–As LP Candidate Urges Uzodinma To Start Packing His Load
The Senator Athan Achonu campaign train has continued to traverse the length and breadth of Imo State to sell his programmes to the people ahead of the state governorship election in November.
The local government campaigns have been going on unhindered regardless of the rains.
Mammoth crowds of Imolites have been trooping out to receive the team and to hear his believable message of hope.
The message had remained the same when he visited Ikeduru Local Government, and Ezuruezu Mbaise at the weekend.
“I have turned the swamp into arable land and converted it to agricultural base. This is what I am known for and I will do it for Imo State.
I have come to collect from the lion what it has in its mouth,” Achonu declared.
The Labour Party candidate has continued to encourage the people and assure them that a new dawn is around the corner for the state that is in dire need, having been run down by the rudderless and inept All Progressives Congress, APC, government headed by a governor, who appears to be confused and overwhelmed by the demands of office, which he was neither prepared nor suited for.
Achonu told the people of his plans to electrify all parts of the state within one year of his administration.
“In my one year in the office, I will ensure 24 hours electricity everywhere in Imo State. This will be possible because we have huge deposit of gas.”
He also promised to create industrial parks that would generate enormous employment opportunities and so engage the youths they would never have time to indulge in criminality.
“There will be meaningful jobs for everyone to do, including those of our brothers in the bush.
There will be agro-based industrial parks in each of the 27 local governments in Imo State.
“It is a shameful thing that we import red oil from the people who came here years back to pick palm fruit.
We have a plan to plant 5000 palm trees in every community.
“It is shocking and painful that the youths, after graduation, will still depend on their parents to feed them. However, under my watch, this shall no more be the case,” he promised.
According to Achonu, his Aku Ruo Ulo investment philosophy is not only primed to secure Igbo wealth but also to create more wealth for the people in Igbo land.
He urged Igbo businesspeople to embrace his call to consider investing at home and save themselves from recurrent losses orchestrated by their jealous hosts outside Igbo land.
Furthermore, he emphasised his promise to conduct a free and fair local government election within his six months in office, vowing never to fiddle with local government funds but to ensure an autonomous local government administration.
On security, Achonu reiterated that the solution lies with local vigilantes, which he promised to create in every local government. He believes that with the involvement of locals, criminality would become a thing of the past since criminals do not fall from the sky.
He again appealed to aggrieved Igbo youths, especially in Imo to stop the bloodbath in the land.
According to him, it is not wise that Ndi Igbo would be killing one another in the name of Biafra agitation.
Achonu recalled that he had paid heavily for the security of the Igbo when even as a youth, he fought in the Biafra war and lost an arm. He posited that today’s youth should not be killing the fellow Igbo they are supposedly agitating for.
He urged them to come out of the bush and embrace peace, promising to create good opportunities that would enable them to create wealth for themselves and forget the frustrations that made them take up arms.
He said: “We will bring back home all our brothers, who were chased into the bush. We will create wealth that will be enough for everyone.
“I will transform our airport into international cargo hub of west Africa
“Everyone in Imo State knows me as a man that has the capacity to industrialise the state.”
Earlier, in a very significant event, some elders from the late Njoku Nwansi ruling house, who was the paramount ruler of Ikeduru and Old Owerri Province (Owerri and Rivers), led by his gandson, Prince Charles Njoku Nwansi were at the Okatankwo Brigde Akabo, the stream between Mbaitolu and Ikeduru to receive and pray for Senator Achonu and his deputy.
Describing the event as historic and significant, Dr. David Mbamara who was also at the Okatankwo Brigde to recieve the entourage, said: “What we are doing today is significant. It’s like an airport reception for a distinguished and cherished head of state. It’s the highest honour to be paid to any visitor, coming to our local government.”
Also, the campaign train visited His Royal Highness, Eze Dr. Oliver Njoku, Abazuma 2 of Abazu Autonomous Community, for his blessings. At the palace the king received and prayed for the candidate and his deputy and wished them well in their plan to take back Imo.
The Labour Party flag bearer also met with the Ezuruezu Mbaise, the apex socio-cultural group of the Mbaise nation where he was given a rousing welcome as was the case in all the places his campaign train stopped.
The Ezuruezu Mbaise prayed for him and his deputy, Hon. Tony Nwulu, who happens to be an Mbaise son, and presented the incoming state helmsmen with the Mbaise Charter of Demand.
A major highlight of this weekend’s rallies was the presence of maverick Charles Oputa, aka Charly Boy.
The Area Fada, as he is also known, stormed the city with his men in their motorcade of power bikes to showcase their unalloyed support for Achonu.
As the huge bikes roared and reverberated across the state, it became obvious to all that Agu Otu Aka, as the Labour Party candidate is known, would surely roar into Douglas House after the November poll and take over the reins of governance from the already frightened occupants.
No wonder then Achonu sent a message to the APC government to start packing their loads and prepare its handover notes for him.
On Samuel Anyanwu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Achonu said: “Senator Sam Anyanwu is my friend. I have advised him to step down for me because Ndi Imo need someone who will create wealth for them and not someone who will steal their wealth.
You have elected him in various political positions, starting from local government chairman to the Senate, yet he could not, at least, construct his community road.”
Several eminent personalities attended the campaigns, including Achonu’s wife, Lolo Aisha Chiamaka Achonu; his running mate, Hon. Tony Nwulu; Dr. David Mbamara, a former governorship aspirant, who contested with Achonu and leader of the party in Ikeduru LGA; Hon. Tochukwu Okere, Member Representing Owerri Federal Constituency in the National Assembly and Chairman of the LP State Campaign Council; Barr. Callistus Ihejiagwa, LP State Chairman; Hon. Jeff Ojinika, Secretary, LP State Campaign Council and Sir George Irechukwu, a member of the Campaign Council, etc.
They all had great things to say about the Labour Party candidate.
Mbamara told the crowd that he was one of the contestants who participated in the primaries. He confirmed that Achonu won in a free and fair election, which is why he is supporting him. He also said Athan has capacity and vision to lead the people hence his support to him.
To cap it all, Achonu declared: “I will restore the lost glory of Imo State. The glory that people of my time enjoyed, which they have denied our youths today.
“No one will steal your votes. They cannot be allowed to write results. Make sure you come out en masse to vote for me. Your votes will be counted and they must count,” he assured.
Surely, to ‘Take Back Imo’ is ‘Athanable’!
