By Chigozie Uzosike
Jubilation rent the air of the nooks and crannies of Imo State as the Labour Party governorship aspirant, Maj. Gen. Lincoln Ogunewe (retired) picked his nomination form.
The electorate were happy that the security expert has marched words with action having raised the hope of the citizens with the purchase of the form.
Speaking to newsmen, Joy Megwa from Egbu, in Owerri North LGA who described herself as being ”Obi-dient” said that, ”Ogunewe is the only candidate who can defeat the incumbent in an election in Imo state, saying that any other candidate is a pretender. Hear Joy, ‘my father told me that his father, Colonel Ogunewe was a military adviser to Emeka Ojukwu during the Civil war. So he comes from a family that has served the Igbo interest very well in the past.”
Another Imolite, John Ahaneku who’s a businessman from Nkwerre LGA said, ”Imo people are tired of old, re-cycled and expired politicians in All Progressives Congress, (APC), Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and even All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), adding that it is time the people try new hand in 2023 for the State’s real time development.
He said, ”From what people are saying about him and from his security blueprint he published recently, which l read, I think he has the pedigree, capacity and experience to restore security and peace to Imo state in a peaceful and non-violent way”.
According to Ahaneku, Ogunewe wants to create employment for the youths by bringing industries and tourism to the state, insisting that it is what Ndi Imo need at the moment.”
In Obowo, a teacher Mrs. Anthonia Okeke who said she knew Ogunewe when he was a student at University of Nigeria Nsukka was of the view that, ”If you look at his deep love for Igbos, Ogunewe reminds me of the former governor of old lmo state, Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe under whose administration the state witnessed an unprecedented level of infrastructural, human capital and economic development. I believe that Ogunewe may even surpass those achievements when elected.”
