ABIA: Arochukwu PDP Pass Vote of Confidence on Ikpeazu, Nkole

The People's Democratic Party(PDP ) Arochukwu LGA chapter and major stakeholders drawn from various clans around the LGA have expressed their satisfaction with the level of development being witnessed in Abia State under the Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu led administration and the quality of Representation from Hon. Uko Nkole who is the member representing Arochukwu/ Ohafia Federal Constituency at the National Assembly.

The position of this group whose membership is drawn from party leaders and Community leaders in Abam, Arochukwu, Ihechiowa, Isu and Ututu was made available to AFNEWS during their town hall meeting on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the Ozu Abam country home of Rt. Hon. Nkole where members of the group reiterated their solidarity with Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu and Hon. Uko Nkole and also state thier commitments towards repositioning the party in the LGA ahead next general election.

While Speaking at the event, the Arochukwu PDP LGA Chairman, Hon. Sunday Okemini thanked God for his divine healing upon Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and also thanked the State Executive boss for reappointing the Transition Committee Chairman, Arochukwu LGA and his Deputy, Mazi Emmanuel Jideofor Kanu and Hon. Onyema Ogbuagu, respectively describing them as "seasoned Administrators that has remained committed in Ikpeazu's vision in transforming the State."

He also Expressed his gratitude to the political leader in the LGA and the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency, Rt. Hon. Uko Nkole for his supports which contributed immensely to their emergence as LGA and ward Party Executives, the LGA party boss charged the stakeholders and other party faithfuls to support him in his frantic efforts to restructure the party in the LGA to ensure resounding victory for the party in 2023 general elections and beyond".

Hon. Okemini insisted that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the party remain formidable in the area, "and keep in her winning ways ahead of subsequent elections in the state " He expressed his delight over the massive turnout of the members of the party in the LGA at the crucial meeting, while restating his preparedness to work with all the members of the party in order to restore its lost glory.

Hon. Okemini used the medium to introduce his party Executives, as well as, the Ward executives to the Stakeholders who also restated their firm promise of unflinching support to the Okezie Ikpeazu PDP led administration in the State.

Okemini disclosed that his administration had extended hand of fellowship to aggrieved members whom he pointed out had lost during the elections, and also reached out to other stakeholders in the LGA who are willing to join hands to re-engineer the party."The efforts have yielded positive results as Many of them have agreed to join us", he said.

Also present at the meeting is the Transition Committee Chairman, Arochukwu LGA, Mazi Emmanuel Kanu, Dr. Okafo Okoroaffia, Associate Prof. Uwaoma Uche, Dr. Sunny Nwafor, Dr. Udo Orji Nnorom, Hon. Ejike Unah, Dr. Sonny Nwafor among others, The TC chairman thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and other leaders of the party for his reappointment as the TC Chairman of the LGA. He also expressed gratitude to Rt. Hon. Uko Nkole for his unrelenting efforts that ensured his reappointment and promised to always be in the vanguard of projecting the interest of the party beyond.

They urged the LGA Party Chairman to be transparent in the discharge of his duties, saying, "work harmoniously with all your members and stakeholders, and help to correct the mistakes of the past leadership of the party in the LGA who out of gross misconduct, greed and pride led the party to failure both in 2015 and 2019 general according to them "Together with peace and unity, we will reinvigorate the PDP in Arochukwu LGA. We want to assure Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and Rt. Hon. Uko Nkole of our maximum support to ensure for their optimal performance".

While responding , Rt. Hon. Uko Nkole expressed delight for the massive turnout of the members of the party in the LGA.He expressed his immense gratitude to God for His divine healing on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who
recovered from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic as confirmed by the latest NCDC test result.He also lauded the painstaking efforts of the state government and the front liners who have dedicated their lives in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, as he urged his constituents and Abians in general to often observe all stipulated precautionary measures outlined by the NCDC.

According to Hon. Uko Nkole ''now that the virus is at the community transmission stage, let's keep oberserving all the laid down rules by NCDC to curb the menace of COVID-19 pandemic which includes, regular hand washing with soap and alcoholic based sanitiser, wearing of facemask, avoid shaking of hands, covering of nose and mouth while sneezing and maintaining social distancing among others.He prayed to God to keep preserving the lives of Abians and the world at large and grant peaceful rest to all who has lost their lives during this era of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

Hon. Nkole thanked the convener of the meeting, Hon. Okemini and the various party leaders for deeming it fit to converge and deliberate on measures to move the party forward.According to him "since 2015, PDP has been loosing in elections in Arochukwu LGA especially the House of Assembly elections for Arochukwu State constituency but I assure you of our maximum support and we shall continue to meet periodically for it is time for us to unite, appreciate our own and keep supporting the political leaders in the State , Time has gone when failures and those who couldn't win in their polling units will continue to parade themselves as party leaders in the LGA, hence, I have instituted a reward system for anyone who wins in his or her polling units. Moving forward, PDP will emerge victorious in subsequent elections. We all are leaders, time for discrimination, gross misconduct, backsliding, nonperformance has gone and today will mark a new beginning and a dawn of fresh air for PDP in Arochukwu LGA".

The lawmaker outlined the 2020 EXPECTATIONS AS CAPTURED IN THE FG 2020 APPROPRIATION ACT FOR AROCHUKWU/OHAFIA FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY and called on the FG to keep releasing funds to the contractors to enable them move on a faster pace. The 2020 projects include;

1.) Provision of rural access roads in Arochukwu/Ohafia- 100m

2.) Provision of infrastructural materials, textbooks, furnishing and equipment in Arochukwu/Ohafia - 200m

3.) Provision of solar street lights- 8m

4.) Drainage Control and road improvement for Atani Amuzi road, in Arochukwu LGA- 4.7m

5.) Ongoing Rehabilitation of Bende-Ohafia-Arochukwu road section, C/NO: 6481- 669.7m

6.) Ongoing construction of Abiriba-Arochukwu-Ohafia federal road, C/NO: 6158- 142.8m

7.) Ongoing construction of Ohafia (Abia State)- Oso Edda (Ebonyi State) 20km road, C/NO: 6160- 223.25m

8.) Completion of Rural Electrification project and Power Enhancement for Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency- 10m

9.) Ongoing general maintenance of Umuahia-Bende-Ozu Abam-Ohafia federal road route NO: 421. (F107)- 172m

10.) Provision of Empowerment materials in Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal constituency- 80m

11.) Provision of sewing machine for women empowerment in Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal constituency 83m among others.

Nkole added that he is touched by the plights of the people about the deplorable state of MMURI BRIDGE, OHAFIA and stated that he is in touch with relevant Government Agencies and has gotten an approval for the construction of a brand new Mmuri bridge pending when the FG will release funds to the Contractors to commence work on the site.