…as ENHA Speaker charges party stakeholders to take Mbah’s agenda to other zones

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Chairman of Isi Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, Hon. Obiora Obeagu has restated the resolve of the people of Enugu East Senatorial Zone made up of Isi Uzo, Enugu North, Nkanu East, Nkanu West, Enugu East and Enugu South local government areas to deliver massive votes for all the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state across all the electoral levels.

Speaking on behalf of other local government chairmen from the zone over the weekend at the PDP zonal meeting held at the party zonal office in Enugu, Obeagu appreciated the leadership of the party for yielding to the clamour of the people of the state by ensuring that the most acceptable governorship candidate was produced at the May 25th, 2022 primary election. 

“We are happy that positive change is here. We are glad that our tomorrow is here too. We appreciate Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the leadership of the party for making sure Dr. Peter Mbah’s candidacy was produced. Today’s event shows that PDP is still intact in all the local government areas of the state. We are assuring all our candidates that PDP will deliver 100% at the general elections. On behalf of local government chairmen in our zone, we are going to deliver our votes en bloc,” Obeagu stated.

On his part, the Coordinating Chairman of Local Government Chairmen in Enugu State, Hon. Emeka Nwatu has said their gathering and the presence of the intimidating crowd, would send a strong signal to the opposition parties, whom he described as trifling and insignificant, adding that the overwhelming number of stakeholders at the meeting was a clear pointer that PDP would coast home to victory in 2023 elections.

Nwatu, who described Enugu as a PDP safe state, noted that the council chairmen of party were all ready to go to the polls having mobilized across the grassroots, further assuring that 2023 would be a year of walkover elections for the party in the state.

Speaking, the State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji said the PDP had rebranded itself through the election of Dr. Peter Mbah as the party’s governorship flagbearer, adding that “we are set and ready to for the race”.

Nnaji, who spoke on behalf of commissioners and other appointed political officials from the zone, stressed that the monthly meeting was not only special but also important because of the presence of Mbah in their midst. 

“Today is special because the person we unanimously elected as our governorship candidate is here with us, and on behalf of other commissioners and political appointees, we are declaring our maximum support for him,” he added.

Meanwhile the Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Uchenna Ubosi has called on the zone to show seriousness before other zones that Enugu East was ready to clinch the seat and produce the next governor of the state in line with the existing zoning template in the state.

Addressing the participants at the zonal meeting, Ubosi who is from the zone, said there was no need campaigning in Enugu East senatorial district since the electorate had agreed that the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP was their favourite for the forthcoming elections. He however charged the party faithful to take their campaigns and support base to other zones and sensitize them about the uncommon pedigrees of Mbah as the best candidate for the job.

While preaching the spirit of forgiveness and sportsmanship, Ubosi appreciated those that signed peace accords to support whoever emerged at the party primaries stressing that PDP would continue to run an all-inclusive open-door policy in the state, adding that the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi did well by standing on the path of justice, equity and fairness despite pressures, abuses and bruises sustained by him in the course of the struggle for the right thing to be done.

On his part, the State Chairman of the party, Hon. Augustine Nnamani expressed his delight over the impressive turnout, saying it was a clear demonstration that Enugu East zone was happy over the choice of Mbah as the party standard flag-beare.

He maintained that the turnout in large numbers was a testimony that the people of Enugu State were ready to support PDP’s continuity in the state.

Nnamani who explained that the party decided to the lift ban on zonal meetings after months of suspension stressed that it was time to embark on all forms of meetings including local government, ward and even polling unit meetings and treat those in the grassroots as more important than those at zonal levels since elections are cast at ward and polling units’ levels.

Describing local governments and wards meetings as the fulcrums of the party, the former chairman of Isi Uzo local government council appealed to members of the party to see themselves as “opinion molders” who would spur the active participation of those at the grassroots.

Responding to the rousing reception by the teeming party supporters, Mbah told the people he was not surprised by their show of support as the PDP had done well in infrastructure and human capital development over the past 23 years across the state, adding that the turnout pointed to the fact that Enugu East zone had long desired the seat and had never taken the kind gesture of Governor Ugwuanyi for granted.

Mbah who commended Ugwuanyi for toeing the path of justice and fairness said he was not unaware of the vilification and scorn the governor was subjected during the events preceding the primary elections, maintaining that history would remain kind to him as a man who believed in equity.

“Enugu East zone is now put to test,” he said, adding that “We understood how many people were scorned and vilified because of this cause. Now that we have got it, we could only imagine if there are some people amongst us still prevaricating after all the struggle and bruises.”

Explaining why they decided to tour the zonal meetings that held simultaneously across the three senatorial districts, Mbah said: “We came here to identify with you in this zonal meeting, and we have demonstrated it here that our party is structured which transcends across different levels including the state, local government, wards and other levels. This meeting is a custom and tradition for us, unlike other parties that remember zonal or ward meeting during election period, ours is established.

“We will continue this zonal meeting but it’s not going to be a substitute for local government and wards meetings. Our party has done well for Enugu State in the past 23 years and the people want continuity. We will build on the previous and present achievements in the state, and our programmes will anchor on continuity of good governance.

“We are proud members of dominant political party and I’m confident that come 2023 it’s going to be PDP all the way. We are proud of the achievements of PDP and it’s going to be consistency. We have fortified and consolidated our support base despite the bruises. We are making tremendous progress. This is the time to front a common and united cause and pursue this dream together.

“We are aware of the challenges facing our country and we are prepared to deal with the challenges.”