In a most colourful and organised outing, quality women from the 17 local government areas of Enugu State under the umbrella of ‘Uzodinma PDP Women Movement’ recently wholeheartedly declared their unalloyed support for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s bid to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly in 2023, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The women support group, led by the Founder/President, Dr. Mrs. Dorothy Nwodo, also declared its support for the PDP governorship candidate in Enugu State, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, his running mate, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai and all other candidates of the PDP for the 2023 general election.
Speaking when the jubilant women paid a solidarity visit to Gov. Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, Dr. Mrs. Nwodo, who is the wife of the former Governor of Old Enugu State and ex-National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, told the governor that “we are beneficiaries of this administration’s achievements in education, healthcare and infrastructure and will work to see that these achievements are sustained and advanced.”
Dr. Mrs. Nwodo, who described Gov. Ugwuanyi as “our amiable, peaceful and visionary leader,” added that the governor has shown by his words and actions that “Enugu State is at the centre of inclusivity, diversity and good governance in Nigeria.”
She commended the governor for empowering and elevating women of Enugu State to well-deserved and respected positions, stating that “at the forefront of this, is our venerable Deputy Governor, Her Excellency, Cecilia Ezeilo, along with the former Chief Judge of Enugu State and the Deputy Majority Leader, Enugu State House of Assembly, who have done the state proud and are testaments to the leadership quality of our governor.”
In the area of infrastructure, Dr. Mrs. Nwodo said the women are proud of Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration that “over 700km of roads across the state, mostly in the rural areas, were constructed and rehabilitated.”
She added that the present administration in Enugu State constructed the first flyover bridge by the state government located at T-junction, Nike Lake Road, Enugu, “rehabilitated and remodelled the ancient, historic and undulating 11km Milliken Hill-Ngwo-9th Mile Road and constructed the 12km Opi-Nsukka dual carriageway up to University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) gate. Just to mention a few.”
Applauding Gov. Ugwuanyi for constructing ultra-modern 5,000-seat capacity Township Stadium, Nsukka, 7 units of Type 3 Primary Health Care Centres in 7 LGAs of the state which have drastically reduced maternal and child mortality in the state, among other remarkable projects, the Founder of Uzodinma PDP Women Movement, lauded the governor in a special way for the establishment of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), Igbo-Eno, Enugu State and the Federal Polytechnic, Ohodo, Igbo-Etiti LGA, which he attracted.
She went further to applaud the governor for approving “the establishment of two World Bank projects, namely IFAD and APPEALS programme for women and youths’ agricultural empowerment,” pointing out that Gov Ugwuanyi pays the state’s counterpart fund regularly.
Reiterating maximum support for the PDP, Gov. Ugwuanyi’s senatorial bid, that of Barr. Mbah, Barr. Ossai and other candidates of the party, Dr. Mrs. Nwodo stressed: “We are confident that with the known track record of the governorship flag-bearer, continuity, progress and prosperity as already set by you (Ugwuanyi) are/is assured and guaranteed.
“To this end, we have put in place structures and mobilisation strategies across the 17 local government areas to deliver victory to our great party, the PDP.
“We will be focusing our work at the grassroots level by sensitising and mobilising voters using the CBOs, local market days, churches, households and booth canvassers. We will also enhance visibility of our party through social media, SMS, jingles, billboards, fliers and free medical outreaches.
“We hereby reiterate our resolve to offer ourselves to work alongside the PDP statutory structure in the state to ensure our party’s total victory at the polls.”
In their supporting speeches, the wife of the Chairman of Igbo-Etiti LGA, Mrs. Ogechukwu Nwodo, the zonal presidents of Uzodinma PDP Women Movement in Enugu North, Enugu East and Enugu West senatorial districts, Lady Julie Enwe, Barr. Mrs. May Offiah and Mrs. Ego Ajah respectively, the President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Women Wing, Enugu State Chapter, Prof. Mrs. Dorothy Akubuilo, the President, Catholic Women Organization (CWO), Igbo-Etiti LGA, Dr. Mrs. Nkiru Okoloagu, and the President, friends of Uzodinma PDP Women Movement from other states, Lady Uduak Eboh, all commended Gov. Ugwuanyi’s achievements and exemplary leadership qualities and reassured him of the group’s unflinching support for the PDP and its candidates in the forthcoming elections, stressing that it is PDP all the way.
Speaking, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, thanked members of the Uzodinma PDP Women Movement for their show of solidarity and unanimous decision to rally round Gov. Ugwuanyi and support his senatorial bid in 2023, and that of the PDP governorship candidate, Barr. Mbah, his running mate, Barr. Ossai and other PDP candidates.
On his part, Gov. Ugwuanyi also expressed gratitude to the women for their kind words, solidarity and support and for accepting to stand behind the PDP and himself as a senatorial candidate and the leader of the party in the Southeast geo-political zone.
The governor appreciated Dr. Mrs. Nwodo for volunteering to champion the noble course of the group, describing her as “a game changer”.
He expressed delight at the preparedness of members of the group to deliver on their mandate and urged them to remain steadfast and prayerful so that his administration will finish well, finish strong and “it will end in praise.”
Also at the Government House, Enugu to appreciate Gov. Ugwuanyi for his good works in the state and equally declare their support for his senatorial bid and that of other candidates of the PDP including Barr. Mbah and Barr. Ossai were youths from the governor’s community under the auspices of Ohom Orba Youth Congress led by the President, Festus Eze.
The speakers, Festus Eze, Uchechukwu Eze, Onyebuchi Ugwu and Onyiye Eneje, hailed Gov. Ugwuanyi for his administration’s numerous developmental projects in their community, Udenu LGA, Enugu North Senatorial District and Enugu State, saying that they are very proud of their illustrious son (Ugwuanyi) and will mobilise the electorate to support his senatorial bid, that of the PDP governorship candidate, Barr. Mbah, his running mate, Barr. Ossai and other PDP candidates in the coming elections.
