By Ikechukwu Ezema
The Concerned Indigenes of Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area have commended the choice of Barr. Ugochukwu Ferdinand Ukwueze of Umulolo Ovoko Ward in Ekete Development Center of Igbo-Eze South East Zone of the LGA as the chairmanship standard-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming local government election.
The group also commended the choice of Dame Princess Chinwendu Omeje Ogbonna who hails from Ibagwa Aka in Igbo-Eze South West Central Development Center of Igbo-Eze South West Zone by birth but married to Uhunowere in Igbo-Eze South East Central Development Center in Igbo-Eze South East Zone of Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area as vice chairman.
In a statement respectively signed by the group’s Chairman, Hon. Ifeanyi Ogbu; Secretary, Mr. Sam Ejiofor Ugwoke, and Madam Ezeja Chizoba, Women’s Coordinator, they described Barr Ukwueze and Dame Omeje Ogbonna as an August gift to the good people of the local government.
The group expressed their appreciation to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party across the state and Governor Peter Mbah for placing equity and justice in addressing the equation of the political structure of the council area.
While noting that an injury to one is an injury to all, they said that justice truly demands that Igbo-Eze South East Zone be given the chairmanship position of Igbo-Eze South LGA considering that Igbo-Eze South West is highly saturated with political positions like the Senate seat, State House of Assembly seat, State Commissioner seat, member ESUT Governing Council, Patron 2, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council; Chairman Igbo-Eze South Traditional Rulers Council, Vice Chairman Igbo-Eze South Traditional Rulers Council and
Secretary Igbo-Eze South Traditional Rulers Council.
The concerned indigenes, who maintained that their core objective was to advocate equity, justice and fairness in the affairs of the Igbo-Eze South LGA,
said that the ceding of the Chairmanship candidate of the PDP was a testament of appreciating the importance of equity, justice and fairness in the affairs of man.
They recalled that the immediate past Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, balanced the same equation of the political structure of Igbo-Eze South LGA with the ceding of the Chairmanship/Vice Chairmanship ticket of the PDP to Igbo-Eze South West Zone under Peter Andy Omeje/Ejike Amedu, when Igbo-Eze South East Zone was saturated with political positions like the Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency Seat, Enugu State House of Assembly Seat, Permanent Secretary Seat among other political appointments too numerous to list here for the sake of time.
While maintaining that history had just repeated itself in this political dispensation, the concerned indigenes cautioned those fanning the embers of division in Igbo-Eze South LGA to desist from such and toe the part of peace to enhance the progress and growth of the council area.
They also urged the people of Igbo-Eze South LGA to liken the candidature of Dame Princess Lolo Chinwendu Omeje Ogbonna to that of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who was appointed Minister of Finance and Economy by President Goodluck Jonathan via the South-South slot while she is married to Abia State.
They explained that women are special breeds created by God to either represent their parents’ zone or husbands’ zone when duty of service calls upon them. Dame Princess Lolo Chinwendu Omeje Ogbonna who is a worthy daughter of the late Igwe Jonathan Omeje of Ibagwa Aka is in this situation representing both her parents’ zone/quarter and that of her husband, and there’s nothing to worry about on this matter, they said.
“In the administration of Barr. Sullivan Chime, Dame Ifeoma Nwobodo is by origin from Udi but married to Nkanu East and she was appointed Chief of Staff on both grounds. There are too many other similar circumstances of this scenario that cannot be listed here for the sake of time factor.
“Barr. Ugochukwu Ferdinand Ukwueze, the PDP candidate for the Igbo-Eze South chairmanship election, is a Prince from Umulolo Ovoko Kingdom in Ekete Development Center which falls within the Igbo-Eze South East Zone of the Local Government Area,” the group added.
The concerned indigenes described him as a perfect gentleman and one whose regime will ride on the vehicle of inclusive governance as against segregation.
They assured that with the nature of the experience garnered by Barr. Ukwueze, he has the capacity to woo more fans for the governor of Enugu State from across all the political divides of the local government.
Barr. Ugochukwu Ferdinand Ukwueze has the humility to persuade aggrieved members of the PDP to return to the party and create an enabling environment for the success of the administration of Gov Peter Mbah, said the group.
While noting that political supports are earned on the wheels of persuasion and good governance, as against force, segregation and marginalization, they maintained that Barr Ukwueze would be a unifier of interests for the good of the local government in general and the entire state.
They listed some of the positions Barr. Ukwueze has occupied to include the immediate past Chairman of NBA Nsukka Branch, the immediate past Coordinating Chairman of the Barr in Enugu State, an active member of the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Bar Association, and former S.A to the governor.
Besides thriving in his legal practice, he is a real estate investor, agro-farmer and an employer of labour through his flourishing schools situated both in the state capital and Nsukka municipal,it was learnt.
Ukwueze is a consummate party man whose various contributions to the party during the past election are common knowledge, said the group, adding that he funded and co-funded many PDP campaign platforms during the past general elections, including empowerment of 1,000 less privileged widows and orphans with cash, car, tricycle and bags of rice branded with the governor’s picture.
He hosted a campaign rally and dinner in honor of the governor inside the UNN community where His Excellency was represented by the current Chief of Staff, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and HRH, Igwe Okeke Arum, the group observed.
The PDP chairmanship candidate for the forthcoming local government election also co-funded the famous “A date With Peter Mbah” youth based rally held in the IMT Campus, Enugu, according to the group.
