From Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
Following the recently concluded council elections in Ebonyi State, the Chairman-elect of Abakaliki Local Government Area, Hon Stephen Ebere Nwogba has fulfilled his pledge of rewarding the three best performing wards with cash gifts.
_1.jpg)
Hon. Stephen Ebere Nwogba.
He also appreciated the council stakeholders and other wards with cash gifts getting to the tune of 1.5 million Naira in fulfilment of his promise while soliciting their votes during the just concluded local government polls in the state
The Timber Shade Ward 14 in the council area, which scored 11,063 votes came in the first position and was given N500, 000, as its award prize by the Chairman-elect.
Anmegu Enyigba Ward 4 polled 6,626 votes to emerge the second runner and got N200,000 while Abakpa Ward 1 scored 6,205 votes to win the third position and smiled home with N100,000 as their respective award prizes by Hon Nwogba.
The remaining eleven out of the fourteen wards in the Abakaliki local government area, with the stakeholders and other supporters, were also the beneficiaries of the Chairman-elect's magnanimous gesture financially.
Speaking during the event held at Nkaliki, the Abakaliki Council Headquarters, Nwogba commended the effort of the local government stakeholders and the entire residents of the area, for their massive support and solidarity which led to his victory at the polls.
He commended the state governor, Engr David Umahi for having allowed democracy to play in a gallery in the Ebonyi hinterlands, by ensuring all political parties and residents of the state participated and elected their grassroots leaders through the free, fair and credible election.
He said that the distribution of the award prizes was in the fulfilment of his campaign promises, noting that the council people especially the stakeholders showed him a high sense of love and patriotism making him poll overwhelming votes despite the damping weather on the election day.
Hon Nwogba said, he was filled up with awe, while watching some clips, showcasing the crowd that came to vote during the election in various polling units in his council area.
He said the election had shown that Abakaliki council people would make a more robust outing in the 2023 polls in considering their votes during the council polls, even as it was in the rainy season, the time not kidded by his people, as farmers.
The Chairman-elect described his people's support and solidarity as a pleasant one and promised to carry everybody along in his administration.
He assured that every difficult situation would be resolved and progressive areas to attain a better result.
Hon Nwogba also applauded the sitting Chairman of the council area, Hon. Emmanuel Nwangele, said that he had made incredible impacts since his quest to be his successor commenced.
He promised to uphold their relationship while commending the council stakeholders for their unwavering support and prayers.
He further hailed the State Governor Engr. David Umahi for giving a distinguished son of the Izhi clan, Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru the opportunity to succeed him in 2023, urging the council people to widen their gaps, by bringing the members of the opposition parties to join forces with them.
He encouraged his council people to
desist from condemning anyone on social media but rather be a peace advocate at all times.
The Chairman-elect was reacting against the speculations on social media that Izzi people are plotting to ostracize some group of persons in their land and seized their properties when they produce the Governor of Ebonyi State.
He, therefore, dismissed the aspersion, saying the Izhi nation is known for the spirit of accommodation and sportsmanship, as in his words, the social assertions were the handiwork of those seeking cheap popularity and, however, advised such persons to desist from it to avoid attracting the wrath of God.
On his part, the incumbent Chairman of Abakaliki LGA, Hon. Emmanuel Nwangele expressed gratitude to God for the peaceful conduct of the election in all every part of the council.
Hon Nwangele called on the stakeholders to throw their weight behind the Chairman-elect and their various ward councillors to move the council forward.
Also speaking, the former Chairman of the local government area, Dr Matthew Nwobasi urged the chairman-elect to strive to carry everybody along while piloting the affairs of the council.
The Special Assistant to the State Governor on Road Maintenance and the National President of Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum, Comrade Ben Nwovu thanked the chairman-elect for fulfilling his campaign promise by giving awards to the best performing wards during the council polls and urged him to sustain the tempo.
The Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Ebonyi State, Dr Peter Mbam, expressed gladness for the peaceful outcome of the election in the area, and equally called for the sustenance of the existing relationship between the stakeholders and the outgoing chairman, with the incoming administration in the council.
In their goodwill messages, the Abakaliki LG APC Chairman, Hon. Paulinus Attam, the former Special Assistant to the Governor on Market Development, Hon. Peter Nwogba, the retired Permanent Secretary, Mrs Virginia Oketa, Hon Obinna Nwiboko, among other stakeholders congratulated the Chairman-elect and solicited total support for his administration when sworn in, to move the council forward.
