PRESS STATEMENT
Lawmakers of PDP in Imo State House of Assembly, the people of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area and elders in Orlu geo – political zone have thrown their weight behind the governorship aspiration of the former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha. They made it clear that their endorsement of Ihedioha’s aspiration is because of his trustworthiness, consistency and vision for Imo State.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Speaking when the former Deputy Speaker visited Ohaji/Egbema for an interactive session with entire LGA executives, ward executives, chapter executives, stakeholders and leadership in the twelve wards of the council area, the minority leader of Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Ken Agbim confirmed that legislators in the House have resolved to support only Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.
While dispelling rumors that the House members had earlier endorsed somebody else, Agbim made it clear that it is only Ihedioha that possesses the leadership qualities and vision at this critical time to restore her lost glory. “It is not true that we had earlier endorsed another person. Ihedioha is the man we know for the 2019 Imo Governorship. He has the heart of a lion’, he explained.
Agbim stated that time has come when things must be done differently in Imo, pointing out that PDP’s membership in Imo alone is over 6,000 registered members.“If all of us with our PVC’s vote coupled with Imo people’s support, Ihedioha indisputably will become the next Governor of Imo State. I can assure Imo people that Ihedioha will return governance to the people,” the lawmaker said.
In a similar vein, former Chief of staff to former Governor Achike Udenwa, Dr Vin Udogwu, pointed out that Ihedioha is the best material for Imo governorship come 2019. He said that of all those jostling for the governorship, Ihedioha remains a pace setter because of his selflessness, people – oriented vision for the state and commitment to turn things around positively.
Speaking the minds of Orlu elders in the PDP, Udogwu advised other aspirants to step down for Ihedioha, noting that “when so many people shied away from the party, Ihedioha stood firm even at the risk of his life” He stated that Orlu people are solidly behind Ihedioha, stating that PDP needs to send somebody who can be trusted to keep to his promises.
Also, the people of Ohaji/Egbema in their various speeches, unanimously endorsed Ihedioha’s aspiration for the Imo governorship.
They expressed their immense gratitude to him for his numerous assistance to party members in the area, stressing that if not for Ihedioha, nobody would have remembered them in the scheme of things.
According to the Ohaji/Egbema LGA party Chairman, Chief Damian Ezerue, “PDP was dead, but Ihedioha helped tremendously in reviving it. That ward chairmen, their Vice, Secretaries, Women leaders and youth leaders are today delegates is courtesy of Ihedioha when he was Chairman of the PDP Constitution Review Committee.” He said Ihedioha has commendably brought administration to the grassroots and given ward executives a sense of belonging in the PDP. “We are bound to reciprocate his kindness and nobody can sway us from that”, he reasserted.
In his remarks, Rt. Hon. Ihedioha thanked the Ohaji/Egbema people and the Orlu elders for reposing confidence in him. He assured that he will restore sanity in the governance of Imo State if made the Governor, assuring that he will accord local governments autonomous status, re – introduce Development Centres and works Departments just as Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) and Adapalm plantation will be very functional.
He said his opponents are afraid of him because of his honesty and transparency. “I am not greedy and they cannot bend me to become like them to defraud Imo State against the people’s interest, so they resorted to blackmail tactics against me. But as you can see, it is not working so they are now running away from us,” Ihedioha stated.
He assured that PDP has the capacity to win 2019 elections in Imo and the Presidency, pointing out that he is committed to repairing Imo and returning power to the people. “I need your support to achieve this. All hands must be on deck,” he said.