2019: FRENZY AS MRS IKPEAZU’S CAMPAIGN TRIAL HEIGHTEN ELECTORATES’ RESOLVE TO VOTE IKPEAZU AGAIN
By Ubani Newman
…Umunneochi, Bende, Ukwa-West, Arochukwu, Aba North and South.
It was widely reported in the media how the wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu recently commenced rally to complement the rallies of the Central Campaign Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party led by the Director General, OKEZUOBIA CAMPAIGN TEAM.
The amiable wife of the Governor decided to mobilize the women’s wing of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia State to solicit votes from the Abia electorates for all PDP candidates in the State.
In order to reach out to the people, the wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, has led the campaign trail for the re-election of Governor Ikpeazu and other PDP candidates to some Local Governnent Areas such as Isuikwuato. The campaign trail has shifted to other LGAs like, Umunneochi, Arochukwu, Bende, Ohafia, Ukwa-East, Arochukwu, Aba North and South.
The reason behind the campaign was and is still to draw attention of Abia electorates to the achievements of Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu in these four years and to inform them of what Dr. Ikpeazu intends to do in the next four years in Abia State as the Governor of the State.
Explaining these to the electorates would certainly make the electorates to see the need to ensure the Governor is re-elected to continue these good works in Abia State.
In those Local Government Areas, encomiums were poured on the stakeholders of the PDP in the State for sensitising the people at the grassroots on the need to vote the PDP in all elective positions this 2019 general elections.
As it is in rallies, it was speeches upon speeches all in appreciation of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s achievements. In Arochukwu and Ohafia Local Government Councils as the rally was been rounded off in Abia North Senatorial zone, the Senator, representing Abia North Senatorial zone, Mao Ohuabunwa said that the process of grassroots mobilisation has long started and Arochukwu people are more united now than ever to vote PDP for continuity. Also, the member representing Arochukwu /Ohafia Federal Constituency, Hon. Uko Nkole, said it was the unanimous agreement of the people of Arochukwu /Ohafia to vote for continuity.
The wife of the Deputy Governor, Lady Vivian Oko Chukwu. The wife of the former Governor of the state, Mrs Odochi Orji, the immediate past Chairman of the LGA, Barrister Okey Igwe, the coordinator of the PDP women’s Wing Central Working Committee, Dr. Elizabeth Esochaghi
The PDP women coordinator in the area, Mrs. Grace Chijioke said that they were grateful for Women and youths empowerment which the Governor’s wife has done for them, adding that time has gone when politicians deceived them with empty promises. According to her, “we now know the party that carries us along and PDP is the party so we will cast our vote for them”. They emphasized that if Aba want to continue the massive support of the Governor in providing good road network, promotion of their goods and services that is their hands to vote Ikpeazu again.
In Bende LGA, the Deputy Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Sir. Cosmos Ndukwe and former wife of Abia State Governor Mrs. Odochi Orji, the PDP candidate for Bende south state constituency, Chief Chinedu Ndubuisi, former Bende LGA chairman, Mr. Gabriel Okereke Elendu, the candidate for federal constituency, Mr. Chima Anyaso said that as far as Bende people is concerned, it is PDP all the way. They said that Abia people believe in equity and good justice that is why all should support and vote for Governor Ikpeazu’s second term bid to consolidate his work on Abia progress.
The people of Ukwa East and West Local Government Areas of Abia State also witnessed another level of campaign as the wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu also led Abia women of the Peoples Democratic Party to both Ukwa East and West local government in a rally for the re-election of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and others contesting for positions through the party.
At Ukwa East, former deputy transition chairman, Lady Cecilia Okere, State PDP Woman Leader, Mrs. Stella Igbokwe unanimously agreed that the groundwork has been done through sensitization of the people adding that their people has no other party to vote for except PDP.
At Ukwa West, Dame Victoria Akanwa, and Chairman of Abia State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, Chief Sam Nwogu, said that the people of Ukwa West has benefited from the administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and PDP especially from the Governor’s wife who has empowered the youths and built houses for indigent women, saying that the only way to reciprocate these gestures is to cast overwhelming vote to PDP.
In Aba North and South, the PDP candidate, federal house of representatives for Aba North and South, Chief Uzo Azubuike, Rector Abia State College of health and management sciences, Professor Chidi Ezeama as well as a political stakeholder in the area Chidinma Nwogu, all assured that PDP will get victory in all positions it is vying for. They assured that no other party other than PDP would get their votes.
According to one of the speakers, “APC at all levels has indeed dashed the hope of this country by being rudderless, there is no rule of law, people are suffering and Nigeria as a country has never been polarized as it is today, so PDP has come to give the country a new hope and opportunities where everyone is equal” adding that no matter how desperate APC wants to remain in power, that our permanent voters card is the only instrument that will be used to vote them out to make Nigeria a better country for us all.
Addressing the mammoth crowd at Umunneochi, the wife of the Governor said
“what I have been hearing about this area is totally different from what I have seen today, the rural women, the youths and the people of Umunneochi are all endorsing PDP and its flag bearers here”.
“Another thing I am appealing is for us to conduct ourselves peacefully to vote out the All Progressive Congress party that has brought untold hardship to us all”.
Speaking at other rallies, Mrs Ikpeazu said that Abia would witness another round of democratic dividends as they vote massively for all candidates of the peoples democratic party.
According to her, the administration of Governor Ikpeazu is one that has the interests of women, youths and the economic wellbeing of the state at heart, as you know some of the giant stride this government had made in agriculture, education, trade and investments, we rely on your votes to consolidate on these projects to chart a new cause for our dear state Abia”.
Mrs Ikpeazu said that the campaign to re-elect Governor Ikpeazu is an inclusive one that would better the lots of Abia people.
According to her, “it is not about Abia chatter of equity alone it’s because your vote would allow him consolidate on his idea and vision of building the Abia of our dream”.
The Governor’s wife also appealed to people to jettison their grievances and come together to work for the party progress.
Mrs. Ikpeazu is going around soliciting votes for Ikpeazu to be elected again to consolidate on his programmes of making Abia the cynosure of all eyes for good in Nigeria. And this is worth appreciating.
It is a known fact that in her own ways, Mrs. Ikpeazu has been complementing the Governor’s efforts through building of houses for indigent people in the State, Springboard programmes, Skills Acquisition, all through Vicar Hope Foundation.
In all the campaigns so far, people were encouraged to vote all PDP candidates from the presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to Governor Ikpeazu, Senatorial candidates, House of Representative candidates and House of Assembly candidates.
Let everyone support this move by the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu in ensuring that Governor Ikpeazu is retained in Government House till 2023.
UNU,
04/02/2019