Victor EzejaLabour Party governorship candidate in Enugu State, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga has said he has full convinction that he will win the gubernatorial election in the state come 2023.
Hon. Edoga, apparently, speaking about the political dynamics in the state in recent times, claimed that equity and justice are in his favour.
He made the assertion during a civic reception by the people of Isi-uzo Local Government Area in his honour as the party’s governorship candidate in Enugu State.
The event held at St. Philip’s Anglican Church field, Ehamufu, had thousands of people of the area including youth, women, men, traditional title-holders, religious leaders and several colourful traditional dance troupes all to accord Edeoga a resounding reception.
Speaking at the event, Edoga said there were several plots by the state governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to stop organisers of his reception from using any public facility in the area including the Federal College of Education, Ehamufu, but all failed.
Among other public facilities Governor Ugwuanyi was said to have given order not to allow the organisers of Edeoga’s reception use included secondary and primary schools in the area.
Edoga lamented that he was denied access to the Federal College of Education Ehamufu premises for his reception, noting that his father was instrumental in bringing the school to the area.
The LP gubernatorial candidate who condemned such political attitude, stated that he served meritoriously in Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration and played a huge role in his governorship victory both in 2015 and 2019.
Edoga commended the Bishop of Ehamufu Diocese of Anglican Communion , Rt. Rev. David Nkemjika Olinya for offering the St. Philip’s Anglican Church field to be used for the reception.
“Today is my happiest day, I commend the courage of the Bishop of Ehamufu Diocese of Anglican Church and the clergies for granting the organisers the use of this reception venue. The state government had given an order to all the schools both primary and secondary in this area, including the Ehamufu College of Education, which my father attracted, not to allow the organisers of this reception to use their places,” Edoga stated.
“Notwithstanding that order, the Bishop, RT.Rev. David Nkemijika Olinya, gave this place, and, everyone in Isi-Uzo, the youth, old, women, men, traditional titled people, clergies, etc, are here.
“I am grateful and I am confident that I will win the Governorship election because I served his government well, and equity and justice are in my favour,” he added.
Edoga, a lawyer, writer and politician, hails from Eha-Amufu. He is the immediate past Commissioner for Environment and a former member of House of Representatives who represented Enugu-East/Isi-Uzo federal constituency.
He contested the governorship ticket in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but could not get it, in what many believed to be that the governor in collaboration with other top PDP political stakeholders in the state denied him the opportunity.
He thereafter, defected to Labour Party where he was welcomed and won the ticket for 2023 governorship polls in the state.
Edoga said he would not disappoint the people, promising to work for the development of the entire state when elected next year.
He said, “The only promise I will make to you is that I will not disappoint you as Governor. We will bring development to Isi-uzo and the entire Enugu state and I will not divert public funds. I have never been found to be corrupt. EFCC has never indicted me. I have never been imprisoned and I will never be found guilty of corruption.”
At the reception venue, various groups of people carried banners and fliers with pictures of the LP governorship candidate and that of the presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, dancing and singing praises to them.
While affirming their support for Edeoga to win the election, the people expressed optimism that he is Governor Ugwuanyi’s successor-in-waiting.
The event also witnessed the endorsement of Edoga’s governorship ambition by the traditional title-holders in the local government who gave him the Ofo insignia and shielded him against any harm, as well as prayers by the clergies led by Bishop Olinya to God to grant him victory at the poll.
The Onorogwu of Ehamufu, Chief David Anukenyi led several other traditional title-holders in the prayers and presentation of the traditional ofo to Edeoga.
The event also had in attendance, several other Labour Party candidates including the party’s deputy Governorship candidate, Chief Okey Ezea for Enugu-North Senatorial district, Barr. Oyibo Chukwu for Enugu East senatorial District, Prof. Nnamchi for Enugu East/Isi-uzo federal constituency, Hon. Dennis Agbo for Udenu/Igbo-Eze North Federal Constituency, Hon. Malachy Oke-Onyechi for Nsukka West state constituency and Hon. Gabriel Eze for Isi-uzo state constituency.
Other top LP leaders at the event were chairman of the party in Enugu State, Barr. Casmir Agbo, Vice-chairman, Enugu North Senatorial zone, Hon. Kingsley Ugwu, and General Chris Eze (rtd), among others.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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