Ugochukwu Eke, Owerri.
Ahead of the much awaited 2019 Imo state governorship election, critical stakeholders, elders and leaders of Orlu zonal extraction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Imo West have thrown their weight behind the party’s governorship candidate Chief Emeka Ihedioha.
The political leaders comprising party chairmen in the 12 local government areas of the zone, secretaries, treasures and women leaders argued that having governed the state through ex-governor Achike Udenwa who ruled for 8 years and the incumbent governor Rochas Okorocha who would be completing his second tenure next year, justice equity and fair play demand that power should move to Imo East (OwerriZone) which has not tested it.
Ihedioha hails from Mbutu, Aboh Mbaise concil area in Owerri Zone. The party Chieftains, who spoke one after another at a one day crucial meeting held at the party secretariat Orlu commended chief Ihedioha for choosing one of their sons- Chief Gerald Alphonsus Irona as his running mate, arguing that the gesture had given the Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta/Oru west federal constituency where Irona hails from and which had all along been marginalized a sense of belonging.
Aloysius Igwe – the Orlu zonal chairman of the party said that having organized a decent, credible and transparent party primaries, the dire is cast for the members to commence effective grassroots mobilization and sensitization of the electorate to secure victory for the party at the polls.
Igwe who extolled the Ihedioha/Irona joint ticket as a divine grace for the party charged members of the party nursing one grievances or the other arising from the Ihedioha/Irona joint ticket to put the past behind them and to team up with them in the interest of the party.
“This meeting is for us to gird our loins and to get ready for the polls because politics should not be played to a dangerous point”. Igwe castigate the APC Administration in the state for pauperizing the
masses through administrative ineptitude, saying “they have brought shame to us hence we must work hard to dislodge them”.
He advised them to ignore any governorship candidate of Orlu zonal extraction and to stand solidly behind Chief Ihedioha who he described as a seasoned democrat with relevant remarkable qualities to move the state forward.
In their separate speeches Dr Vin Udokwu, Director General of the Ihedioha campaign organization and Martin Ejiogu state deputy chairman of the party called for team work, collective efforts and tolerance among the party members.
They extolled Chief Ihedioha as a man of the people with the milk of human kindness to remedy the woes now ravaging the average electorate in the state.
Responding, Chief Irona commended the party men for the confidence reposed in Chief Ihedioha and assured that he would not let the state down if elected governor next year.
