Rt. Hon. Engr. Alphonsus Gerald Irona, a Chemical Engineer by training, was born to the family of Irona, Okorua of Umuoyata village, Oguta and Nwayiafor Irona (nne) Uneanya, on August 1st, 1966.

As a young man of promise caught out for greatness, Hon. Irona Alphonsus Gerald ventured into politics and during this early period was elected a two term Councilor representing Oguta Ward A in 1996 and 1997 respectively. Later in 1998, he became the youngest State Secretary of All Peoples party (APP), which later became all Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

In 1999, Hon. Irona contested and won a seat in the Imo State House of Assembly to represent Oguta State Constituency. During the period, he was Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum, Environment and Energy; a position he used to conceptualize, initiate and midwife the first ever Memorandum of Understanding between Oil Companies operating in Imo State and their host Communities, notable among which were: the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Oguta/Etekwuru Communities; Chevron Oil Company Izombe/Rumuekuneke Communities, Addax Petroleum and Izombe/Ezi-Orsu Communities.

Hon. Irona, as a result of his robust contributions in the hollowed chambers of the Imo State House of Assembly was appointed member, presidential committee on verification of Oil Wells in the Niger Delta where he made enormous and spectacular contributions to the process of the identification, demarcation and return of ceded Oil Wells in Egbema and Oguta Oil fields back to Imo State.

He was also one of the pioneer vanguards for the establishment of the 13% Oil Derivation, which later metamorphosed into Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC). He also led the struggle for the inclusion of Imo State as member state of the Niger Delta development Commission (NDDC).

In the later part of 2003, Hon. Irona was appointed Chairman, Transition Committee of Oguta LGA. He later made history as the first Executive Chairman in Oguta LGA to be elected un-opposed between 2004 and 2007. During the period, Hon. Irona brought life into governance of Oguta Local Government Council through his people-oriented programmes. He systematically changed the way the local government was run by making a shift from the existing bureaucratic red-tapism to a vibrant entrepreneurial administration that empowered and developed the entire Oguta LGA.

Versatile, intelligent and knowledge driven, Hon. Irona in 2011 contested and won election to represent Oguta/Ohaji Egbema/Oru West Federal Constituency in the Hallowed Chambers of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Soon after the inauguration and proclamation of the 7th National Assembly on June 6, 2011, Hon. Irona, no doubt, as a result of his charisma, experience, humility, exposure, courage and contact was privileged to be selected by the leadership of the house of representatives to be a member and the sole representative of the entire South East Geopolitical Zone comprising of Imo, Ebonyi, Abia, Enugu and Anambra States, in the very important and sensitive SELECTION COMMITTEE. This Committee was saddled with the responsibility of dividing the entire House membership into different committees to oversight the different ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs) and activities of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was also the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Gas Resources; as well as a member of other strategic Committees like power, NDDC, Petroleum upstream, Local content, sport, privatization and commercialization, Housing and habitat in the 7th National Assembly.

More so, following the withdrawal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, there was a nationwide strike that almost paralyzed the socio-economic and political activities of Nigeria. The House of Representatives rose to the occasion and set up an eight (8) man Ad Hoc committee to investigate the fuel subsidy payment. Hon. Irona’s integrity and outstanding qualities also won him membership of this committee whose activities were topical and dominant discourse in Nigeria. It is heart-warming to note that Hon. Irona executed his duty in this committee with good sense of responsibility and as a man of proven integrity, was not involved in alleged bribery scandals that involved the leadership of the committee.

MOTIONS SPONSORED
Hon. Alphonsus Gerald Irona, no doubt, proved his legislative imprints, though a first timer, with several people-oriented motions. He also co-sponsored numerous other motions, such as:

• Motion for urgent national importance on the need for Federal Government’s Intervention on devastation of Ohaji/Egbema Oguta and Oru West Communities by flood disaster of 2012.
• Shell Livewire Nig. Ltd. Programme aimed at empowering the Youths of Oil Producing Areas in Nigeria but regrettably excluded Oil producing areas in Ohaji/Egbema-Oguta Oru West Federal Constituency and Ukwa in Abia State. The Motion which received unanimous consent and approval by members of the Federal House was meant to correct the anomaly in the exclusion of Imo and Abia States.
• Motion in respect of Minimum Wage aimed at ensuring the various state governments do not renege on the minimum wage agreed with Labour Organization in Nigeria.
  Motion on the need to halt incessant selling of Federal Government assets by multinational Oil Companies.
• Motion on incessant killing of human beings and wanton destruction of property by rival cult groups at Obiakpu Egbema in Ohaji/Egbema-Oguta Oru West Federal Constituency.
  etc

All these motions received express approvals by members (“The Federal House and were referred) to appropriate committees for action

HELPING CONSTITUENTS SECURE EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

1. Graduates Employment: Hon Irona facilitated the employment of well over 20 graduates and other constituents into the following Federal Government Agencies:

A) NAFDAC.
B) National Lottery Commission.
C) Federal Polytechnic Nekede
D) Alvan Ikoku College of Education
E) NCDMB (Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board)
F) Nigerian Immigration Service
G) Nigerian Prisons Servics
H) NOSDRA (Nigeria Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency)

SPONSORSHIP of trainees @ petroleum Training Development Fund (PTDF) Port Harcourt in Welding and Fabrication training programme.

3. Donation of Desks to Oguta Girls High School in Oguta L.G.A

4. Provision of annual Scholarship/¬Bursaries to 500 JAMB $ WAEC/NECO students of Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta and Oru west Federal Constituency.

5. Sponsorship of (185) indigent Students in various higher institutions of learning through his Al-viva Foundation in Oguta Ameshi

C). ATTRACTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE CONSTITUENCY:

1. Construction of water scheme and reticulation at:
A. Mgbidi- Oru West LGA,
B. Egwe- Oguta LGA,
C Abiaziem- Oguta LGA,

2. Solar water projects with reticulation at: A. Umuoso- Ohaji/Egbema LGA
B. Amorie Ubuiu- Oru West LGA,
C. Assaa- Ohaji/Egbema LGA,
D.Obile Ohaji/Egbema,
E Nidonyemobi Oguta LGA

3.Provision of hand pumps at:
Nwari-Ohaji/Egbema LGA, Obudi, Enuigbo and K/Beach-Oguta LGA

4. Provision of Solar Street Light at
A. Orsu-Obodo/¬Nnebukwu, F.A Nzeribe Road and Awucha Crescent, Egwe, Oguta LGA

5. Construction of town halls/civic centres with furnishing at

A. Agwa Clan-Oguta LGA
B. Mgbidi Oru west LGA

6. Electricity extension and installation of 500KVA transformers at:
A. Awucha Crescent, Egwe New layout, Ezi-Orsu, Ndiuloukwu & Egwe all in Oguta LGA.
B. Mgbidi and Nempi/Eleh in Oru west LGA

7. Construction and furnishing of 3 classroom blocks at PMGS Oguta and perimeter Fencing of PMGS Oguta LGA

8. Road construction: expansion $ equalization project at:

A. From Omoka-Egbema-Oguta Motel-Izombe,

B. Construction of 4Km Rd Umuagwoa-Umuoso Rd- Ohaji/Egbema,

C. Construction of road/erosion control at Awucha Rd Egwe – Oguta.

D. Eneka,Enugu, philp Udoma Rd Oguta

Hon. Irona focused on the most pressing problems of the federal constituency and has a robust scorecard. He is a Christian of Roman Catholic faith and married with children.

Article from https://www.agendang.com.