Ahead of the forthcoming general elections, the people of Abia State have vowed to use their voting power to elect only credible candidates into leadership positions.Speaking at a well-attended Town Hall meeting in Umuahia at the weekend, Chief Obi Apugo, a community leader in Ibeku, said only President Goodluck Jonathan will get massive and overwhelmimg votes from Abians owing to the impacts of his Transformation Agenda in the South-East.
He said, “Governor T.A. Orji and his son, Chinedu, had during the kangoroo Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) primaries in the state handpicked only their proteges for various positions without following due process.
“How do you expect the electorate to vote for candidates that have agreed to share the collective resources of our state and taxpayers’ money among themselves.
“Ikpeazu, who is the PDP governorship candidate, was personally selected by Chinedu (Governor’s son) not only promised Governor Orji and his family 50 per cent of federal allocations, but also 95 per cent of all appointments at the state level. All the state House of Assembly candidates are products of Chinedu’s undemocratic and occultic activities”, he added.
According to him, “the governor has done nothing to deserve our votes not to talk of his son, Chinedu. It is only a selfish act to have both father and son contesting for elective positions in a state with intellectuals in all fields. We shall resist all attempts to hijack power through the back door by these selfish politicians,” Chief Apugo said.
In his remarks, a student leader from Abia State Students Union, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Comrade Peter Offor,noted that Abians have decided to resist any intimidation and harassment during and after the elections.
The student unionist said: “A few days ago, the governor’s kinsmen in Ibeku passed a vote of no confidence in him. The state resources are being used by the governor and his immediate family to acquire strategic properties all over the world. They should remember that all these investments are vanity. Having committed all these atrocities, Governor Orji is still desperate to install Ikpeazu as the next governor. Abians don’t want Governor Orji’s stooge at the helm. We remain committed to electing God-fearing and selfless people into leadership positions”, he noted.
The event was attended by artisans, traders, professionals and community leaders from all the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
