The Brethren of Interfaith And Inter-Community Development Initiative has pledged its support to the PDP Governorship candidate and his deputy in Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah and Mr Ifeanyi Ossai, respectively for 2023 general election.
The group, an interfaith and inter-community alliance popularly known as ‘Brethren of the Rock’, noted that their choice of Mbah and Ossai was informed by avowed commitment of the duo to ensure peaceful co-existence and security thrived in the state.
Director-General of the group, Barr Onuora Okeke, disclosed this in a press conference held recently in Enugu after the group held a meeting to announce its statewide ‘Collect Your Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) Campaign’.
According to Okeke, our choice to canvass for vote from our members and use our PVCs to vote for Mbah and Ossai was based on evaluated records and demonstrations of competency, achievement and assessed commitments to human capital development.
“The duo also have friendly dispositions, displayed genuine intentions for social development, humility and inclusiveness and assuredly demonstration of transparency, accountability and good governance including protection of indigenes and non-indigenes even religious tolerance.
“In our resolve to vote for them and others, we shall not relent in making relevant inputs, both human and material, as part of the participation and contribution in the advancement of better Enugu State and indeed Nigeria,” he said.
Okeke also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his assurance for free and fair election, while appreciating the efforts of INEC to conduct credible elections in 2023.
“We note with strong commendations to INEC, the recently conducted of Ekiti and Osun States elections, wherein the choice of the electorates was adjudged to have prevailed through the ballot box.
“We, therefore, urge our members to get their PVCs to exercise their franchise in any part of the country where they are as their votes will surely count.
“We implore INEC to give adequate sensitisation and access to anyone who registered to collect their PVCs to enable such person to exercise his or her franchise,” he said.
The director-general said that Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi through his deliberate policies had made Enugu State a home for all and a safe haven for all inhabitants both indigenes and non-indigenes alike.
“Our group members being strong beneficiaries of these deliberate policies by the governor have resolved through a collective decision upon consultation of our community leaders to support his administration and interest to the latter,” he said.
He said that the group was also advocating for Nigerians to be concerned and committed to peaceful co-existence, religious tolerance, community development, good governance and performance of civic responsibilities.
He added: “This 2023 general election is another task for us to choose competent and credible leaders to advance our development, peace and unity.
“Bad leaders breed corruption and crises. Let us get our PVCs to participate actively to determine our future as we crave for better Nigeria where discrimination shall be eliminated.”
Other leaders of the group, which included: Bishop Joseph Ajujungwa, Coordinator of the Christian Community in Enugu State; Mallam Yunusa Usman, Head of Missionary NASFAT, South-East and Alhaji Abdulazeez Adebayo, Leader of Yoruba Community in Enugu State, thanked the governor for promoting religious peace.
They extolled Gov. Ugwuanyi for being a listening and peaceful governor that respected and acknowledged all shades of religious groups and associations without bias to any in the state.
