…….Promises to consider credible candidates for other elective positions.
By Maurice Okafor, Enugu.
The Governorship candidate of the Labour party in Enugu state, Hon Chijioke Edeoga and his running mate, Dr John Nwokeabia, were at the weekend treated to a rousing reception by an Enugu Political pressure Group known as “Achi Political Dialogue’.
The reception was meant to acknowledge the emergence of Dr John Nwokeabia, an indigene of Achi who also is a member of the pressure group, as the deputy governorship candidate of the Labour party in Enugu state, but it was eventually overrun with a demonstration of solidarity for the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi and Hon Chijioke Edeoga, the party Governorship candidate in Enugu state.
Not minding the short notice of confirmation of the reception, representatives from the twelve villages that make up Achi town with masquerades and cultural dances grouped out to welcome Hon Chijioke Edeoga and Dr Nwokeabia to Achi, describing the Labour party as the party to beat both in the Presidential and Enugu state governorship election in 2023.
Speaking at the reception ground within the palace of late Senator Basil Okwu, Edeoga who was overwhelmed with the mammoth crowd who turned out for his reception, disclosed that his choice of Dr John Nwokeabia as his running mate was purely on merit and payback for the numerous contributions of Achi sons and daughters and by extension the entire Oji River local government area in the state politics. Most especially he described Senator Rev Dr Hyde Onuaguluchi as one of his mentors whom he equally consulted before his final decision on Dr Nwokeabia as his running mate.
He also appraised Chief Maxi Okwu as one of the pillars sustaining his political carrier having leveraged with the ticket of Alliance for Democracy (AD) to vie for the Isi Uzo local government area in 1999, when PDP at the dying minute disappointed him. He disclosed that strength. he was able to negotiate his going to the House of Representatives with the Umpires of PDP in 1999 since they pleaded with him that they would not AD party to win the election in Enugu state.
The Chairman of the Labour Party in Oji River, Dr McGinger Ibeneme assured Edeoga of the maximum support of the people of Oji River for his aspiration and other candidates of the party. He described the mammoth crowd that turned up for the reception as mere representatives of the Achi people and other nearby communities in Oji River, promising an overwhelming crowd when the Labour Party campaign team storms Oji River for proper campaigns.
Speaking to newsmen thereafter, the APDG convener, Chief Maxi Okwu, who was the Presidential candidate of the defunct Citizens Popular Party(CPP) in 2003, said APDG adopted Peter Obi of the labour party as the most credible presidential who possess the intellectual ability to turn around the economy of Nigeria and it’s other socio-political problems. Whereas Edeoga if elected as the next governor of Enugu state will make a difference from PDP’s continued domination of Enugu state.
He stated,” Mkpuke, the brainchild of Achi Political Dialogue is non-partisan but established with the intention of advancing Socio-political interest of Achi, Oji River local government area, Enugu state and Nigeria at large”.
“So far, We have adopted the presidential candidate of Labour party, Mr Peter Obi as the most credible, based on his antecedents even as labour party has become a national movement across the six zones of the country. We believe he is the best material to turn around the socio-economic and political problems of Nigeria”.
Also here in Enugu state, We see the candidate of the Labour party, Hon Chijioke Ede and his running mate, Dr John Nwokeabia as the best to advance the economy of the state”
“This is the first time Enugu state will be witnessing opposition against PDP and We are happy about it. We are happy Edeoga and Nwokeabia will emerge as next governor and deputy governor of Enugu state, to ginger a new economic development of Enugu state”
Edeoga and his entourage paid a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler of Achi, Igwe Godwin Madu and several others before arriving at the famous ” Achi Court” junction where he was received by the Achi Political Dialogue Group(APDG) led by Chief Maxi Okwu and was hailed in what appeared as a carnival by various masquerade groups and cultural dances as they marched into Chief Okwu’s compound.
