Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Chairman of South-East Traditional Rulers Council, HRM, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, says the South-East zone has supported the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since1999 without anything meaningful to show for it.
Agubuzu, who is also the Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council and the Igwe of Olo Kingdom, said this when he received the Presidential candidate of PDP and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on a courtesy visit in Enugu.
Atiku was in the state in continuation of his campaign for the February 25, Presidential election.
He said that time after time, presidential candidates of the party have made promises upon promises of turning around the South-East which often have never been implemented.
He said: “The PDP presidential candidates invariably made mouth-watering promises to our subjects who consequently voted massively for them.
“After two decades and two years of our subjects’ strong support for the PDP, our dear Enugu State and by extension the South-East have only massive unemployment, generalised insecurity, dehumanisation of her indigenes by law-enforcement officers and the resultant youth restiveness and agitation to show for it.”
The monarch prayed for a peaceful, free, fair and credible election come February 25 and March 11, 2023.
“Everything considered, our hope for a better Nigeria compels us to remain engaged and pray for peaceful, free, fair and credible Presidential election which would produce the Best Candidate irrespective of his political party,” he said.
Meanwhile, the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has called on the electorate in Enugu State to vote for him and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to enjoy Democratic dividends.
The PDP presidential candidate further said that a vote for the party will connect the state to the center.
He said he was impressed by the crowd turnout, adding that it was a pointer that Enugu State is a PDP state and reiterated that he remained the stepping stone for the South-East presidency.
“I am going to be the stepping stone to an Igbo president as I have said before.
“I want you to keep supporting the PDP because the next government is going to be formed by the PDP.
“I advise you to always be in the mainstream that is where you can always enjoy the dividends of democracy,” he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was conspicuously absent at the rally.
Ugwuanyi, who is a member of the Gov. Nyesom Wike-led G-5 governors was, however, said to have received the presidential candidate at the Government house.
Speaking, Dr Iyorcha Ayu, the National Chairman of the party, described Enugu State as a PDP state since its inception in 1998.
“Enugu is PDP; and PDP is Enugu. PDP is in your DNA and I believe that on the day of election on Feb. 25, you will vote PDP from the top to bottom and from bottom to the top,” he said.
He advised them not listen to any other party, adding that their destiny lies in PDP.
“I don’t need to preach to you because you are already converted,” he said.
Ayu, however, received murmurings from the crowd for referring a vote for Labour Party as a vote for APC.
