It was a colourful event on Wednesday at Ikem, Isi-Uzo local government area of Enugu State when members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagged- off Local Government elections campaign.
Speaking at the event which had PDP stalwarts and party loyalists in the state in attendance, former Governor of Enugu State and the Senator representing Enugu- East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, stated that “politics is a serious business. It is not singing and dancing’.
He described Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as “a master of political leverages and the leader of the PDP in the South East”.
Nnamani said that the forthcoming Local Government election in the state is a rehearsal to the 2023 general elections, stressing: “It is a serious business and that is why I am here”.
The former governor reiterated the loyalty of party members to Ugwuanyi and the governor’s decisions in respect of the 2023 general elections, saying: “What Governor Ugwuanyi wants us to do in 2023, we will do it. The governor is our party leader, we are his followers”.
In his goodwill message, his Enugu North Senatorial District counterpart, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, re-affirmed party members’ endorsement of Ugwuanyi as the de facto leader of the party in the state
He commended Ugwuanyi for his good works in the state, the manner he has been managing the affairs of Enugu State in spite of the nation’s economic, security and public health challenges, stressing that it is unprecedented.
Utazi said that Ugwuanyi remains their leader while they are his followers.
The stakeholders also appreciated the governor for entrenching enduring peace and good governance in Enugu State, as well as his consistency in conducting local government elections since inception of his administration.
Speaking on behalf of the members of the House of Representatives from Enugu State, the member representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Cornelius Nnaji, described Ugwuanyi as a peace-loving governor, pointing out that the mammoth crowd at the rally was a testament to the overwhelming popularity of PDP in Enugu State and the acceptability of Governor Ugwuanyi as the leader of the party.
Nnaji, who spoke alongside Ofor Chukwuegbo, Dr. Pat Asadu, Princess Peace Nnaji, Dr. Kingsley Ebenyi, Hon. K.G.B. Oguakwa, Hon. U.S.A. Igwesi and Chijioke Edeoga, maintained that “it is well established that we have one governor of Enugu State and one leader in the person of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi”.
The federal lawmaker applauded Ugwuanyi for keeping faith with his peace initiative and the promise he made in his inaugural address to develop the rural areas where the majority of the people reside.
“Let’s all continue to support our governor and his peace initiative which is expensive to maintain. He is a calm and humble leader”, he said.
Also speaking on behalf of the members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, the Speaker, Edward Ubosi, lauded Ugwuanyi for “the way you have been managing the affairs of Enugu State”, stressing that the governor’s leadership style is uncommon in the history of the state.
Ubosi enjoined PDP stakeholders and faithful in the state to “follow your leader”.
The PDP State Chairman, Augustine Nnamani, on behalf of the party executives, expressed gratitude to the party faithful for coming out en masse at the event.
He thanked Ugwuanyi for his good works and described him as “the game changer and bridge builder”.
He also thanked him for keeping faith with his campaign promises to the people of Enugu State, stating that “the PDP we see is Governor Ugwuanyi”.
He said that “there is no part of this state that has not felt the impact of the governor’s administration.
“Our governor pays workers’ salaries (new minimum wage) regularly and still attends to development issues with the state’s lean resources”, Nnamani said.
Nnamani appreciated members of the National and State Assemblies for the synergy between the executive and the legislature in the state, revealing that “everybody is happy with the PDP-led government of Governor Ugwuanyi. There is no shaking!”.
The party chairman urged the electorate to vote for all the candidates of the PDP in the February 23 LG Chairmanship and councillorship elections.
In their goodwill messages, former Chairmen of PDP in Enugu State, Dr. Charles Egumgbe, Chief Engr. Vita Abba and Chief Ikeje Asogwa, said they are impressed with Ugwuanyi’s performance in office.
Speaking on behalf of other ex-Chairmen of the party, Abba commended the governor for keeping the ideals and tradition of the party alive. He went further to thank Nnamani for taking the party to a new level.
Handing over the party flags to the 17 LG Chairmanship candidates of the PDP and their deputies, after prayers were offered for them by the Spiritual Director of Okunerere Adoration Ministry, Rev. Fr. Dr. Paul Obayi, Ugwuanyi thanked the leadership of the party at all levels and indeed all the stakeholders for providing the leadership that facilitated the success of the primary elections.
The governor disclosed that “the politicking was intriguing, the sound was loud, the suspense was thrilling and the tension was palpable yet the processes were consultative, conclusive and consensual”.
He said that all the aspirants in the primary elections, irrespective of the outcomes, have long joined hands to build a stronger and more formidable PDP that is ready and prepared to go to the polls.
Ugwuanyi assured the people of Enugu State that the party candidates, if elected, shall serve them with the fear of God and in their best interest, consistent with the PDP tradition, and urged them to vote massively for PDP on February 23, 2022.
“I extend my reverential greetings and gratitude to the Clergy and our Traditional Rulers for their prayers, support and wise counsel.
“I must pertinently tell you that our administration is keen on activating the local economy of our rural communities. Therefore, it has become our Directive Principle that all elected Council Chairmen and Councilors must reside in their electoral constituencies henceforth.
“By so doing, they will necessarily work to secure these constituencies (being residents) and also activate their local economies.
“Ndi Enugu, as I flag off the 2022 LGA elections campaign of PDP in Enugu State, I present to you, the Party’s flag bearers for the Council Chairmanship election in the 17 LGAs of the state, persons who have been found worthy and capable of superintending the affairs of these LG Councils by the Party in their respective LGAs.
“I passionately plead with you to massively support these candidates in the 23rd February 2022 Local Government Council Chairmanship elections in the 17 LGAs of the state. I assure you that these candidates, if elected by you, shall serve you with the fear of God and in your best interest, consistent with the PDP tradition”, the governor said.
The Deputy Governor, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, members of the State Executive Council (EXCO), members of the ALGON led by the Chairman and Chairman of Udenu LGA, Solomon Onah, were among the dignitaries at the event.
Meanwhile, Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state, Ndubuisi Elechionyia, has called for credible, free and fair Local Government Council and Governorship elections in the state.
Elechionyia made the call when he received a new APGA member, Dr. Jeff Nnamani, at the APGA secretariat in Agbani Road, Enugu.
Nnamani is a retired civil servant and a graduate of Political Science and Administration, as well as a Masters degree holder in Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
He urged the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) to conduct a credible and fair election in the state.
The Chairman also called on the state government to create a free-playing electoral ground for all parties at the forthcoming Local Government Chairmanship election.
“We are happy to have people with good reputation like Nnamani because he wants to serve the public through this party.
“Nnamani has all it takes to represent this party at any levels and we are looking forward to welcoming many who are ready to sacrifice for the party,” Elechionyia said.
Responding, Nnamani urged the party faithful to do their part by registering and collecting their PVCs for the coming election.
He said that the party needs to be reformed and described the APGA as a party that has integrity and accountability as its watch word.
“We cannot afford to fail at the forthcoming Local Government Election because we need to start the state reformation from the grassroots.
“Let us have the notion that election will hold in the state which will mark the beginning of our success in the state.
“Remember, you need to have the right to vote and your right to vote is bestowed on PVC. Register and collect it,” he said.
Elechionyia said that “the choice to choose our representatives at all levels rests on the masses and that it is why voters should stick to their rights.
“I made the choice to join APGA because it is the only party that can uplift my career and the only party that has produced the best governors in South-East,” Nnamani said.
Speaking at the event, the Nsukka Local Government Council APGA chairmanship aspirant, Mrs Ngozi Ugwuanyi, said that the party is out to challenge other parties in all fronts.
She expressed optimism that the party will win at the Local Government Council election coming up on February 23.
