By Amuche Agbo, Abakaliki
The people of Afikpo North Local Government Area has reaffirmed their unwavering support and total commitment towards the leadership of the ruling All Progressive Congress APC in Ebonyi State ably led by Engr. David Umahi.
The people who trooped out in their large numbers during a security rally held at Amuro Ngbom Secondary School, the Council Headquarters, reiterated their resolve to ensure that the opposition People’s Democratic Party among others totally collapsed in the area.
While addressing the party faithfuls, the council chairman Brr. Oby Okoenyim said that the entire council is for APC, and stated categorically there is no opposition parties in the council, following the turning out of people in the rally.
She appreciated the State Governor Engr. David Umahi for his massive infrastructural and human development most especially appointment of the illustrious sons and daughters of the council in the various positions of trust. She assured that the council would remain supportive to the policies and programmes of the State Government, expressing their readiness to ensure no any political party would succeed in the council come 2023.
Speaking, the State Legal adviser of APC who also doubled as the Coordinator of Ubenyi Development Center Brr. Ika Okeni noted that Governor Umahi’s led adminstration is anchored on a good governance and people oriented, saying that the development is a democracy in action.
The Legal Luminary passed vote of confidence to the Governor adding that his developmental projects scattered across the council and the State at large is second to none.
He maintained that the council would always stand by him and continued to work against anything that would destabilize his political career and urged his people to remain resolute and maintain peace at all times for the benefit of all.
Also Speaking, the Director General of Afikpo People’s mandate Chief Fidelis Nnachi Inya observed that the rally was organized to educate and direct their people not to be deceived by opposition party groups, whom he said were the highest beneficiaries of Umahi’s government.
According to him, “We discovered that those in opposition are claiming that they are totally incharge but we want to tell them that they are heading no where. They are making stubborn noise, so we want to prove them wrong that His Excellency is a visionary leader who sees now and then” he said
He asserted that they would leave no stone unturned to ensure that APC takes charge in the council.
However, the chairman of Afikpo South Local Government Area Brr. Eni Uduma Chima represented by the Coordinator of Edda DC hinted the large turn of people in the rally was a clear indication that there is no opposition party in the council.
He added that no amount of threat from opposition parties would change the decision of Afikpo people as APC is National party loved by every body.
On his part, the State APC youth leader Comrade Ogochukwu Elem described the rally as a welcome development, noted that the council has made the party proud in the State.
Comrade Elem who were overwhelmed over the rally, commended Umahi’s proactiveness especially in the area of infrastructural development recorded in the area.
He further called on youths in the State to shun indulging into crimes and enjoined them to be ambassadors of peace, unity for the overall development of the development.
In an interview, the Chairman of APC in Ebonyi North Zone Hon. John Nwankata maintained that since the defection of Governor Umahi from PDP to APC peace has returned in all the nooks and crannies of the State, describing him as a Messiah sent by God to liberate Ebonyi people from political slavery.
He, however, attributed the Governor Umahi’s readiness to empower and employ five thousand Ebonyi youths as a round peg in the round whole as it would go along way fight youths restiveness.
Responding, Governor Umahi represented by the commissioner for project monitoring and evaluation Hon. Oluchukwu Ezeali expressed satisfaction over the solidarity rally and harped that his administration is anchored in peace and development.
He called on the people to always thrive for the stabilization of peace in the council, adding that his administration won’t go back in the transformation of the State.
Meanwhile, the rally witnessed defection of PDP many stalwarts to the ruling All progressive Congress APC.