The chairmanship and vice chairmanship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State for the December, 17 Council elections in the state, have assured the people of the area of their determination to tackle headlong, the herdsmen menace in the area if voted into office.

Sir Gabriel Okereke Elendu, the PDP Chairmanship flag bearer, and his Vice, Chief Chidiebere Kingsley Asonye, who spoke with newsmen at Ozuitem where scores of youths were wounded last week when herdsmen invaded farmlands in the community, revealed that they have packaged a five-point agenda which they hope would make Bende people enjoy greater dividends of democracy as has never been witnessed in the local government.

Elendu who, in 2003 contested the PDP chairmanship primary but lost to Chief Chukwu Ngozi Chukwu, decried the menace of herdsmen in Bende generally and Ozuitiem in particular, stressing that if he emerges the elected chairman, his administration would pursue the matter to a logical conclusion.

The Secretary to Abia State Government (SSG), Dr. Eme Okoro, hails from Ozuitem where Fulani herdsmen invaded and ravaged many farms last Thursday, leaving many farmers and youths with severe injuries. Many were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, where doctors battled to save their lives.

Elendu lamented the rate at which the herdsmen invade farmlands in the area with reckless abandon, reminding them that farmers in the area cherish their farmlands and crops, just as they (the herdsmen) value their cows.

The Alayi-born politician, however, appealed to his people to maintain the peace and employ dialogue and negotiations in handling the issue, promising that in the near future, the menace will be a thing of the past.

In the same vein, Asonye, who also hails from Ozuitem, described the herdsmen killing and invasion of people’s farmlands as a national problem, lamenting the havoc the last invasion has brought upon his people.

He promised to prevail on the aggrieved farmers and youths to eschew violence but to address the matter through proper channels.

On his plans for Bende people, if given their mandate, Elendu disclosed that he would implement a five point-agenda, namely, Education, Agriculture, Infrastructure, Health and Social welfare.

According to him, his administration would float skills acquisition centres across the council to address the problem of unemployment by making youths entrepreneurs.

Both the chairmanship candidate and his Vice promised to work in harmony to bring about total transformation of Bende council even as they called for free and fair elections on December 17, 2017 when the local government elections would hold across the state.

While Sir Elendu is, presently, the President-General of Amaeke Alayi Development Union, his running mate, Chief Asonye is, also, the President-General of Obuofia Isiegbu Ozuitem Development Union.

In 2003, Elendu contested the PDP Chairmanship primary election but Chief Chukwu Ngozi Chukwu later emerged and went ahead to become the Executive Chairman of Bende between 2004 and 2006. However, in a twist of events, Chukwu has decamped to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) where he has emerged the chairmanship candidate of the party. Come December 17, both Elendu and Chukwu would step into the political ring to test their popularity in the Bende Council chairmanship race.

•Photo shows Bende PDP Chairmanship flag bearer, Sir Gabriel Okereke Elendu.

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