By CHARLES IWUOHA

The member representing Ukwa East State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Lewis Obianyi, elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has joined the ruling Labour Party (LP), citing Governor Alex Otti’s all-inclusive, impactful and verifiable good governance model in the State as the sole reason for doing so.

Hon. Obianyi did not join alone, he joined alongside key political stakeholders from Ukwa East Local Government Area of the State.

Some of the stakeholders that declared for the Labour Party includes; Hon. Paul Taribo, Chief Bright Benson, Lady Chinedu Brown among others.

Speaking during a visit to Governor Alex Otti, OFR, on Saturday, Hon. Lewis Obianyi recalled that around September last year, he approached the Governor and told him that he was coming to join him in the Labour Party and appreciated how the Governor received him.

He added that the visit Is in line with the discussion they had before, where he promised that the decampees would be visiting the Governor before he comes to Ukwa East to receive them officially into the party.

Hon. Obianyi said that the Governor has done tangible things that have attracted them to join him in LP and vowed that, he and his fellow stakeholders would give him the needed support.

“They (Abians) are seeing things that are tangible in the system. They are no longer seeing audio infrastructure. What they are now seeing is infrastructures that can last the test of time.

“As of today, Your Excellency, you have given us a foundation. A foundation that after 2031, the next person that will be taking over from you will find it easier to take Ndi Abia to the next level because you have given us a very wonderful foundation.

“That is why I said I have come to follow you and I will follow you to eternity because you are a good Governor.

“We are not looking for where to pitch. We are not looking for party to belong. What we are looking for is good governance. And today you have provided leadership for us” Hon. Obianyi stated.

Receiving his guests, Governor Alex Otti congratulated Hon. Lewis Obianyi on his decision to join the Labour Party alongside other stakeholders from Ndoki land and assured that he would soon give them a date that they would be officially received as requested.

He said that his Interest in politics is the welfare and happiness of the people.

“I think the most important thing is that we belong to one political party called Abia State.

“And everything we do is to promote the welfare and happiness of our people” Gov. stated.

Governor Otti announced that the general hospital he approved for Ukwa-East would be delivered this year, as the flag-off ceremony of the construction would take place soon.

“Anytime I’m walking on the street or driving and people are happy, it means that I’m delivering on what God has asked me to do.

“Because God would not have given you a position for you to inflict injury on your people. And it was on that basis that when I checked, and I found there was no general hospital in the whole of Ukwa East, last year, I approved that a general hospital be set up in Ukwa East.

“They came back to me, the contractors came back through the Honourable Commissioner for Health to say that the location that was marked for the general hospital was not good enough. It was small and so, I had said, please, go and look for an alternative location.

“To the glory of God, an Ndoki son, who is also a man of God, donated a large parcel of land. He donated a large parcel of land and just yesterday (Friday), it was handed over to the contractor”

“And I have given the contractor, the end of the year, to deliver a state-of-the-art general hospital for our people.

“So, maybe when we agree on the date that we’ll come to Ukwa, maybe we’ll start with the flagging-off of that general hospital. I know that from Monday, the contractor will start work. And I believe that they will deliver on schedule. So, this is coincidental” Gov. Otti stated.

This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by Otti’s Chief press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha and made available to journalists in Umuahia.

Governor Otti, who thanked the delegation for the gift of the Akwete cloth donated to him, saying that his government through the wife of the Governor has been promoting Akwete cloth beyond Africa and even up to the United Nations General Assembly.

The State Chief Executive noted that the wife of the Governor has taken the promotion of Akwete cloths to the world, adding that, Dr. Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, has also been supporting the promotion of Akwete cloth.

The Governor assured that he would support the Ndoki people to commercialise Akwete cloths. “We must commercialise it, bring the price down, and make it available.” Gov. Otti stated.

Earlier, while introducing the decampees to the Governor, the Mayor, Ukwa East Local Government, Hon. Chibunna Akara said that the stakeholders that came with him, who are members of various opposition parties have now joined the Labour Party.

He said that the decampees are waiting for the date that the Governor would approve for them to be officially received in Ukwa East LGA.

The full list of the stakeholders and leaders of various political groups in Ukwa who declared for the Labour Party are; the former Deputy Majority leader of the 7th Abia House of Assembly and PDP campaign DG, Ukwa East LGA in 2023 general election and current APC major stakeholder, Hon. Paul Taribo, YPP Fed. House of Representatives candidate in 2023 and YPP leader Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency, Chief Bright Benson, 2-time former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Lady Chinedu Brown,

PDP Chairman of all the ward Chairmen in Ukwa East LGA, Hon. Hyacinte Iheanacho, Senior lecturer Department of Agriculture Uniport, Prof. Kamalu, APC Ukwa East, Major stakeholder and retired Superintendent of Police, Barr. Ben Ogbonna, Coordinator Women Traders in Politics Ukwa Chapter, Mrs. Esther Bright, Ukwa East LGA PDP Woman leader, Chief (Lolo) Theresa Aja, Former Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Elder. Israel Bethel, Chairman Ijaw National Congress Ndoki clan, Dr. Felix Idah Waboso

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, a distinguished son of Ndoki, was present during the visit.

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