Arochukwu youths back Ohuabunwa, adopts him as consensus candidate

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia 

Home support for Senator Mao Ohuabunwa has grown tremendously following his adoption as consensus candidate by the entire youths in his Arochukwu Local Government Area, thereby boosting his chances of electoral victory in the Abia North Senatorial contest.

Mao, as he popularly called, is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Abia North Senatorial district. He was first elected into the senate in 2015, after an eight-year stint in the House of Representatives. His return bid in 2019 was thwarted by incumbent Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who is also running to grab a second term.

While adopting Mao as their consensus candidate for the February 25 Abia North senatorial election, the youths said that the former Leader of ECOWAS Parliament stands out among all candidates contesting for the seat, describing him as “a seasoned Parliamentarian with experience.”

The youths who trooped out in their numbers from all communities in Arochukwu local government, in order to achieve their goal, resolved to put their individual political differences behind and support one of their own. 

”We cannot let this golden opportunity slip off our hands. Blood is thicker than water; let’s support our own who stands out among others,” they declared.

The youths who regretted that Abia North had almost become voiceless in the Senate since Ohuabunwa’s exit in 2019, vowed to stop at nothing in ensuring his return to the red chamber during the forthcoming poll.

In his address at a grand reception held at Aro Civil Centre, specially organized for Mao’s adoption who was the South East Caucus Leader while at the House of Representatives, the Director-General of All Arochukwu LGA Youths Forum, Hon. Godwin Nwaka, said that Ohuabunwa’s return to the Senate had become a common project of all Arochukwu youths, home and abroad.

He said that the history of Ndigbo would not be complete without the historic role of the Aro kingdom, hence, “we will not let our presence in Nigeria politics to go into extinction.”

The Youth Leader recalled the vocal and quality contributions of Ohuabunwa while at the National Assembly, and how Abia North had been relegated to the background “since the mistake of 2019,” and urged the people to rise for a change.

He declared the resolve of Aro youths to mobilize all eligible voters in the entire five clans of Arochukwu for an unprecedented bloc vote for Ohuabunwa, adding that never was Aro people united behind their own in any elections than now.

In his remark on behalf of Ututu clan, the immediate-past Deputy Chairman of Arochukwu LGA, Hon. Cletus Nwankwo, said Sen. Ohuabunwa did not need to campaign at Ututu as the people had decided to give him their bloc votes.

He regretted that since Ohuabunwa’s exit from the red chamber, Abia North has become voiceless and a laughing stock.

Similarly, Chief Tony Okoro who spoke for Isu clan, said the mistake of 2019 would be corrected in the forthcoming election to restore the dignity of Abia North.

Other speakers, including Dr Thom Ezeikpe for Ihechiowa, declared that Abia North would no longer be represented at the upper legislative chamber by an amateur and a ‘Ruga promoter.’

Ezeikpe regretted that “Arochukwu is now being accessed through Akwa Ibom because the incumbent Senator who succeeded Ohuabunwa “abandoned the Ohafia -Arochukwu federal road project attracted by Ohuabunwa.”

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the event and a prominent son of Arochukwu, Eustace Njaka, a lawyer and an industrialist, described Ohuabunwa as a quintessential and visionary Parliamentarian who does not need any campaign in Arochukwu LGA.

Njaka stressed the need for aggressive voter education for the less informed folks on the party logos to avoid wasting their ballots.

The Lagos-based industrialist and philanthropist, vowed to personally sponsor the sensitisation of the 1, 200 voters in his polling unit for a bloc vote for Ohuabunwa.

He also promised the block vote of the beneficiaries of his foundation who were also at the event in their numbers to appreciate Ohuabunwa for his continued monthly support to them.

Responding, a highly elated Senator Ohuabunwa thanked the youths for their unprecedented support for him, saying he had been greatly encouraged.

He promised not to discriminate against any Community both in Arochukwu and the entire Abia North if he returns to the Senate.

The former Senate Committee Chairman on Primary Health and Communicable Diseases, said that National Assembly members who voted against electronic transmission of election results should not be rewarded with a return ticket to NASS, describing them as the real enemies of Nigeria’s democracy. 

He promised to restore the dignity and voice of Abia North if voted into power, adding that he would leverage on his legislative edge and national contacts  to end insecurity in Abia North.

Ohuabunwa lamented that those who were elected to speak for Abia North abandoned the people to their fate at the height of insecurity in the zone, but promised to change the narrative if given the opportunity to return to the red chamber.

He urged the people to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), to enable them to exercise their franchise in the forthcoming polls.

Senator Ohuabunwa also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the commission’s avowed commitments towards conducting a credible poll in 2023.

He expressed optimism that the forthcoming elections would be transparent, and commended INEC for the introduction of Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine for a credible poll.

In his remarks, a former PDP presidential aspirant and elder brother to the Senator, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, thanked Aro youths and people for their swelling support for his brother, assuring them that they will not lose their rewards.

He noted that ”Mao had distinguished himself in legislative business,” and solicited the support of the entire Abia North people to enable him return to the Senate for more quality representation.