The urban community in Ebonyi on Saturday, staged a 1 million man march to declare total support for Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi’s administration and his defection to All Progressive Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The march saw the urbanites chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards as they marched through the major streets of Abakaliki and environs to the delight of the watching public.
Hon. Charlse Akpuenika, state Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports and a Leader of the urban community said that the march was to appreciate the governor for his love and care to non-indigenes in the state.
The Anambra-born Commissioner said that the government’s policies have created an atmosphere of acceptability for all Nigerians residing in the state.
“The state governor has given non-indigenes opportunities of participating in the state’s governance with a level that is unprecedented in its history.
“Several non-indigenes are members of the state Executive Council, executive assistants, senior technical assistants among others and actively vie for position of choices without discrimination.
He said that the government’s robust grassroots participation in politics has afforded non-indigenes opportunities of occupying elective and appointment positions in such tier of governance.
Hon Uche Mouka, another aide to the governor said that the urbanites were happy because 80 percent of the governor’s infrastructural strides which have stood him out in the country, were sited at the urban.
“The international stadium, international airport, shopping mall, several flyovers and well constructed roads are eloquent testimonies of the governor’s love for the people.
“We also support wholly the governor’s defection to the APC from the PDP as it has already started attracting dividends of democracy from the centre to the state.
“The governor recently attracted the nomination of 30 indigenes into federal boards and parastatals which could not had happened if he did not defect to the ruling party.
Dr Kenneth Ugbala, Secretary to the State Government who represented Umahi at the old Government House premises where the urbanites converged, thanked them for their solidarity to the governor.
“What I have seen today is total support and shows that all urbanites are with us and no other person remaining.
“You have shown the way for others to follow because you live peacefully without rancor and are well coordinated.
He urged them to continue praying for the governor to continue delivering his democratic dividends especially the completion of mega projects such as the international airport.
“We are hopeful that the first plane would land on the airport by the end of this year and by then, Ebonyi must have been launched into the global airspace.
“There is no opposition in Ebonyi and we challenge those calling themselves opposition to come and host a 200-man rally not to talk of a million-man march.
He commended specially the commissioner for youth development and sports, Hon. Akpuenika for his diligence, noting that the government would always count on him to deliver.
Messages of support were delivered at the occasion by the representatives of the urbanites, town union associations, Hausa and Yoruba communities, civil servants among others.
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