By CYPRIAN AJAH
THE 19-month performance of the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, has attracted a loud ovation from the people of Ihiala Local Government Area who turned up in their numbers at the weekend to receive the governor during his Thank You Tour.
Speaking through the Chairman of the Local Government, Mr. CY Obi, the people lauded Obiano for achieving in 19 months what other others could not achieve in 8 years.
“Akpokuedike has done a lot of work in Anambra State. The governor has put a stop to crime and criminality; scattered the den of kidnappers in the state and restored the confidence of the people in the ability of the government to protect the citizens,” observed Mr. Obi.
According to him, Governor Obiano has shown that he is a people-oriented governor that pays attention to the cries of the masses. “He is the only governor that pays salaries to workers promptly. He has changed the educational sector and set up a great mass transit system. Governor Obiano has changed the face of Awka, our state capital and flagged off many roads within a short period of time. The people of Ihiala are ready to return him to his post in 2018,” the Council Chairman declared.
In their separate remarks, the national and state chairmen of the APGA, Chief Victor Oye and Sir Nobert Obi commended the people of Ihiala for their unflinching support to the Obiano administration as was reflected in their large turnout at the occasion.
Chief Oye assured the people that the APGA model of governance was the best thing to ever happen to Anambra State, predicting that Anambra would become the most developed state in Nigeria by the end of the tenure of Obiano. He described the love of the people of Ihiala for Governor Obiano as overwhelming and thanked them for standing behind the governor and APGA during the last National and House of Assembly elections in the country. He urged the people to sustain their support for the governor as he would do more to develop the state beyond their imagination.
In his own words, the State Chairman of the party, Sir Nobert Obi, praised Ihiala people for their commitment to the party, thanking them for keeping their assurances to vote for APGA candidates in the last election.
Also speaking, Governor Obiano explained that he was in Ihiala with the party leaders to thank the people for voting party candidates that ran for positions in the last elections.
According to him, the tour of Ihiala was in keeping with his campaign promise of coming back to say a proper “thank you” to the people after the elections.
The wife of the governor, Mrs. Ebele Obiano, in her remark stated that the governor had done so much in 19 months and would not relent in his quest for accelerated development of the state. She added that through her NGO, the Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFE), she has been supportive of her husbands efforts in repositioning the state. She explained that CAFE has been empowering women and the less privileged in the state.
Mrs. Obiano further advised the women to identify with CAFE and be trained. She urged the people of Ihiala to keep supporting the administration of Governor Obiano as it was poised to transform Anambra State.
Assuring the governor of the continued support of the people of Ihiala, the member representing Ihiala in the State Assembly, Hon. Chidi Udemmadu, pledged the loyalty of the party stalwarts in Ihiala to the governor, commending the governor for living up to expectations of the people.
The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of souvenirs to the governor and his wife by various groups.