It was a moment of delight and excitement among party faithfuls, friends, well wishers, and people of Owerri Federal Constituency as the former member representing Owerri North State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly Hon Engr Dan lkpeazu declares his ambition to contest for the house of representatives of Owerri federal constituency come 2019 under the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) at the Owerri North L.G.A APGA Secretariat.
APGA faithfuls across Imo State have referred the declaration as the mother of all APGA declarations sequel to Dan lkpeazu’s commitment, dedication and loyalty to the party which gave birth to Hon Dan lkpeazu’s philosophy of “IGBO IS MY TRIBE, APGA IS MY IDENTITY”.
While addressing the mammoth crowd, Hon Dan lkpeazu said that he has offered himself to serve the people of Owerri Federal Constituency in the green chamber of the National Assembly.
The Imo APGA ambassador opined that he has come to seek the blessings of Ndi Owere which is a conglomeration of Owerri municipal, Owerri west and Owerri north pointing out that his intention to contest for house of representatives is born out of need to offer credible, effective and transparent representation to his people by attracting dividends of democracy which he is known for.
The Emeke Agbala, Owerri North born politician averred that he is on a mission to transform the condition of the people of Owere having in mind that poverty, oppression, corruption, injustice, and lack of government presence have bedeviled his people.
Ikpeazu harped on the need for a party candidate who understands the plight and problem of the people they intend to represent as well; a candidate who is steadfast, dedicated and supportive to the party through which one emerges victorious as he condemned the defection of political office holders who won elections under the party platform.
He also condemned in unequivocal terms the defection to other parties by aspirants after losing primaries in APGA instead of joining forces to build the party pointing out that such personalities and character depicts desperation for personal interest rather than ensuring party victory and overall general interest of the public which is supreme adding that such persons cannot be trusted with position of authority.
Hon lkpeazu stated regrettably that many personalities won elections under the platform of APGA but ended up dumping the party pointing out that the party and Owerri people at large should assess every aspirant jostling for the lower chamber of national assembly to know who actually can deliver their great expectations.
He bemoaned the attitude of politicians enriching themselves with the collective resources of the masses instead of giving to the people what rightly belongs to them having in mind that personal interest should not override the general interest of the masses or constituency which one represents.
The 7th Imo Assembly legislator noted with dismay the bad road network of Nekede/Ihiagwa in Owerri west L.G.A despite her hosting two reputable federal academic institutions as he wondered if there are no representatives in the National Assembly capable of attracting government presence.
The APGA identity averred that he is not just offering himself to represent but to also to serve Ndi Owere pointing out that his presence will be in every Ward and Community in Owerri Federal constituency which can be attested by his representation of the people of Owerri North in the Imo State House of Assembly between 2011 to 2015.
IKPEAZU noted that restructuring cannot be actualized if the paramount interest of the people’s representative is not the integration of his people in the mainstream politics pointing out that APGA is the only party that can guarantee a non tribal and all inclusive government in the Nigerian polity.
Hon lkpeazu added that he will ensure the empowerment of women and human development of youths of Owere and beyond if given the opportunity to represent them pointing out that youth development and empowerment is the panacea towards ameliorating youth restiveness and other social vices perpetrated by young people necessitated by joblessness.
He condemned the inability of the government of the day and representatives at various levels to give the youths the required support they need in other to better their life’s pointing out that the youths are the strength of every society and issues affecting them should not be ignored having in mind that the future of our nation lies in the young generation of today.
In his speech, the deputy national chairman of APGA Engr Uchenna Okogbuo described Hon Ikpeazu as a committed and sincere party man whose dedication in APGA is second to none pointing out that it is important to entrust position to somebody who is a success in his personal business and other areas of human life which lkpeazu have been proven to be successful.
Engr Okogbuo noted that he chose to honor Dan Ikpeazu’s declaration invitation because of his personal relationship with him as his good friend and a distinguished party man with a difference.
Engr Okogbuo however stated that APGA will conduct a robust free and fair primary where the best candidate will be chosen to fly the ticket of the party at various levels noting that he is optimistic that Dan lkpeazu is undoubtedly the best option for the people of Owerri Federal constituency based on available and verifiable records adding that he will vote for Dan lkpeazu if he were from Owerri because Ikpeazu stood against injustice under Rochas Okorocha which shows that Hon Dan lkpeazu is a man who cannot be twisted to achieve personal gains.
Engr Okogbuo noted the danger of honoring declaration invitation of aspirants but stated emphatically that Dan lkpeazu is a man who should be supported because he knows lkpeazu will excel if given the opportunity.
In their separate speeches, Owerri zonal senatorial aspirant under the platform of APGA Nzeh Ben T.C Osuji, Hon Chief Elvis Anumudu, and the Owerri west chairman of all chairmen and Ihiagwa ward chairman Mr Joel Okorocha described Hon Dan lkpeazu as a true ambassador of the party whose ambition is not out of place.
They pointed out that the achievements of Hon Dan lkpeazu as state house member surpassed the combined contributions of all the eleven members that represented and are representing the three LGA’s in Owerri federal constituency in the nineteen years of our democratic journey pointing out that though lkpeazu represented Owerri North, but he had his projects cutting across the sister local government areas of municipal and west asserting that Ndi Owere owe it a duty to support lkpeazu’s aspiration so as to get more dividends of democracy.
