… Ihedioha, Onyeagocha, Ezekwem, others sure of victory
By Ori Martins
It was Booker T. Washington who urged the Black Americans of his generation in the 19th century, to “Cast down your bucket where you are”. That is, at that time, the Black Americans should forget the presidency and get educated in order to become lawyers, medical doctors, engineers, journalists, accountants, bankers and technicians. They listened and it paid off for them.
In this dispensation and time, majority of the people of Mbaise, have decided to cast their buckets where they are. This is why all the PDP rallies in Ahiazu, Ezinihitte and Aboh Mbaise LGAs have witnessed massive turnout of both party faithful and non PDP loyalists.
Since 1999, Mbaise has returned PDP almost 100 per cent. And credit must be given to Mbaise women who have always stood by the umbrella party.
The Mbaise women take pride in identifying with PDP and whatever the party represents. That was why, in 2011 for instance, an Mbaise woman from Amuzi, Ahiazu LGA, Prof Viola Onwuliri, was first chosen as a running mate by Governor Ikedi Ohakim for his second term bid.
Before Onwuliri’s endorsement as Ohakim’s running mate, another Mbaise amazon, Lady Ada Okwuonu, had been the first female deputy governor of Imo State. Okwuanu hailed from Ezinihitte LGA.
That lofty dream of Ikedi’s re – election bid was quashed. Quickly, then newly elected Governor Rochas Okorocha made her a commissioner nominee but she turned it down. And ultimately, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed her as a minister of state for foreign affairs.
This unusual phenomenal gesture certainly demonstrates that there is something fundamentally special about Mbaise women.
As stated elsewhere here, former commissioner of information, Mrs Chris Anyanwu, born of Ahiazu parents but married to an Enyiogugu icon, in 2007, worked hard to be voted as the first ever senator to represent any senatorial district in the state. There are many more women like Onwuliri, Okwuonu and Anyanwu who go down the grassroots campaigning, mobilizing as well as taking the PDP message to hinterlands.
In the process, teachers, professionals, market men and women, traders, artisans, youths and other rural dwellers have been caught by the PDP fancy and aura.
Everything taken together, former governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Achike Udenwa, Onwa, in the rally held at Sports Centre, Nkwogwu, Aboh Mbaise, today, recalled that Aboh Mbaise is the headquarters of PDP in Imo State.
“It is a well known fact that Aboh Mbaise is the headquarters of PDP in Imo State. I ran governorship elections consecutively on two different occasions and so I am in a good stead to know.
“Mbaise’s votes usually come as a demographic bomb and it is real, not a magic, not a fake one. With I am seeing here now, I am very convinced that Aboh Mbaise, the real head head council in Mbaise when it comes to PDP and elections, will re – enact what it knows how to do best” he said.
The former minister of commerce and industry called on the people of Aboh Mbaise to vote for PDP candidates in the Saturday’s general elections.
In his speech, former speaker of the house of representatives and immediate past governor, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha beckoned on PDP members to vote for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for president, Hon Uche Onyeagocha for senate, Owerri Zone and Engineer Chibuzor Agulanna for the Green Chamber, this Saturday, February 25, while on March 11, cast their votes for Prince Ugochukwu Amuchie for Imo State House of Assembly.
Erstwhile chairman of Imo PDP, Barrister Charles Babatunde Ezekwem gave reasons it is expedient for Aboh Mbaise people to vote massively for PDP this Saturday as it would guarantee the return of Ihedioha to the Imo State Government House as governor on November 11, 2023. Ezekwem confirmed that the Aboh Mbaise rally was the best organized, the most colourful and the highest attended in all the rallies organized by PDP in the state.
All the PDP candidates for senatorial, federal house as well as Imo House of Assembly presented to their audience a glimpse of what they would do when elected, assuring that they would not let thier teeming supporters down.
Before the rally, there was a town hall meeting with the leaders, elders, clerics, titled men and community heads where the team’s message of “vote for PDP” was discussed.
Some leaders that attended the rally included, Chief Mike Ahamba, (SAN), PDP state chairman, Chief Charles Ugwu, his secretary, Nze Eneana, state woman leader, Nkiru Ibekwe, youth leader, Greg Nwadike., renowned engineer, Coduc, former minister, Barrister C. Odom, Aboh Mbaise LGA PDP boss, Maxwell Nnawuihe and several others.
