Abia North supplementary poll : ‘We won’t abandon our own’, declares Aro clan
By Steve Oko
The people of Arochukwu ancient kingdom have vowed to deliver their son, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP), in the event of a supplementary poll between him and Orji Uzor Kalu of the All Progressive Congress, APC.
The National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia had invalidated Kalu’s election for non compliance with the margin of lead principle.
The Justice Cornelius Akintoya-led panel ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to within 90 days, organize a supplementary election between Kalu and Ohuabunwa in eight electoral wards in Arochukwu plus other wards and several polling units across the zone.
Kalu had, however appealed the judgment, hence, the outcome of the appeal court is curiously being awaited to decide the fate of the duo.
Aro people spoke at Obinkita during the commissioning of a 300kVA/0.415kv electricity transformer and accessories attracted by Ohuabunwa.
Traditional ruler of Obinkita, Mazi Affred Orji Akwaeke; and a woman leader in the community, Mrs Ekenma Nwosu, who spoke for the people, lauded Ohuabunwa for his timely intervention, describing him as a proud son of Aro kingdom.
They expressed their displeasure over the robbery of the people’s mandate given to Ohuabunwa at the February 23 National Assembly election, but assured him of the unwavering support of Aro kingdom in the event of a supplementary poll.
The people assured Ohuabunwa of a resounding victory at the supplementary poll if the Appeal Court upholds the verdict of the tribunal.
Eze Akwaeke lauded Ohuabunwa for his numerous giant strides both in Arochukwu and the entire Abia North, promising that they will never abandon their own.
The monarch who noted that the old transformer in the community packed up in December 2018 , thanked Ohuabunwa for his swift intervention by replacing it with a new one.
He equally commended him for bringing the staff of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC to energize the transformer.
The monarch further poured encomiums on the former Ohuabunwa for many other projects he attracted to the community including health centres and a borehole installed at the community market.
Responding Ohuabunwa thanked his people for acknowledging his efforts and for their unwavering support to him.
He , however, urged them to resist any attempt by his detractors to stop his return to the Senate at the fort coming supplementary election.
The former Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament reminded his supporters that his election to the senate was a divine agenda facilitated by God to help attract development projects to Arochukwu clan as well as the entire Abia North , adding that a stranger won’t be fairer to Aro kingdom than an indigen.
His words : “We are located at the border of the state and nobody passes our community to any other place within the Southeast. So, we are the people that know what we are passing through.”
He wondered how Kalu who failed to address the developmental needs of the Arochukwu people when he was Abia governor for eight years, could perform magic for the people as a senator.
Ohuabunwa who regretted the deplorable state of roads in the zone before he came on board noted that some of them were receiving serious attention.
“That was why I took it upon myself to be shouting concerning our roads at the floor of the Senate and since the break as a result of the incomplete 2019 election all the efforts we have been making have come to a halt.
“The bill to make ASCETA a federal Polytechnic which was at the state of being passed into law has also come to a halt because I’m no longer in the senate to follow it up.
“I want to remind you all that no stranger will attend to our problems except our own sons. All internal roads in our community were fixed by my efforts and that of other Aro sons. Therefore, we cannot afford to allow our chance of having our own son in the senate pass us by”, he said.
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