I’m Taking Over Abia Govt House Come 2023 – Abaribe

BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – Nigeria’s Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe says the time is now for Abia state people to make the right choices of candidates as he formally declared his intention to contest the State governorship seat come 2023 general elections.

According to him, it is only in choosing right would the state be able to swim out of political backwaters and reposition itself for enhanced and sustainable socio-economic growth and development.

Making public his gubernatorial interest at a civic reception organised by Nzuko Ahiaba La Abayi, a sociocultural organisation in Ahiaba in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state, Abaribe expressed his readiness to serve and to deliver more dividends of democracy to Abia people when given the mandate.

“As an Igbo man, I respect constituted authority. I believe the number one citizen of the state should know and I have paid him that respect. I have let him know and by extension, the people of Abia and I am telling the people of Abia to look forward to seeing me in charge in Abia state come 2023,’’ he said.

The lawmaker, representing Abia South Senatorial District in the National Assembly (NASS), said the time has come for Abia people to make the right choices that would facilitate enhanced socio-economic development in the state.

Also expressing gratitude to God for divine guidance, the Senate Minority leader thanked his constituents for organising a civic reception in his honour, saying; “This is a special occasion. I have been in politics since 1998. I have been in and out of politics and even gone to DSS custody because of Nigeria.

“This is the first time a civic reception is being organised for me. This occasion is significant because it is coming from my ancestral home and shows that they are saying that they are proud of my antecedents, achievements and that I deserve a title,’’ the former Abia Deputy governor said.

Speaking at the reception, former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Nwagbara, who chaired the reception, described Abaribe as one with the interest of his constituents at heart, even as he challenged the lawmaker to continually give quality representation on issues that would transform the lives of his constituents and Nigerians at large.

In his remarks earlier, a representative of Nzuko Ahiaba La Abayi, Mr Stanley Nwahiwe, praised Abaribe for his contributions to the development of the area, adding that the reward for hard work was more work.

“Sincerely we feel highly delighted and honoured by your actions and style of governance as a vibrant senator,’’ he said.

The Senate Minority Leader was conferred with the title of “Maduforo Ndi Ngwa’’ (A man of the people in Ngwa land) at the reception and among dignitaries who graced the occasion included former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Chief Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, former Minister of Defence; and Chief Okey Emuche, the National Secretary of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo.