The Ohuhu Council of Traditional Rulers in Abia State has said the clan endorsed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), High Chief Ikechi Emenike for the 2023 general elections due to on his ideas and readiness to develop Abia.
The monarchs stated this at a grand civic reception organised by the Ohuhu Stakeholders for Emenike at Umudiawa in Umuahia North local government area with the council of elders, women and youth groups all pleading their support and solidarity.
Iheanyichukwu Nwokenna, the Eze Oba of Ekeoba, speaking on behalf his colleagues, said there was no going back on their resolution no matter the consequences.
The royal father, who is the vice-chairman of Umuahia North Council of Ndi Eze, explained that their irrevocable resolution was based on their conviction and belief that Emenike had shown convincing capacity to move the state forward.
“Of what benefit will it be to us as royal fathers if we continue to hold on to the staff of office while the state continues to wallow in underdevelopment and economic hardship? How can we keep quiet over this anomaly?” he queried.
Speaking further, he called on other traditional rulers and well-meaning people in the state to join hands with them to ensure the emergence of a people-oriented government which he said had eluded the state for decades.
Similarly, the member for Ohuhu State constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon Kelechi Onwuzuruike, called for the support of the people for the project.
Onwuzuruike, who is a PDP lawmaker, noted that having heard the plans Emenike has for the state if he becomes the governor, he had already started imagining how the state would look like during the period.
In his remarks, Emenike who recalled how he had held town hall meetings and stakeholders’ forum in the 24 constituencies of the state on the way forward for Ahia, reiterated his commitment to the development of the state.
Explaining various steps which he would take to change the story of the state, the development economist added; “My ambition is to create a first world economy in a third world country.”
Earlier in his address, the vice president of Ohuhu Welfare Union, Chief Tony Onyeanuna, said the people had seen in Chief Emenike a development-minded leader in the mold of the late premier of the defunct Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Okpara.
The chairman of Abia APC, Dr Kingsley Ononogbu, said the party remained committed to rescuing and developing the state, adding; “The troubling level of underdevelopment in the state is seriously begging for attention.”
