…stresses on the importance of voter’s card
By Prince Ejeh Josh
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, and in his effort to see that the elections are hitch-free, an aide to the Enugu state governor has taken a sweeping campaign to one of the largest communities in Nkanu East local government area of Enugu state to sensitize them on the need to work towards a peaceful election of governor from Enugu East zone.
The sensitisation programme, convened by Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe, a Special Adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Agriculture, held yesterday, 9 December, 2021 at Community Secondary School, Nkerefi town.
While addressing the teeming crowd made up of different sections of the town, including market women, farmers, tricycle riders, popularly called okada, business men and women, and members of the public service, Mike stated that the sensitisation tour became imperative as the people jostle to elect who represents them both in Enugu state and in the federal level.
Stressing on the need for a peaceful transition of power in line with the existing rotation formula called zoning in the state, Mike declared that the argument as to whether it was the turn of Enugu East Senatorial Zone to produce the next governor of the state was not in doubt as it has been a unanimous agreement that power would continue to rotate clockwise.
He added that the tour was to remind the people to get prepared as they scout for the best and most competent candidate from the senatorial zone to represent the state and continue where the governor would stop in 2023. He further argued that every local government in Enugu East Senatorial Zone has “qualified, competent, informed, peerless, smart, innovative, entrepreneurial and experienced persons” who could drive the state to the next level.
According to him, the people of Nkanu extraction in Enugu state, better known as Enugu East Senatorial Zone which made up the six local government areas in the zone have all it takes to move the state forward, and to consolidate on the myriad of achievements of the Ugwuanyi’s administration. He stated that the governor was doing amazingly well in office which had inspired the spirit of equity, justice and fairness in power sharing and projects distribution. Appreciating the throng of people at the programme, the United States trained offshore Engineer hinted that the overwhelming support the people had given to him by rising to the occasion would continue to inspire him to do more.
“We are happy to be here today among our people. I am awe-struck by the mammoth crowd that honoured this invitation for sensitisation and political education. This shows that Nkerefi people are actively coming out to participate in the scheme of governance. This shows active political culture and sound political behavior in action.
“In a special way, I want to appreciate the people’s Governor and leader of our great party, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for the good governance our people are enjoying today. His administration is a blessing to our people. His great works are speaking for themselves.
“You can see how you left everything you’re doing to come out en masse because you have confidence in our great administration. The governor has brought the dividends of democracy down to Enugu East Senatorial Zone, including Nkanu East and Nkerefi communities. His signatures are all written in the state. The bible says the people rejoice when the righteous people are on the throne. The peace the state is loudly and boldly enjoying today was as a result of a determined struggle of our Governor. Nobody can take that away.
“All we need now is how to sustain them. How to consolidate them. We can still vividly recall that before Ugwuanyi came to power, Nkerefi was arrested developmentally. But today, things are changing. Roads are being constructed. Boreholes are being dredged. Schools are being renovated and new ones getting constructed. Appointments are being made. Human capital projects are being driven by innovation brought about by the government. Some of our people are being employed. We are grateful for all this.
“Our mission is simple; go and tell your neighbors that it’s the turn of Enugu East Senatorial Zone for the position of governor. Go and get your voter’s cards ready. Go and look for where you kept yours, dust it and make sure it is in a good condition. If you’ve lost and got your cards destroyed, you have to go and register for a new one now. We’ll make available the resources for you to register because your card is your power and your strength.
“Since our governor is a grassroots governor who has reached the remotest places in the state, the next governor will do more. The people of Enugu state are saying they need the peaceful process of power rotation to continue. The transition has always been peaceful, and 2023 will not be an exception. We did it before, we are going to do it again,” the Special Adviser told the people.
On her part, one of the woman leaders in the communities, Mrs. Ogbu, fondly called Iron Lady, reiterated the commitment of Nkerefi women to keep praying and supporting the success of the state government. She stated that Governor Ugwuanyi had been a father to the people of Nkerefi through his people-friendly policies that have immensely benefited women. According to her, there’s no doubt that the next governor would be produced by Enugu East Senatorial Zone, the incumbent governor having promised that equity, justice and fairness would dictate where the next governor would come from. She added that equity, justice and fairness were three cardinal words that could be encapsulated as zoning and competence. She further charged the women at the programme to make sure that they register for their voter’s cards as that would serve as their only passport for good governance.
Meanwhile, Chief Nwiya Christopher, another grassroots mobilizer has admonished the people to continue to support the administration of governor Ugwuanyi, assuring them of more dividends of democracy in days to come.
Some of the okada riders who had mobilized themselves pledged to take the message of the sensitisation to their colleagues who could not make it to the programme. “Definitely, we will always come out in our great number whenever you call on us for something like this. You’re a true son of Nkerefi, and we appreciate the projects you’ve attracted to our community. We will make sure that every okada man register for his voter’s card, and we’ll support anyone His Excellency the Governor tells us to support,” Mr. Ogbuani, an okada rider assured the convener.
Addressing newsmen, Mr. Okoro Okoro, a community leader, called on the good people of Nkerefi to show total commitment in the Enugu East Senatorial Zone’s project as that would guarantee further economic prospect for them. He promised to support future programmes meant at sensitizing the good people of Nkanu East local government area.
