…Stakeholders moot an Ikenga consensus
Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ideato Federal Constituency and National Spokesperson for Nigeria’s Opposition Parties under the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Barr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu have kick-started his bid for the Ideato Federal Constituency seat with his commencement of a series of consultation visits to critical stakeholders in Ideato North LGA and Ideato South LGA, since Boxing Day.
Ikenga’s tour of the Federal Constituency was greeted by fanfares and massive outpouring of goodwill even as some pundits confided in our reporter that many of the aspirants and intending aspirants did not foresee that an aspirant in the mould of the CUPP Spokesman would join the race to represent the Ideato Nation at the Green Chambers, a situation they said may have altered previous projections and political permutations.
Ikenga was first received by Ideato South LGA and Ward executives of the PDP led by their chairman, Chief Sylvester Durukweaku with the 13 ward chairmen/Officials of the party in Ideato South all in attendance.
In Ideato North, Ikenga was also received by the LG and Ward executives led by the Ideato North chairman of the party, Hon. ThankGod Okeke and the 14 ward Chairmen of the PDP in Ideato North.
Both chairmen were unanimous in stating that Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu is of the breed of politicians the PDP and the entire Ideato Nation need at this point, to infuse a breath of fresh air into the political leadership of Ideato Federal Constituency. The party chairmen both noted in their separate addresses that the greatest asset a party desires, especially an opposition party, is an aspirant or candidate with the potential and capacity to win an election for the party meritoriously.
“This is why we have this large turnout of party faithfuls today. They have all come out to embrace one of their own and reassure you that the party is ready to work with you and achieve the desired victory for the greater good of our people”, Hon. Thank God Okeke said.
Speaking to the large crowd of party faithful, Ikenga noted that Ideato Federal Constituency has borne the brunt of misrepresentation and misrule in Nigeria. And that the people should as a matter of urgency rise to the occasion and take their fate in their hands. He maintained that nobody in the 21st century sends a mute representative to a legislative House in which the bulk of the work, negotiation and horse-trading is done through hard talks.
“We have had enough of political correctness, we have had enough of unaccountable representation. It is time to send men who will always stand up and be counted when the need arises. We assure you, we will not shy away from the truth, we will not shy away from responsibilities and ofcourse, we will not shy away from our identity. We must ensure that the voice of Ideato Nation is heard loud and clear in the hallowed Chambers of the National Assembly.”
Speaking also, the coordinator for the Ikenga Movement, otherwise known as the Grassroot Development Forum (GDF), Hon. Njesi Ernest who was a former council chairman of Ideato North LGA told party leaders and loyalists that the tour was not a campaign tour but one of familiarization and an opportunity to celebrate the Christmas season with kinsmen.
He however added that Ikenga was not an unknown person in the political scene of the country, stressing that it was time for the Ideato Nation to put its best foot forward and send only its best men to represent it.
“To say the least, we as a people can harness the courage, experience, capacity and passion of our son Ikenga and translate it to qualitative representation for the Ideato Federal Constituency”, Njesi said.
More than 700 bags of rice were distributed as Christmas largesse to party loyalists and locals across the 27 wards and LGA executives in the two council areas. Each of the 27 wards executives got a minimum cash gift of ₦100,000 as support for the Christmas festivities. In addition, Over 5.4m cash gift was shared with the party executives in both LGAs were gifted ₦1million (₦500,000 each) , and another ₦1m (500,000 each) was also doled out to his political support groups, GDF, in both council areas. While each of the 27 wards of the party and the 27 ward Directorate of the Ikenga movt(GDF) ,a grassroot entrenched structure each received 100,000 naira each.
While the Ikenga rave continues to spread across the length and breadth of Ideato land, volunteer groups, religious, cultural, youth and non-partisan interest groups have continued to show solidarity and align to the aspiration of Barr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu (Ojeozi Ideato), the People’s Messenger, as he is fondly called.
