10th HoR: Meet Rep Kingsley Ogundu Chinda new opposition leader

Rep Kingsley Ogundu Chinda representing Obio Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State has emerged as the tenth House of Representatives opposition leader.

Chinda a well grounded lawyer before going into politics in 1999 was a Rivers based lawyer and an environmentalist fighting the battle of the down trodden in the Niger Delta geo-political zone of Nigeria.

A rare legislator that was twice voted the most meticulous lawmaker in two different assemblies because of his penchant for details and faultless legislative scripts that made him unique in both assemblies.

An activist legislator quietly championing and had built a better tomorrow for his Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in Rivers State.

He believes in teaching his constituents how to fish to fend for themselves via constituency projects.

In the last 8years Chinda has empowered more than 3000 constituents in different skills acquisition and making available seed money to kickstart them.

Cool headed and unassuming despite his indelible footprints in legislative business for almost twelve years in the most vibrant Green Chamber in Africa.

Young Chinda knew what he wanted in life as far back in his days as an undergraduate in Rivers State University when he established the Obio/Akpor embassy on campus.

The embassy became a rallying point for all students from Obio/Akpor where he hails from and this singular development gave his people a voice on campus.

Today, Chinda is the only lawmaker in Nigeria that has an embassy located in Sun City, Abuja arguably one of the largest estates in Africa where his constituents are hosted and entertained with Ikwerre music.

Born on March 24th 1966 in Elelenwo, he started his academic pursuit in State School 1 Orogbum from 1972-1978.

Stella Maris College also in PortHarcourt from 1979-1983.

Rivers State School of Basic Studies Rumuola from 1984-1986.

Rivers State University of Science and Technology from 1987-1994.

Nigerian Law School- Lagos from 1995-1995

Started his law practice as Junior Solicitor at Dr G .I.S. Omowuwa and Co from 1995-1996.

He returned home to Rivers in 1996 and continued his legal practice with Chief C.A.W. Chinda between 1996-1998.

Between 1998-2004 Chinda became a Principal Partner and Managing Solicitor of Onyeagbucha, Chinda and Associates.

Within that same period he was legal adviser to Grassroot Democratic Party (GDM) and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Obio/Akpor Local Government.

From 2005-2007 he became Legal Adviser to the Obio Akpor Local Government Council.

By 2007, Chinda went back to full time legal practice as Managing Solicitor of Onyeagbucha, Chinda and Associates.

And by 2008, he went into full time politics and became Commissioner, Rivers State Ministry of Environment.

In 2011, Chinda became a full time parliamentarian and in the 7th Assembly he was Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Customs. His vibrancy on the floor endeared him to many Nigerians as in most cases he makes his submissions with facts an accurate figures which made most of his motions and bills scale through with ease.

In the 8th Assembly, Chinda broke all barriers as Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts.

He broke a 16 year jinx by laying 3 reports of audited accounts on MDAs after a thorough investigation.

PAC became the first committee to go e-compliant in the history of the Nigerian parliament.

He became a trail Blazer in the 8th Assembly. This trail maybe too herculean to erase as the records are all there to show his legislative prowess.

In the ninth Assembly, Chinda fought a legislative battle that made him tower as the most principled Nigerian legislator fighting to right the wrongs to make Nigeria a better place for all.

Chinda is married and has three children.