Security have reportedly been beefed up in Umuahia, Abia state capital and its environs as the state gets set to host President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, John Odigie Oyegun and other stakeholders of the party on Tuesday January 9.
President Buhari who would be in the state for the first time after being elected President of the country for a mega rally organized by the party at the Umuahia Township stadium would also used the opportunity to present to the people of the state, some political bigwigs in the state who had joined the party from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties.
Though information about the presidentโs visit was still sketchy until the time of filing the report, it was gathered that Presidential advance team were already in the state while security have been beefed up at flashpoints and other sensitive areas in the state especially in Umuahia as steps to ensure a peaceful visit of the president.
The Publicity Secretary of the party in the state in a chat with our reporter described the coming of the President as landmark, stressing that Buhariโs visit would further boost the preparation of the party towards unseating the PDP led administration in the state in 2019.
Godson disclosed that the coming of President Buhari would attract leaders of the party from the southeast including the chairman of Governorsโ forum and Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, former senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, former Governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, ministers from the southeast, immediate past governor of Enugu State, Barr. Sullivan Chime, immediate past governor of Ebonyi State, Martin Elechi among other APC stalwarts in the country in general.
He also added that members of other political parties that defected into the party like former Executive Governor of the state from 1999-2007, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, PDP 2015 Governorship aspirant, Dr. Sampson Uche Ogah, former Managing Director of defunct Hallmark Bank, Chief Sir. Marc Wabara, Barr. Emeka Wogu; former labour minister, senator Bob Nwanunu, General Ogbonnaya Okoro rtd, DIG Udah rtd, Hon. Chinenye Ike, former House of Rep member, former Speaker Abia State House of Assembly who was few months ago impeached by his colleagues, Rt. Hon. Martin Azubuike and others would be formally presented to the public during the presidentโs visit.
On zoning of guber candidates, he said โwe donโt have candidates and we canโt have an anointed candidate; our guber candidate can emerge from any part of the state. We believe that there are some persons with guber ambitions and they have not made it open to us.
โWe are not zoning the governorship slot. It is open. We want a credible person to emerge. We need change in the state. We need a credible and reliable person who can change the life of Abians and develop Abia, it doesnโt matter the part of Abia the person is coming from. APC is desirous of change and ensuring that Abia is developed. We want Abians to feel governanceโ.
He used the opportunity to reaffirm the support of the party members to Hon. Donatus Nwankpaโs led Executive in the state Ben Godson, the APC Publicity Secretary Abia State chapter and thanked President Buhari for including the names of the party members from the state in the list of recent appointment into boards and agencies by the federal government.
