.... PARTY MEMBERS ASSURE OF SUPPORT, VICTORY AT THE POLLS
In continuation of its grassroots consultation, mobilization and taking its massages and campaign based issues to all the communities as well wards in Imo State in preparation for the 2023 general elections, the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, today started a series of town hall meetings, with the campaign tail touching down at Ikeduru and Mbaitoli LGAs respectively.
Well dressed in their respective community's uniforms, flaunting the APC flags and massively in their numbers, the Ikeduru people thronged to the headquarters at Iho, council headquarters of the area for the town hall meeting.
At Iho, the Imo State APC boss, Sir MacDonald Ebere, Ph.D, certainly overjoyed by the large audience of party faithful and supporters in the hall, simply explained the essence of the town hall meeting.
"We are here for a town hall meeting. Town hall meeting means we are here to talk to you and then take responses from you. Our meeting here today is for us to know how you are doing, how you are feeling and then appreciate your challenges or problems, if any.
"As a matter of fact, there are many reasons Ikeduru people should be happy with APC in general and Governor Hope Uzodimma in particular. At least, there are no more sufferings at Ekemele, Akabo, Atta and Iho. One can now drive from here to Owerri with one's eyes closed.
"Therefore, our gathering here this auspicious day is to strengthen your faith in Governor Hope Uzodimma and APC in preparation for the 2023 general elections. All of us here have a role to play in our chapters, wards, LGA and and groups. For us to do this, , for us to win election at all levels in Imo State in 2023, we must work in unity and togetherness - we must reconcile our differences".
In his presentation, the deputy governor, Prof Placid Chike Njoku, who hails from Ikeduru, noted that the LGA was very happy to welcome the state APC leaders. He churned out the achievements of Governor Uzodimma as they concern Ikeduru and assured the party's victory in 2023 was guaranteed.
He said, "We, the good people of Ikeduru Local Government Area, are very happy to receive the leaders of Imo State APC. And, I reaffirm that Ikeduru is my home.
"I want to highlight the high and low points of Ikeduru LGA. We are strong in APC because Governor Hope Uzodimma is a performing governor. For instance, we no longer grief when we go from Owerri to Okigwe because the road is now in perfect condition. For more than 2o years, that road was a nightmare but Governor Uzodimma has solved that perennial problem and this strengthens our collective and individual hope and confidence in APC and Governor Uzodimma.
"Again, Ikeduru is among the biggest LGAs in Imo State. We are among the LGAs that make things happen in Imo State elections. Therefore, based on the good work of Uzodimma, we shall employ our numerical strength and use it to make an election statement for victory for APC at all levels in 2023.
"And then, our weakness. Ikeduru has people, it has amazing voting strength, has professionals of all inclinations and it can move mountains. However, we are not united. There is no unity. There is no love. There is no sincerity. We do not tell one another the truth. And many people are not carried along because they are left behind. I therefore call on the leaders of the party to unite us for the expected victory.
Probably, what could easily be the rave of day was when Prince Charles Amadi, Operational Leader, was called to the rostrum. Cheered and toasted to the podium, Amadi, known for his grassroots oriented political calculus, gingered the audience with his well tailored gyrations.
"Ikeduru believes in leadership standards. It was started by our great leader, Chief (Engineer) E. C. Iwuanyanwu about 40 years ago.
"Our people are to deliver APC to victory in the 2023 general elections. Our youths are poised. The women very active and hard working, the youths highly electrified and the men simply in killer mood. You see, I know this because I am the General Officer Commanding. However, tell our performing governor that must provide stomach infrastructure. When this is done, victory is achieved and accomplished".
The APC house of assembly candidate, for Ikeduru State Constituency, Chief John Leo Iheoha, enthused that the area was completely APC and promised the LGA would vote for the party in all the 2023 general elections.
The party chairman of the council, Comrade Remmy Onyewuchi who was obviously elated at the outcome of the town hall meeting, thanked the visitors as well as Ikeduru people who attended the town hall meeting.
On behalf of Owerri zone, the zonal APC chairman in Imo East, Chief Justus Ogu, described the event as a sign that Ikeduru people, particularly the electorate, had endorsed APC in the 2023 general elections.
In attendance included all the ward executives, presidents generals, women, youth and various group leaders, representing the 12 wards in Ikeduru. Other notable leaders from the area present were Prof Edna Njoku, Chief John Nwike, Engr Obinna Nshirim, Hon. Dr. Uche Oguwuike, Ms Chantel Adanna Chinyere, Senior Special Adviser to the governor, on Networking, amongst others.
As the town hall meeting trail departed Ikeduru, it touched down at Ubommiri, the headquarters of Mbaitoli Local Government Area to a dazzling carnival of enthusiastic party supporters.
Received by the LGA APC chairman, Comrade Agogbuo, expressed satisfaction that the dream and aspiration of the party in embarking on the town hall meeting would realized, especially in Mbaitoli.
Deliberately and sensibly repeating his message in Ikeduru, state party chairman, Ebere, pointed the reason why the town hall meeting had become imperatively inevitable. He called on members of the party in Mbaitoli to join hands to ensure the victory of APC in the locality.
The former APC chairman in the state, Chief (Barrister) Macelinus Mlemigbo welcomed the party leaders and members in Mbaitoli to the meeting. He said the LGA would do all it could to deliver APC in all the 2023 elections, noting that Governor Uzodimma had done exceptionally particularly in the area of road construction and reconstruction. He pointed the the rehabilitated Owerri - Orlu Road as a grand testimony.
The APC candidate for Mbaitoli State Constituency who is the former general manager of Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA), Engineer Innocent Ikechukwu Ikpamezie, dramatically and eloquently eulogized the leaders of APC in the state, praised Governor Uzodimma for his pivotal performances even as he called on aggrieved party members in the area to embrace peace and unity in order for the party to triumph in the 2023 elections. He said, "Anyone without Hope is hopeless. We need peace and unity to win. We must win".
In both Ikeduru and Mbaitoli, the chief political adviser to Governor Hope Uzodimma and head political bureau, Chief Enyinna Onuegbu, noted that the governor was at home with Ikeduru and Mbaitoli otherwise known as Mbaike.
"Governor Uzodimma loves and appreciates the good people of Ikeduru. That was why he chose his deputy from Ikeduru. Not only that, the governor also works very closely with Prince Charles Amadi, a capacity leader with panache.
"Coming to Mbaitoli, it was not for nothing that the state party chairman who led APC to victory in 2019, the iconic Barrister Macelinus Mlemigbo aka Marcon, hails from Mbaitoli just as the first general manager of OCDA, the enterprising Ikpamezie also comes from here. You can see that the governor is really at home with Mbaike. Therefore, Mbaike must as a matter of political necessity appreciate APC and Uzodimma by massively voting for all our candidates at all levels in the 2023 general elections.
Amongst cream de creme of leaders who participated in the town hall meeting were Barr. Kezie Ogaziechi, Honourable commissioner for Lands, survey and physical planning, Hon. Wilson Nwafor, SA to the governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Nnataraonye, Commissioner, Imo State House of Assembly service commission, Chief Mrs. U. Amaechi, Hon. Ngozi Nwanna, Chief Abed Anyadike, Hon. Ugochukwu Osuji, Sir Henry Osuchukwu.