Prof. Uche Ikonne on Saturday called on communities to create developmental agencies whose charge will be to identify developmental projects, challenges, and opportunities based on comparative advantage and areas of need within their communities.
The Abia PDP Governorship candidate gave the charge during a reception and award ceremony held in his honour by Ndi Eze, Welfare Union, and the great people of Ohuhu clan of Umuahia North LGA, Abia state at the palace of his Royal Majesty Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu.
Prof Ikonne during his speech said one of the major focuses of his government when elected will be rural development which is prominently captured in his program of “Participatory Governance” he stated that government will place priority on development programs and initiatives intended to enhance the living standard of the rural dwellers and to achieve that he will be partnering with communities through the developmental agencies that will be created by the communities to interface and work directly with the government.
He thanked the Ohuhu people for their support and love for him since he declared his governorship ambition and promised to ensure that Ohuhu interests will be well represented in his government, he praised the foresight of leaders like the great M.I Okpara whose agric revolution brought unprecedented development across the southeastern region, he also praised Amb. Empire Kanu, under whose leadership as the chairman of the Abia Scholarship Board, has seen over 65 Abians studying in foreign universities all over the world.
In his speech the chairman of the occasion, His Excellency Amb. Empire Kanu said the Ohuhu people are declaring total support for Ikonne governorship, and stated that Ndi Ohuhu will give our votes to PDP because we can’t afford to gamble with a matter as serious as governance, he sighted Prof. Ikonne’s sterling pedigree as one of the reasons why Ohuhu will give him and the PDP our total support.
The Co-host and former chairman of the PDP in Abia state Chief Uzodinma Okpara, (Omekannaya) while speaking recounted the relationship Prof Ikonne, shared with his family, especially the late chief Mrs. Adanma Okpara and how he breaks protocols to attend to every request from the late matriarch of the Okpara family, Chief Okpara said he is 100% certain that Prof. Uche Ikonne will be sworn in on the 29th of May 2023 and that he will give him his total support and also promised to campaign for his victory, he advised Ohuhu people to collapse every support, interest, and vote to ensure that Ohuhu votes will count in great margin ahead of any other candidate though in reality there is only one party in Abia state and only one governorship candidate and that is Prof. Uche Ikonne.
Also speaking, the leader of the Ohuhu PDP stakeholders forum and Abia state commissioner of finance Dr. Aham Uko, said Prof. Ikonne is a man of integrity and honesty, he is a man who keeps to his word, he is very competent, and most importantly he has “Character” and that is why I am supporting his candidacy and will mobilize the electorates in Ohuhu to vote massively for him during the election.
The chairman of the Ohuhu council of traditional rulers Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu prayed to God to grant Prof. Ikonne victory in the polls while pledging to mobilize grassroots support to ensure that he emerges victorious during the election, he asked God to frustrate the efforts of all those challenging or opposing Prof. Ikonne’s ambition.
Prominent Ohuhu sons and daughters who were present at the event include, Chief Johny Nwankwo, President General Ohuhu Welfare Union, Chief Eze Ukelonu Sec. General OWU, Mr. Ugochukwu Ezeocha, PDP House of Assembly Candidate for Umuahia North State Constituency, Chief Ebisike Okengwu Former President Gen. OWU, Hon. Clement Onyeoziri, Chief Okezie Ezeigbo, TPM Umudiawa ancient kingdom, and former council chairman Umuahia North LGA, amongst other prominent Ohuhu sons and daughters, also present were the DG Uche Ndi Abia Campaign Organization Barr. Chinedum Elechi, DDG Abia Central Hon. Oluchi Ibeji, Barr. Randie Ukawoko, Mr. Enyinnaya Agwu, all the Ohuhu PDP ward executives, and all the Uche Ndi Abia ward Executives in Ohuhu.
Prominent Ohuhu traditional rulers who graced the event include, HRM Eze Nzenwata Mbakwe, HRM Eze Innocent Igwe, HRM Eze Paul Uzuegbu, HRM Eze Philip Ajomiwe, HRM Eze Godswill Asomugha, HRH Eze Ngwuli, HRH Eze Danladi Yaro, HRH Eze Onuoha and HRH Eze Iheanacho, amongst other prominent traditional rulers.
The highlight of the event includes the decoration and recognition of Prof. Ikonne with the Royal Grand Excellent Award by the council of traditional rulers and the launching of ODUM ABIA MOVEMENT a grassroots mass mobilization movement intended to drive the campaign messages of Prof. Ikonne into every household in Ohuhu and beyond.
Credit: Uche Ndi Abia Media Unit
