The leaders and people of Okpu Isingwu have declared that the victory of the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly and the PDP standard-bearer for Ikwuano-Umuahia Federal Constituency at the 2023 general elections, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji FNSE, is assured.
The people made the declaration Friday, February 17, through their Traditional Ruler, HRM Eze KAN Emekobum, Okpu-Ngwu I of Okpu-Isingwu Autonomous Community, Umuahia North LGA, when the Speaker visited the community as part of his campaign tours.
Eze Emekobum alongside his chiefs welcomed the Speaker to his palace and said although he had hardly had any interactions with Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji but he was highly impressed with what he has been doing for people and communities, saying that is the hallmark of good leadership and governance.
He thereafter informed the Abia Speaker of the community’s need of an electric transformer to support the one currently being used but which is getting weaker due to the significant increase in usage by the ever expanding community.
He wondered why anyone would think that such a man like Engr Orji who is massively loved by the people and who has committed himself to meeting the people’s needs would not win the forthcoming election.
Responding, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji thanked the royal father for his warm reception and for the support he has declared for him on behalf of the people, saying that he will not disappoint in his mission.
On the requested transformer, the Speaker who is known to always deliver on his promises said he has only recently delivered a 500KVA transformer to be installed at Umuogwugwu, Umuda Isingwu and other places, and reiterated his mini-stadium projects, school renovation projects, water projects etc in various communities in the constituency. He therefore requested the royal father to give him time to assess the new request of a transformer as the elections are so near at hand.
While thanking the Eze for maintaining the peace and keeping his people together in peace and harmony, the Abia Speaker appealed to him to continue to mobilise and sensitise his people on the need to vote for him as their representative at the Green Chamber of the National Assembly, promising that he would do more for them.
In closing, the royal father invited one of his subjects to lead a prayer session to hand Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji’s victory to God.
At the community’s ultramodern hall where the Speaker was given a rousing welcome by a huge crowd that thronged the venue, Mr Imebuogu Godstime, read the community’s welcome address wherein he extolled the Speaker for his uncommon achievements in the last eight years. He said the community was aware of all he has been doing to uplift the lives of the people, and that they will vote massively for him so that he can do more for them from NationalAssembly.
On his part, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji appreciated the leaders, elders, youth and women, for coming out in their numbers to welcome him. He enjoined them not to be involved in any politics of bitterness or clannishness but to go about their political activities with decorum. He said anyone who wishes to represent them should tell them what he wants to do for them rather than embarking on campaign of calumny, divisiveness and rancour that amounts to emptiness.
The Abia Speaker urged the President General of the community to document the needs of the community according to their priority and hand same to him for his project planning and execution from the Federal House of Representatives. He said the document would also serve as an instrument with which the people should hold him accountable.
Rt Hon Chinedum Orji whose rousing speech was punctuated at intervals with songs by the women and chants by the youths hailing his leadership qualities, used the opportunity to remind the women of the Female Rights Law which he sponsored at the Abia State House of Assembly. He explained to them that the law allows the female child to have a share in their fathers’ properties and protect widows from oppressive practices. He concluded by urging them to also vote for the PDP candidate for Abia Central Senatorial District, Col Austin Akobundu (rtd). He assured them of his unrelenting commitment to the growth and development of Ikwuano-Umuahia Federal Constituency
Leaders of the community present at the session include: President General of Okpu Isingwu, Chief A.A. Apugo, President General of Ohuhu Solidarity Movement, Hon Okechukwu Ufomadu, former President General of Umuda Okpuala, Comrade Chika Nwabueze, Executive Secretary, Umuahia North LGA, Hon Clement Onyeoziri, former Executive Chairman of Umuahia North LGA, Chief Chidiebere Nwachukwu, the PDP Ward executives, leaders of women and youth groups and elders of the community among others.
Hon Suleiman Ukandu, the coordinator of the Speaker’s campaign council joined Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji on the visit.