Communities and residents of Nnewi and Ekwusigo Local Government Areas of Anambra State have pledged total support to the Governor Willie Obiano’s administration and all the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidates in the forthcoming February 2015 elections.
The widespread endorsement of APGA and its candidates by the Ekwusigo and Nnewi South LGAs was done in appreciation of N16.5 billion road projects the APGA led-government has awarded in the areas over the years, the latest being the 6.22 kilometre Coscharis-Onuzilike Okonkwo-Francis Maduka road project at Nnewi and the 7 Kilometre Ozubulu – Ihembosi – Ukpor road projects inaugurated by Governor Obiano on January yesterday.
Speaking while inaugurating the 7 Kilometre Ozubulu – Ihembosi – Ukpor road projects, Governor Obiano said that the infrastructural projects were in line with the policy of the administration to open up and link all parts of the State with quality road network especially the food producing areas.
Obiano stated that; “the N16.5 billion the APGA government spent in constructing strategic roads that traverses major communities and linking both Ekwusigo and Nnewi South Local Government areas is proof that the people of the area have been given a sense of belonging in the government”.
The Governor assured that the Nnewi and Ihembosi roads were designed with all components of a standard road and when completed within the stipulated 18 months and 12 months completion dates respectively, would have all necessary infrastructure including street lights, road signs and markings, among others.
He therefore urged the people to give APGA total support in the coming elections to sustain good governance and quality representation at all levels.
In her remarks, the wife of the governor, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano said the present administration had justified the mandate of the people and was poised to do more. Mrs. Obiano urged the women to turn out en masse to vote APGA candidates to victory as well as stay back to protect their votes.
The Commissioner for Works, Sir Callistus Ilozumba disclosed that the Obiano’s administration had demonstrated commitment to turn around the State.
Sir Ilozumba further observed that the road was awarded to a competent contractor and would be completed on schedule within the stipulated 18months for the Nnewi Road project and the Ozubulu-Ihembosi-Ukpor project in 12months, while urging the people to avoid abuse of the roads.
The member representing Ekwusigo in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Paully Onyeka noted that the Constituency was one of the major beneficiaries of the APGA administration under governor Obiano.
He assured that APGA and its candidates would be delivered in the State and National Assembly elections billed for February.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Chief Jude Mbaegbu said the governor had remained a man of his word and had continued to fulfill promises made to the people, and that the people would reciprocate the gesture by voting APGA in all the elections.
In a welcome address, the President-General, Ihembosi Progressive Assembly, Chief Ebuka Onunkwo said the governor’s intervention had restored smiles on the faces of the people and noted that the road would provide important by-pass in the State.
He also assured Governor Obiano that the people would not disappoint his government and would vote all APGA candidates.
Earlier while inaugurating the construction of 6.22 kilometre Coscharis road, Onuzulike Okonkwo road and Francis Mmaduaka road projects in Nnewi, awarded at the cost of N1.2 billion, Governor Obiano had pointed out that it would be completed in a period of 18 months, and announced the addition of two more roads to the project namely the Odumegwu-Ojukwu Road and the access road to Nigerian Prisons Nnewi which he said were embarked upon as a result of strategic importance of the industrial town and the possible facilitation of industrial development of the area and State.
He enjoined the people to reciprocate the gesture by massively voting for candidates fielded by APGA in the coming elections just as Chief (Mrs.) Obiano who accompanied the governor on the visit to Nnewi, urged women to ensure that they collect their Permanent Voters Cards as well as embark on house-to-house campaign and voter education.
The Commissioner for Works confirmed that 80 percent of the roads in the area were constructed by APGA government and called on the people to cooperate with the contractors on site to make their work easy.
He also assured that the project would have all the necessary components and infrastructure including street light, and roads signs and markings and urged the people to avoid putting bumps or dumping refuse and other acts that could adversely affect the life span of the road.
In his brief assessment of the enthusiastic support of the people for APGA and the governor, the Deputy State Chairman of APGA, Chief Titus Anigbogu said Governor Obiano had raised the bar of governance and improved quality of life in all parts of the State and that was why Ndi Anambra were appreciating his efforts and would vote APGA in the coming elections.