Mao Ohuabunwa, senator representing Abia North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, distributed frying pans to members of his constituency yet abandoned primary healthcare centres worth N76 million.

An investigation by the ICIR had unveiled three abandoned primary healthcare centres worth N76,283,359 in Etitiama-Nkporo, Oboro Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government and Obinkita in Arochukwu Local Government of the senatorial district represented by Ohuabunwa.

The senator, who has been a federal lawmaker since 1999, is currently the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases. After he was mocked, even branded ‘Frying Pan Senator’ by a section of the public for distributing frying pans to his constituency, the senator said he had had no regrets.

“I have no regrets being called ‘Frying Pan Senator,'” he told Daily Trust.

“Those who call me ‘Frying Pan Senator’ should have said ‘Skill Acquisition and Empowerment Senator’; that would have been nice. Frying pan is just an item out of the lot. What would you give the woman frying bean cake, popularly known as akara? I didn’t give only frying pan; we gave gas cylinders, stoves, spoons and money; that’s what she needs.

“Would you be a taxi driver and we give you train? If you are a taxi driver, I will give you taxi; I have distributed tricycles, sewing machines and many more. So, I don’t regret or feel bad when my constituents call me ‘Frying Pan Senator.”