Women groups across five Local Government Areas in Anambra State including Ogbaru, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Idemili North and Idemili South LGAs on Tuesday pledged total support for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the February 2015 elections.
The endorsements were made in response to the call by the wife of the Anambra State Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano as she embarked on a tour of the 21 Local Government Areas of the state to galvanize women in a bid to ensure total victory for the APGA candidates.
Speaking during the first leg of the campaigns where she got rousing reception with songs and dancing at every stop in the five LGAs, Mrs. Obiano told the women who assembled at Central School field, Atani, Ogbaru LGA, that the APGA government led by His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, believes and operates true to its philosophy of “onye aghana nwanneya” which literarily means Be your Brothers and Sisters Keeper.
Mrs. Obiano stated: “the development initiatives of the APGA led government cuts cross all communities irrespective of political leanings. We do not discriminate because the government is committed to the welfare of Ndi Anambra. This is why governor Obiano has continued from where his predecessor stopped in the spirit of Continuity and is spreading projects to all communities barely one year in office.”
The wife of the governor told the crowd that she came on behalf of her husband who wass recognized and applauded by all and sundry in Anambra state for doing a great job since inception, to urge them to ensure that all APGA candidates who were carefully selected and adjudged qualified to contest for every position in both the State and National Assemblies, were elected so that they would work with the governor to develop Anambra state.
Mrs. Obiano enunciated all the projects and achievements of the governor in the LGA including refurbishing of primary schools, construction of roads, health centres and above all massive improvement in security of lives and properties across the state, as the reason people should continue to support APGA and its candidates.
She also stressed the need for eligible voters in Ogbaru area to go and get their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in order to vote during the elections.
Mrs. Obiano told the people to vote APGA Senatorial Candidate for Anambra North, Chief Dubem Obaze and also presented other APGA candidates in the area including the Ogbaru 1 Federal Constituency, Hon Chinwe Nwaebili; Ogbaru 1 State Constituency, Hon Ben Nwawulu; and Ogbaru 2 State Constituency, Sir Somtochukwu Udeze, and called on the people to vote for all the APGA candidates.
Amongst the women groups who turned-out in Ogbaru were teachers who came to extend thanks to governor Obiano for paying special attention to their welfare, market women and women cooperative societies.
Earlier in a brief address, Chairman Ogbaru LGA, Chief Victor Agolue assured the wife of the governor that APGA candidates would win in the LGA because of the good work of the governor across the state.
The women groups who received Mrs. Obiano at the Fegge Stadium, Onitsha South Local Government Area include; Otu Odu Women, Onitsha represented by Chief Mrs. Carol Okosi; Onitsha Leaders of Thought, Teachers, Market Women Association, supported by Ndi Nze from the Obi Cabinet led by Akunnia Okafor.
The wife of the governor told the women to endeavor and collect their PVCs to enable them vote for President Goodluck Jonathan in the election for the President; and APGA candidates in other elections.
The candidates include; Hon Dubem Obaze for Senate; Hon. Barr. Anthonia Tabansi-Okoye for Onitsha North/South Federal Constituency; Hon Beverly Nkemdiche Ikpeazu for Onitsha 2 State Constituency, and Hon Patrick Aniunoh who is contesting for Onitsha 1 State Constituency; while LGA Chairman, Hon Alexander Egbuna, Onyenze assured that their support for APGA is 100 percent.
Also the women turned out in large numbers at Onitsha North LGA stop where they commended the giant strides of governor Obiano and assured Mrs. Obiano that they would reward her and the governor with votes for APGA candidates during the elections.
Their position was echoed by the Chairman of LGA; Hon Barrister Douglas Egbuna who said that governor Obiano has touched every facets of the Anambra State economy and would be supported by all.
Mrs. Obiano also presented the APGA candidates including Onitsha North/South Federal Constituency, Hon. Barr. Anthonia Okoye Tabansi, Onitsha North State Constituency 1, Hon Barr. Chigbo Enwezor, and Onitsha North State Constituency 2 Hon Edward Obiefuna Ibuzo to the people.
In the same vein, the wife of the governor told the enthusiastic women and prominent men as well as sons and daughters of Idemili North at Umuoji venue that the APGA government was steadfast in its work for the people as seen in roads, schools, power projects the government had undertaken in the LGA and called for support.
Chairman of the LGA Hon. Emma Idemobi assured the governor’s wife that the LGA are standing solidly behind her and the hard-working governor Obiano. The same accolades were showered on the first lady with songs by the women who welcomed her at Idemili South, Ojoto, where she was told that the LGA was now firmly in support of APGA and its candidates.
Mrs. Obiano reminded the people that APGA was committed to providing development to every part of the state and would continue without discrimination.
She reminded them that she decided to refurbish the Primary Health Centre in the area as part of her pet project, Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ) programme for the zone assuring that she would return soon to commission the centre.
She presented the APGA candidate for Idemili North/South Federal Constituency, Hon Ifeanyi Ibezi amongst others to the people who applauded in support of their aspirations.
In his vote of thanks on behalf of the candidates, Hon Ibezi thanked the wife of the governor for her dedication and support of the efforts of her husband especially the rebuilding of APGA into a strong vibrant party beyond the state and assured her that the people were assuring them that their appreciation of APGA would come through votes during the elections.
