The people of Obeagu community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State have pleaded with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to consider them for elective positions and appointments.

They lamented that for the past 37 years no member of the community has been elected or given any state appointment.

The community made the request during a solidarity march organised in honour of Governor Ugwuanyi in the area on Wednesday urging him to use the February local government election to right the wrongs.

They lauded the State Government for the way it tackled the security challenges witnessed in Awgu sometime last year during which several residents of the Local Government Area were kidnapped.

The community said following the government’s strategies, which included the establishment of Forest Guards and strengthening of the Neighbourhood Watch groups, normalcy had since returned to the area.

Speaking at the rally, the President-General of Obeagu Town Union, Chief Abba Anthony, said: “We gathered together to tell our Governor that our support for him remain unshakeable.

“We have gathered here today to remind him that we are still in Obeagu, that the people of Obeagu are crying telling him that we supported him during the elections, despite challenges, because we had a unique situation, that is why APC [the All Progressives Congress] picked a Deputy Governor from our place, but our people stood resolute, made sure all our votes went to the PDP [Peoples Democratic Party] and now we are supporting him in this second tenure.

“He has done so much for us. We cried to him when our people were reading under the tree in Ijime, he responded swiftly, came to our rescue. That place now, the pupils are inside their classes studying, very happy. When I passed there, they were hailing the Governor.

“That is why we have gathered here to thank him and to plead like Oliver Twist, that he remember us in all he is doing. Though Nazareth is too small, it produced Jesus. I think if anything comes out from Obeagu, he will not regret it. Today, we are begging him to look at us.”

Also speaking, the Auditor of the PDP in Awgu Local Government Area, Hon. Tochukwu Chukwuemeka, stated: “We are here to further declare our support for His Excellency. We want to support him for good governance, we want to support him for security.

“You know that a few months ago, we had security issues in Awgu, but the way he tackled it, especially with the Forest Guards, normalcy was completely restored and we have been a happy people, so want to appreciate him. He has also entrenched peace in Enugu State, that’s why we have organised this solidarity march.

“He should carry on with what he is doing, because his disposition has made Enugu the most peaceful State. We are behind him and will

“He is a Governor that loves his people, and that is also why we are pleading with him to look into our situation. We know that he has a listening ear. We are pleading with him to look at Obeagu. In the area of elected positions, we are nowhere to be found.

“So, we are using this occasion to appeal to him to consider our situation, more especially the chairmanship contest in this local government election, we have waited for so long and we know that he is the only one that can wipe our tears.”

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