Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
A member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has described the APC in power at the centre; and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State, as different sides of the same coin which should never be trusted with power again.
Apugo who is also a member of the national caucus of the APC, said both the APC and the PDP had failed woefully, and should not be considered for any vote in the forthcoming governorship and house of assembly elections.
The APC chieftain, endorsed the candidacy of the Labour Party governorship flag bearer, Dr Alex Otti, describing him as Abia’s political Messiah.
Prince Apugo who addressed newsmen Thursday in his Ibeku Umuahia country home, appealed to Abians to vote massively for Otti if they need a better state.
Apugo who accused APC of neglecting South-East, and the PDP of ruining Abia State, said he was ashamed of the level of development in Abia when compared to sister states especially Ebonyi.
He appealed to Abians to jettison clanish sentiments and party affiliations and support Otti for the emergence of a new Abia.
Prince Apugo said he had assessed the records of all the various candidates jostling for the governorship seat, and found Otti’s scorecard very outstanding.
“Otti has written his name in gold in all the places he had worked before, including the Diamond Bank. We know him as a fearless figure without any baggage who can truly rescue and rebuild Abia.”
Apugo who expressed concern over rumours of alleged plot to rig the forthcoming elections in the state, cautioned those behind the said plot “to retrace their steps because nobody has the monopoly of violence.”
He appealed to security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to quickly rise to the challenge to avoid plunging the state into unnecessary chaos.
Apugo who claimed that the Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, won the February 25 presidential poll, expressed optimism that Obi would reclaim his mandate at the court.
“Obi won the presidential election but his mandate was stolen. We strongly believe he will recover it at the court,.
“I, therefore, beg INEC not to allow rigging because we won’t tolerate that in Abia State. Abia has suffered enough and needs deliverance.
“APC has not helped us. PDP should cover its face in shame because for almost 24 years it ruled the state there is nothing to show for it.
“It’s a big shame that up till now, Abia Government is still in a rented apartment donated by Emeka Omerua. We need a fresh breath in Abia.”
In the same vein, former Flying Eagles Coach, Chief John Obuh, has also declared support for Otti, describing him as the one with the needed economic blueprint and international contacts to move the state forward.
Obuh who addressed newsmen in Umuahia, said he decided to return to the state of his birth to work for Otti’s emergence for Abia to return to the path of greatness.
The ex- Golden Eagle boss who won the FIFA World Cup championship in Abuja in 2009, said Otti’s antecedents stand as sure proof that he would deliver if given the opportunity.
Chief Obuh who decried the state of sports in Abia expressed optimism that under the watch of Otti, sports would re-gain prominence in the state.
