profile.
To improve governance, Onyema proposed a constitutional amendment introducing a single five-year term for all elected public officials. He argued that such a system would reduce political distractions by eliminating the pressure of re-election campaigns, allowing officeholders to focus entirely on delivering effective governance.
He further stated that political leaders should earn the support of the electorate through performance rather than intimidation or political manipulation, adding that governments that deliver tangible results are more likely to enjoy public confidence.
Onyema also expressed hope that opposition political parties would be allowed to campaign freely ahead of future elections without interference, particularly regarding the placement of campaign billboards.
He concluded by saying his political ambition is driven by a desire to improve the welfare of ordinary Nigerians through policies that promote accountability, effective governance, and better public service delivery.
