Let’s take back Imo from APC misrule -Achonu, Labour Party candidate
Written By Anthony Iwuoma
Posted By Town Crier News Nigeria
Published By Fitness Network Communications
The Labour Party candidate for the Imo State gubernatorial election, Senator Athan Nneji Achonu was in Lagos at the weekend to see Imo indigenes resident in the city and sought their collaboration to rescue the state in the November election.
The gathering, which was organised by the Concerned Imo Influencers, brought together several Imo men and women from all walks of life, who thronged the Eko Club venue of the event in Surulere.
The frontline contender for the coveted office of Imo governor spoke candidly to the people, leaving them awed by his awesome dreams for the beleaguered state.
Declaring himself a candidate of all the parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Achonu urged Imo people to join the movement to take back Imo from inept administrators that have run the state aground, by returning home en masse to vote in the November election.
He gave insight into the many goodies he has in stock for the state among which is his pledge to conduct a free and fair local government election within six months of his election but also warned that whoever was caught stealing under his watch would be jailed.
Furthermore, he said he would declare a state of emergency in the power sector such that within one to two years of his administration, Imo would enjoy a steady power supply.
Additionally, Achonu said he would turn Imo Airport into a cargo hub in Africa.
He urged the people to seize the opportunity to bring change in Imo, adding that it was not his personal fight but that of all Imo people to kick out a government that has brought so much hardship and havoc upon the state.
He urged the people to endeavour to deliver their individual booths because “no one person can deliver a ward. Everybody will vote in one place; just make sure you deliver the booth and leave the rest to me and God to secure your votes. People should not say they are working for me. How could that be? Is Imo my father’s company? Is my father’s name Imo State? You are coming to work for yourself. Let us work together to deliver our state.”
Achonu deplored the carnage going on in the state, which has been overrun by the wanton destruction of life and property, and charged the people to avail themselves of the opportunity presented by the forthcoming election to turn around the fortunes of the state and restore its glory.
He noted: “Imo was very peaceful and progressive before the advent of the APC government. The people must not allow the APC to continue its ruinous missteps in the state for another four years. It is also not fair for Orlu Zone to occupy the governorship of Imo State for 24 years, excluding the other two zones. He added, however, that where the governor comes from did not really matter as long as he meets the aspirations of the people, which has not been the case.
Achonu, who is the proponent of the Aku Ruo Ulo investment philosophy vowed to put in place adequate measures to reverse the scorching anarchy and lawlessness into which the state has descended so that people would feel free to invest.
Leading by example, Achonu has a multi-billion naira investment in the Imo State, including a first-class thriving agro-industry in his village.
He also revealed at the gathering that he has set up a state-of-the-art recording studio in his village to encourage musical artists.
Many eminent Imo indigenes turned out in their numbers to listen to Achonu, including the National Vice Chairman of the Labour Party, South-east, Chief Innocent Okeke, who dismissed the rumours that a court in Bayelsa or Imo State had ordered the replacement of Achonu as the party’s candidate in the Imo poll. According to him, there was no truth to the rumour because Achonu was never a part of the suit and could not have been replaced in a matter between Maduka and Ukaegbu, which did not concern him.
On the issue of Ike Ibe, he said the man should be disregarded, as he also participated in the primaries that produced Achonu and lost, only to run to aggrieved expelled members of the party to cause mischief.
Also present, among many others, was the Elegant Stallion, Ada Mazi, Onyeka Onwenu, whose ‘Ka-Anyi-Dozie-Imo State’ resonated well with the crowd.
