As the 2019 general election draws nearer, prominent members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the South East have been mobilizing support at the grassroots for the second term bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the Secretary, Abia State APC, Perfect Okorie, the APC-led government, despite propaganda being sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party, has demonstrated a genuine commitment to the development of the South East in view of the number of projects being executed in the region.
Speaking in Alayi on Monday at a mega rally organised by the youth wing of the party in the state, Okorie assured the people of the South East of the President’s desire to zone the position of the Senate president to the region in 2019.
His words: “The people of Abia State have been suffering in the past few years due to bad governance championed by the PDP-led state government.
“The time is now to redefine governance by bringing on board innovations and bold ideas that will translate into all-round development of the state.
“We are tired of lies, falsehood and selfishness.
“Abians deserve a new breath come 2019.
“The ideals of the APC are anchored on probity, transparency and accountability.
“The falsehood being disseminated by selfish politicians in the South East that President Muhammadu Buhari does not like Ndigbo is unpatriotic.
“The 69 ongoing projects across the five states in the South East are testamentary to the determination of the Federal Government to uplift the South East to enviable heights.
“The President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has rehabilitated and constructed more roads and bridges in the region than any previous government.
“These projects include the rehabilitation of the existing Niger Bridge as well as the construction of the 2nd Niger bridge.
“In Abia State, the Federal Government projects include the rehabilitation of Nkporo-Abariba-Ohafia Road, renovation of Umuahia-Bende-Ohafia Road, upgrading of Bende-Afam-Ohafia-Arochukwu Road (Section 1 and 11), construction of Ahiakwu-Amangwo-Umuahia-Ngwa Road, emergency repairs of failed sections in Umuahia-Ariam-Ikot Ekpene Road, rehabilitation and reconstruction of Enugu-Porth Harcourt Dual Carriageway (Sections 1 and 11), construction of Olokoro-Isiala-Oboro-Nnono junction road among many others.
“To the glory of God, these projects couldn’t have been possible without the support and intervention of prominent chieftains of the party in the state, including former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Kalu, who continually engages Mr. President on the need to execute more projects in the region.
“The APC echelon, both at the federal and state levels, deserves commendation for recording more achievements in the South East than previous administrations.
“Come 2023, President Muhammadu Buhari will pass the baton of leadership to a Nigerian of Igbo extraction.”
Okorie, who lambasted the representative of Abia North Senatorial District, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, for making false claims on projects being executed by the Federal Government in the district, urged the lawmaker to salute the patriotic efforts of notable APC figures in the state for their unrelenting efforts in fixing the roads in Arochukwu (Ohuabunwa’s homestead).
He further said: “It is a pity that Senator Ohuabunwa, who has distributed only frying pans and buckets to his constituents, could be seeking re-election.
“If not for the timely intervention of the Federal Government through the Niger Delta Development Commission, facilitated by Dr. Orji Kalu and other top chieftains of the party, Senator Ohuabunwa wouldn’t have had access road to his country home.
“It is high time PDP legislators in the National Assembly stopped taking credit for projects facilitated by APC members.”
The APC scribe applauded Buhari for his significant achievements across the country, adding that the President’s sincerity has continually endeared him to the people.
Okorie, while urging the electorate to be wary of hate campaign being spearheaded by failed politicians in the PDP, called on Abians to vote en-masse for the APC in the forthcoming general elections.
He equally admonished the Independent National Election Commission, civil societies, security agencies and other stakeholders to live up to expectation before, during and after the 2019 polls.