By Prince Ejeh Josh
Ahead of the 2023 general elections a group of women leaders across the 17 local government areas of Enugu State under the aegis of Ladies Assembly for Peter Mbah has drummed support for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Dr. Peter Mbah, pledging to rally women across the state for his overwhelming victory at the polls.
The group led by the former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in the state, Hon. Rita Mbah, while paying a solidarity visit, Thursday, to the Enugu residence of the party’s gubernatorial flagbearer presented him with the list of the women’s coordinators and executive members across the council areas assuring they would take their sensitization programme to the wards and polling units in the state.
Stressing that the group had a strong presence at the grassroots level, the former commissioner maintained that the visit would spur them to woo the people over to the PDP.
Also speaking, the coordinator for Nsukka Central, Hon. Mrs. Chioma Ezearinze assured she would mobilize all the women from Enugu North senatorial zone to queue behind Mbah’s laudable aspiration in 2023.
On his part, a member of the board of trustees of the Ladies Assembly, Barr. Steve Oruruo said Mbah possessed all the qualities the people of Enugu State had been yearning for, saying “Dr. Peter Mbah is the best man for the job.”
While expressing his confidence in the capacity of the women to deliver massive support for the party and its gubernatorial standard bearer, Oruruo who is the Special Adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on Information further compared the women to “preachers that will convert other preachers in the state for Dr. Mbah’s winning project.”
“I will speak from my heart because we have found in you the very essence of fulfilment the people have been clamouring for. The people are looking for the best hands and we have found the perfect person who fits into the description. We will give you unflinching support because you are not only qualified, you are also the dream of the people. You are a dream come true for the people of Enugu State.
“The people of Enugu state want a candidate that will give our children a better, secure and promising future, and that’s why we have come to you. You have our support and we will do everything possible to see that you earn all our votes by mobilizing, reaching out to the people, preaching your top-level programmes and showing the people that you have the dexterous managerial grits to turn the state around by navigating it outside the national economic malaise.
“These women were sourced for the job as a result of pragmatic, deliberate attempt to select those who could deliver on the mandate given to them and market your brand. You’re a formidable, marketable brand known by the people. This group is sophisticated and resilient enough to push for the project ahead,” Oruruo added.
Toeing the same path, a former Senior Special Assistant to the Governor in the state and member of the board of trustees, Hon. Obinna Nnamani said the men among the group had visited as a show of support for the women.
Nnamani said the selection of the group’s coordinators was based on their sphere of influence and the support they enjoyed among their peers, saying with them, other political parties would be given a run for their money in the state during the elections.
Reacting, the PDP gubernatorial candidate expressed his delight over their presence and charged them to work towards ensuring the progress of the state.
“Your visit is essentially to confirm that we are on the same boat. I’m excited that this group is well structured just like our great party, PDP that has been consistent for 23 years in the state. This is a support group with a well constituted board of trustees. This shows you are serious for the job.
“I am also excited that all of us are in this journey together, and we are pushing for a seamless transition in Enugu State just as usual. PDP has been ruling the state and we must take ownership of what belongs to us. The choice you have made isn’t a wrong one and we will make sure we deliver on our mandate,” Mbah assured.
While restating his resolve to give the state the best and navigate it out of the national economic conundrum presently dogging it, Mbah maintained that, “we understand this is a trying time for our country and we are poised to insulate our people from the adversity.”
He commended Governor Ugwuanyi for his laudable performance in the areas of new infrastructure, maintenance of existing ones, peace and security, prompt payment of salaries and other emoluments for the wellbeing of the citizenry.
“In order to continue these achievements, the state had to search for the best person who has both public and private sectors experiences. So, with our stints in public and private sectors which cannot be questioned, the party and the state were motivated to root for us. They rooted for someone who can think outside the box and creatively create wealth and employment.
“We have clear development plans, which are integrated based programmes. We have factored in the way to go about social services in areas of healthcare, sanitation, water, education, and other areas. We are strategic on how to overhaul our economy through disruptive innovation and aversion for protocol. We have also designed programmes that will interrogate the status quo and displace other states,” the governorship hopeful assured.
Those that also spoke at the meeting included the member representing Ezeagu constituency at the House of Assembly and board of trustees member of the support group, Rt. Hon. Chima Obieze, former local government chairman, Enugu East, Hon. Mathias Uchenna Aneke, Coordinator, Enugu South local government area, Barr. Jennifer Oko-Ugwu, Coordinator, Igboetiti local government area, Hon. Mrs. Chizoba Nnamdi Ezemagu, among others.
