By Praise Chinecherem
A chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) Valentine Ozigbo, has restated the party’s preparedness to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State.
Ozigbo stated this at Central School Ogbaru on Sunday in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state during the thanksgiving outing of the member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Chief Victor Afam Ogene.
Ozigbo, candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2021 governorship election in the state, and who is rumoured to be interested in that of 2025 poll on the platform of LP tasked the people of the state to prepare for the exercise in the state.
He praised Ogene’s outstanding performances within the few months he has held sway, saying party faithful were proud of him and other legislatures.
He said, “Afam Ogene is doing well in the National Assembly. We are proud of our (LP) lawmakers.
“2025 is around the corner when LP wlll take over Anambra State. Go and prepare for the governorship election.”
Also speaking, member representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on the LP platform, Prof Sunday Nnamchi hailed Ogbaru people for giving Ogene the mandate to represent them.
Nnamchi who represented the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Abbas Tujudeen, in the Ogene’s thanksgiving ceremony, described Ogene as best 11.
He said,” “Ogene is our caucus leader; he is experienced and also a capable hand. His capacity is enough to lead us to
eldorado.
“Labour is in the opposition but as you will also understand our number is limited. We build bridges and also break oasis. That’s our party. Our constituencies are happy with us. Labour is a movement of the people, not party per se.”
Speaking on the future of the LP in Nigerian politics, Nnamchi said, “The future of LP has no dent at all. We started from nothing and we are somewhere. Now that we have a platform for large support, the sky is not even our limit.”
On the crisis rocking LP, Nnamchi, said, “We are supportive of the national executive. Apart of being supportive, we feel all those are part of party politics- you always see some gimmicks from here and there,may be within or outside the party.”
Ogene who spoke with reporters after the ceremony said he felt fulfilled coming back to the same people that gave him support twice during the last general elections.
“As you’ll recall, one year ago, there were general elections in Nigeria and we won but some shenanigans decided to cause a rerun in several units, some of which were actually done on 25th of February,2023. But to the glory of God, we still won on April 15.
“Still not satisfied, they took to the judiciary, which is their right anyway, but after those processes, the tribunal and the Appeal Courts, we still came up successful. So, it’s only right to come back, first of all thank God and thank the people,” he said.
On some interventions he recently carried out on some roads in the area, Ogene said, “I’m one of those who don’t believe in state or federal roads. It’s your people that traverse the roads.
“Even this Onitsha/ Atani/Ekwusigo road,a lot of people going down to the East- Imo, South South of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, they pass through this road. So, if the road is unpassable it affects the people who live in Ogbaru and the people who pass through Ogbaru.
“Whatever we can do to make sure the road, at least is passable before the state and federal Government interventions, we’ll always do that.
“So that was why we did that (intervention). We are doing several other interventions. The last one was free JAMB and WAEC for some students and we are also starting a scholarship scheme with 20 university undergraduates and it’s not a one-off thing. We will pay their tuition until they graduate and as the year goes on, we keep multiplying.”
On the hope he had renewed on the Ogwuikpele/Osamala road project, Ogene said,” We have taken some legislative steps by raising it as a motion and then the Federal Ministry of Works and Budget were mandated.
“But you know that the budget process takes almost a year. At the time that motion came, the budget for 2024 was almost at hand. But with the time we have now, before next year’s budget, I’m sure it will get better funding.
Various speakers showered encomiums on leader of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi who was absent in the function graced by Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District, Dr Tony Nwoye.
