… Says; Nigeria Is Dying In APC Hands
… My Key Priorities Remain Security, Industrialization, LG Autonomy And Education-Achonu
Orlu Zone came fully alive yesterday, Wednesday 18, 2023, as the the party of the masses the Labour Party, led by the face of a new Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the party, Mr Peter Obi, alongside the governorship candidate of the party in Imo State Distinguished Senator Athan Achonu, his deputy Hon Tony Nwulu , the party and campaign leadership, stormed the zone for the zonal rally of the party, ahead of the November 11 governorship election.
It was a scene reminiscent of state level campaign rally as the Eziachi Primary School ground bursted at the seams with a sold out organic and enthusiastic crowd that thronged the venue from all the nooks and crannies of the zone, to hear the message of hope from the party they strongly believe is the only party, that is sincerely interested in changing the ugly narrative of the zone,Imo State and Nigeria.
Mr Peter Obi in his speech at the rally told Distinguished Senator Achonu point blank that, he will personally return to the state after his swearing to lead a protest against him, if he deviates from governing the state, strictly in line with the LP governance template, as is being done by Abia State Gov Dr Alex Otti.
Mr Obi said LP was formed with the objective of enthroning good and people oriented governance, anchored on accountability, transparency and prudent management of the people’s resources, pointing out that as far as he remains the leader of the party, those objectives shall remain the primary focus of all leaders elected on the party’s platform.
He warned that failure to place the people’s welfare, well being, security and overall good governance on the front burner by the incoming governor of the state, Distinguished Senator Achonu administration will not be condoned by the party, stressing that he will personally lead a protest against him if that happens.
The presumed winner of the 2023 presidential election bemoaned the clueless and vision less rulership being visited on Imo people and Nigerians as a whole by the APC government at all levels, saying the party’s unimaginable misrule is gradually collapsing the country.
He praised the people of the zone for trooping out in large numbers and for shunning the rallies of those in power where money is shared, to come and listen to the ‘take back Imo’ message adding that the massive turnout has again shown the organic love the masses have for the LP and also their deep seated disenchantment with the misrule taking place in the state.
He said Imo has all the natural and human resources to be among the best developed states in the nation, that for a better Imo state, urging the Imo electorate to support and vote for Senator Athan Achonu and LP, to enable him take back the state from precarious position the APC has placed it and rebuild it in line with the vision and agenda of the first civilian governor of Imo State.
He further stated an LP government in the state must govern it strictly in line with the party’s governance template which guides all elected office holders and which observance will always bring about good performance.
He reiterated his threat that if after his election by the people and he (Achonu) deviates from the party governance template, he (Obi) will come back to Owerri and personally protest against him.
In his own speech, Achonu, the One-Arm General as he is popular called promised to make Imo State a better state that will be free from insecurity, and haven for public and private investments, pointing out that if he could spend hundreds of millions as a private individual to support security of life and property in the state, he will definitely make it number one responsibility as governor.
He reiterated his promise to conduct the freest and fairest local government election in the history where the choice of people will prevail no matter their party affiliation.
Senator Achonu assured the mammoth crowd that the first thing he will do after swearing in to the office is introduction of community policing bill to the Imo State House of Assembly for the establishment of effective vigilante service that will work in synergy with other security agencies for a state free of crime, killings and destruction of properties.
On education, the Labour Party candidate queried why a state which hitherto was reputed as the bastion of education and rated among the top three in the country, is now at the bottom in educational ranking in Nigeria.
Noting that the unfortunate scenario boiled down to gross negligence and zero investment in the state education system by the APC government of Gov Hope Uzodinma, he assured that he will return back the lost glory of the education sector.
He rolled out some of policies he will use to achieve that to include infrastructural development, provision of teaching and learning facilities and regular training and retraining of teachers to equip them with latest global teaching standards.
Speaking further, Senator Athan Achonu promised that he will revolutionise the state for speedy economic growth through establishment of two industrial parks in each of the three political zones in the state, revealing that he has been engaging local and foreign investors, who have expressed interest to come to the state with investments in agriculture, trade, aviation and tourism, adding the investments will create a lot of jobs for the people.
He condemned unnecessary extortion of Ndi Imo through scattered security check points on our roads and called on heads of security agencies to caution their men, assuring that all that will become history when he takes over power.
The frontline governorship candidate thanked Mr Obi for setting a standard that he is following and assured him that Imo State will be much better than he expects when he mounts the office of governor, even as he lauded Orlu people for coming to again make a loud and clear statement, that Orlu is for the LP.
