•Say only votes can change Abia, as Umuahia Urban stakeholders pledge support

By MATTHEW KALU

Governorship Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, has charged the Abia electorate craving for good governance in the state to “play their part” well during the 2023 general elections, saying that only their votes could change the state.

Chief Emenike gave the charge at a reception in his honour held at the Ijere Foundation Office field at Okwulaga Afaraukwu, in Umuahia Urban Constituency where party faithful declared that the APC governorship hopeful was the only candidate that has genuine blueprint to rescue and develop God’s Own State.

The stakeholders who pledged their support for Chief Emenike said he has a strong personality, competency and capacity to lead Abia to make the people breath fresh air in terms of provision of infrastructure, lamenting that Umuahia, the state capital, has continued to remain a glorified village 31 years after the creation of state.

Emenike, while responding to several speeches of solidarity, support and lamentations on the poor leadership and stunted development narrative of Umuahia in particular, assured the people that if they support him to emerge victorious next year, he would not only bring huge transformation to Umuahia to confer on it, the befitting status of a state capital, but build an Abia that would create opportunities for all.

"We are coming to change the ugly narrative of this place. Umuahia is going to adorn the true status of a state capital.

"I'm coming with a government for the people of Abia State. This is a government that will open up the state and create opportunities for everybody in Abia," he assured the Urban stakeholders.

But he did not fail to remind the people of Abia yearning for good governance that they must play their part to get what they desire, saying, "only your votes can change Abia."

"If you want freedom, you have to be part of it," he said.

The APC House of Assembly Candidate for Urban Constituency, Kenneth Adighibe (a.k.a Ijere), regretted that the choice of Umuahia as the capital of Abia State has brought agony occasioned by poor leadership of the present and previous administrations.

"We hope that when High Chief Emenike becomes governor in 2023, he will bring joy to the residents of Umuahia, who have continued to endure the absence of the necessary infrastructural facilities obtainable in a capital city," Adighibe said.

Expressing the minds of the stakeholders, Dr Chuks Ukaegbu, Director of Ijere Campaign Organisation, said "we have made our choice that Emenike will lead us to take power from looters in Government House so that Abia would experience real development."

In his address, the chairman of Umuahia Township Old Boys Association, Engr. Godwin Nwosu, vowed that no politician would be allowed to use political party to deceive Umuahia residents again, saying that Emenike's credibility and strong personality have endeared him to the people.

He revealed that his organisation had since 1999, supported the governorship candidates presented by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) only to be disappointed as none of them have cared about Umuahia's stunted growth.

Other Stakeholders from the constituency who spoke during the gathering, assured Chief Emenike of their solid support, saying that they have thrown their weight behind the APC governorship candidate in his quest to rescue and develop Abia by winning the governorship seat in 2023.

They lamented the poor state of Umuahia, saying that they see Emenike as the only person in the race for Abia Government House who has genuine plans to give Umuahia a befitting face-lift.

Earlier the chairman of Abia APC, Dr Kingsley Ononogbu, had said that the main opposition party in Abia has this time around got it right in the choice of its governorship flag bearer for 2023.

Ononogbu described High Chief Emenike as "the best that is available now to lead Abia," adding that he towers above every other candidate in the Abia governorship race and has the capacity and burning desire to rebuild the state.

The event attracted notable personalities and groups from the constituency located at the heart of the Umuahia capital city.