Kingsley Chinda @54: A trailblazer in legislative business

...empowering his constituents, teaching them how to fish

By Emman Ovuakporie

Rep Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, a lawyer is a lawmaker that could be best be described as an activist legislator quietly championing and building 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.

Cool headed and unassuming despite his indelible footprints in legislative business for almost nine 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 Suncity 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.

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

Chinda is married and has three children.