By Prince Ejeh Josh
…demands more government presence, new infrastructure
The people of Isi-Uzo local government area of Enugu State have, on Wednesday, declared their unflinching support and loyalty to the governorship flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Peter Mbah, stressing their resolve to adopt him as their sole gubernatorial candidate ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The people who came out in thousands in Ikem and Neke, headquarters of Isi-Uzo Central and Amanyi Development Centres, in continuation of the town-hall meetings initiated by Mbah, included traditional rulers, presidents-general of various communities, different professional bodies, civil society organizations, farmers, traders, women associations and religious leaders, commended the PDP gubernatorial standard bearer for availing them the opportunity to have robust and productive discussions with him.
While adopting and declaring their support for Mbah’s candidacy, they promised to use their massive population to give the ruling party’s candidate bloc votes in order to send a strong signal that they’re at home with the PDP and its candidates in the state.
According to them, Mbah has shown, through his track records in the private sector and his life-changing foundation, that he’s the most prepared, most trusted and most competent person to lead the state and give the people of Isi Uzo a new lease of life.
The people who outlined the huge infrastructure and empowerment projects attracted by the successive PDP administrations in the council area, challenged other political parties to present their scorecards, even as they lamented that a particular governorship candidate from the area who defected to an opposition party, had enjoyed plum positions under PDP such as council chairman, House of Representatives member, presidential assistant and state commissioner, with absolutely nothing to show for them.
In his remark, the son of the late Senator Isiah Ani who represented the area in the Second Republic, Engr. Chinedu Ani said the huge population that turned out for the meeting in Ikem was a testament of their unswerving support for the PDP, adding that Isi Uzo would leave no stone unturned to give Mbah 100% support.
On his part, the executive chairman of the local government, Barr. Obiora Obeagu assured Mbah that Isi Uzo had spoken with one voice by resolving to queue behind his candidacy to lead the state, stressing that the council area had strong reasons to continue to partner with the PDP.
Lending his voice, a professor of political science from the area, Professor Sam Ugwu stated that Mbah had a proactive and robust background in entrepreneurship, and would deliver positively on the mandate of the state.
Reiterating the earlier positions, the Administrator of Amanyi Development Centre, Hon. Ike Orji dismissed the presence of other parties, saying they were only noticeable on social media and do not represent them.
He further described PDP as the winning team poised to emerge victorious in all the polling units in the council area.
Meanwhile, communities from the area had called on Mbah to improve on the existing state of infrastructure, stressing that, like Oliver Twist, they would continue to ask for more development projects which the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had already started.
In their separate speeches, Prof. Ifeanyi Odoziobodo, Mrs. Edith Abonyi, Igwe Okey Ogbodo, Igwe S.C Udogu, Prof. Sam Ugwu, Hon. Sylvester Ugwu, Barr. Ephraim Nnamchi, among others appealed to Mbah to look at the issues bordering on water reticulation, road infrastructure, rural electrification, agriculture, particularly Ikem-Odenigbo-Ogbadigbo, Ikem-Umualor-Ubahu roads, Imo River Basin Development Authority, Ikem General Hospital, Nkwo-Neke-Mbu-Ehandiagu, Nkwo Neke – Obollo-eke roads.
Among others demands listed were, modern agricultural equipment to enable them migrate from subsistence agriculture to mechanized farming, improved varieties of crops to boost their yield, agricultural produce processing plants, and availability of affordable agro-grants and loans for farmers.
Responding, Mbah assured the people that he would reciprocate their support through quality leadership that will address their needs, build new Infrastructure, create more jobs, and tackle insecurity, saying his administration will prioritize development in the council area.
Noting that infrastructure is important to the achievements of his vision and mission for the state, the guber candidate reaffirmed his commitment to attracting strategic projects that will address insecurity, engage the youths, and open the communities for development.
He assured that social amenities such as provisions of water, standard hospitals with medical personnel, functional education system that will lead to more technical and vocational training centres for productivity and wealth-creation will be prioritized to improve the general standard of living for the people, promising to designate parts of the area, special economic zones with agro-allied processing industries and reactivation of dormant assets into productive assets.
