The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has made adequate deployment of personnel to the 260 electoral wards in Enugu State for the February 23 local government polls.
NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Command, CSC Danny Iwuchukwu, disclosed this on Monday in Enugu.
Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) has scheduled elections into the 260 councillorship and 17 council chairmanship positions in the state for Wednesday, February 23, 2022.
Iwuchukwu also said that the command’s patrol teams had been placed on the alert and surveillance.
According to him, “we are fully prepared for the council elections and the command has made adequate deployment that covered all 260 political wards and special road patrols for its armed teams.“
He said that the command was working in active collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services to ensure that adequate security was provided for all.
“We urge the good people of Enugu State to troop out en masse and cast their votes without fear of intimidation or favour.
“Enugu State has continued to record very peaceful elections at any level and this particular one will not be an exception.
“As a command, we have taken proactive steps and made elaborate security plans for the council elections and we believe it will be free, fair and devoid of violence,” he added.
The state government on February 20 declared Wednesday, February 23 a work-free day to enable residents vote in the elections.
Meanwhile, former Governor of old Anambra State and Senator who represented Enugu East Senatorial zone in the National Assembly, Senator Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, has described Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as “a man of peace”, saying that he (Ugwuanyi) will go to higher places because of his rare humility and penchant for peace.
Nwobodo said this on Sunday, while addressiing the gathering at the Enugu- South Local Government headquarters during the campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the February
23 elections.
He attributed the successes recorded so far by Ugwuanyi to his humility.
He added that it was because of the governor’s humility that he was able to entrench peace and good governance in Enugu State.
“If you don’t have humility, you are going nowhere. You must be humble and when you are humble, God will lift you up; if not, God will bring you down.
“This is the first time I am coming here. I came here because of you (Ugwuanyi); if not you, I wouldn’t have come. There were people who led as Governors, I didn’t come. You are Governor and I said I will come.
“Let me repeat, humility, you have it, that is why you make peace and when you make peace, it will last. There is nothing greater than peace. There is nothing better than peace. And with this humility you will go higher”, Nwobodo said.
He commended Ugwuanyi for keeping to his promises to construct the access road (with a bridge) to his ancestral home in Amechi, saying: “Before now, if I wanted to go to my ancestral home, I would drive three to four miles but today, it takes me not up to five minutes.
“Thank you very much. As you respect me, you will be respected. You will complete your tenure peacefully. God will be leading you, nothing will happen to you. I am happy seeing how this place is.
“The crowd here is enough proof that Enugu is number one PDP. You have brought peace in Enugu State and that peace will not depart Enugu in Jesus Name, Amen”.
At Enugu – North Local Government area, venue for the grand finale of the PDP LG elections campaign, the former Governor of Enugu State and Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial District, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, described the rallies held across the 17 LGAs of the state as “the highest level of political mobilisation ever in the history of the state”.
He said that the PDP LG elections’ campaigns were “a good rehearsal of the 2023 general elections”.
Nnamani expressed delight over the level of corporation exhibited by party members at the rallies.
He said: “I have not seen this kind of political development in recent times”.
The former governor commended Ugwuanyi for galvanizing leaders and members of the party in the state to get involved in the politics of the state, which he described as “a serious business”.
In his prayers at the event, the Anglican Bishop of Nike Diocese, Rt. Rev. Onygeka Onyia, commended Ugwuanyi for his peace and good governance initiatives in the state as well as his cordial relationship with his predecessors and other chieftains of the state, stating that it was an indication that Enugu State is truly in the hands of God.
“Your Excellency, we appreciate the way you are playing politics without violence or animosity. You are doing well and we will continue to pray for you so that your good intentions for Enugu State will continue to be realized”.
Other speakers at the events were the member representing Enugu North/South Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Ofor Chukwuegbo, the members of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mrs. Onyinye Ugwu (Enugu South Rural), Hon. Sam Ngene (Enugu South Urban) and Hon. Ibenaku Onoh (Enugu North), Hon. U.S.A Igwesi, the Council Chairmen of Enugu South and 4, SAN, among others, equally applauded Gov. Ugwuanyi’s exemplary leadership style and reassured him of the unflinching support and loyalty of their people.
In their goodwill messages, the Muslim community in Enugu thanked Ugwuanyi for his inclusive leadership, describing him as a good man who accommodates everybody irrespective of religion or ethnic background.
On their part, non indigenes resident in Enugu North L.G.A commended Ugwuanyi for the existing peace and good governance in Enugu State, saying that they are happy living in the state. They pledged their support for the governor and his political aspirations, urging other states to emulate his uncommon leadership style.
In his speech, the State Chairman of PDP, Hon. Augustine Nnamani, expressed gratitude to Ugwuanyi for his commitment to the success of the rallies across the state, stressing that the good works of the governor and his uncommon leadership qualities anchored on peace and good governance have made it easy for the party to excel in the state.
In his speech, Ugwuanyi thanked God for a peaceful and successful outing of the party, and urged the electorates to come out enmasse on February 23, 2022, to vote for the 17 and 260 chairmanship and counsellorship candidates of the PDP, respectively.
He thanked all the stakeholders of the state for the peace and progress of the state.
Dignitaries at the events were the Deputy Governor, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi, Senator Gil Nnaji, the member representing Nkanu West/East Federal Constituency, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, his Enugu East/Isi-Uzo counterpart, Hon. Cornelius Nnaji, among others.
