A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State, Chief Ugo Agbala, says the people of Udi Local Government Area, LGA, had resolved to return the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, to the Senate because he had acquitted himself creditably.
He stated this during a campaign rally by the PDP at Obinagu at the weekend.
Chief Agbala said: “Senator Ekweremadu has represented us exceptionally well. It is for this reason that I personally continue to offer him my unalloyed support. I wouldn’t have offered my support and the people of Udi would not have offered their support if it were otherwise.
“He deserves to continue representing us in the Senate because over the years he has emerged as the conscience of the upper legislative chamber and even beyond, having served excellently well as the Speaker of parliament of 15 sovereign West African states.
“Ekweremadu embodies the interest of Ndigbo, most especially in the quest for restructuring of the country. He has been the foremost propounder and canvasser of restructuring of the Nigerian state”.
Although Ekweremadu is not known to be facing any strong opposition in his re-election bid, Udi LGA is the home of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyema and the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu both of whom hail from Eke, as well as the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku, who hails from Egede.
However, Ekweremadu was overwhelmingly endorsed by the people of Udi North and South, including the town unions and traditional leaders, who extolled him for quality representation.
Speaking, Member representing Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency, Hon. Dennis Amadi, who is also the candidate of the PDP for the same Constituency, said: “The N39 billion contract for the dualisation of Enugu-Makurdi road, which passes through Udi North was made possible by Ekweremadu. The Umulumgbe-Affa-Ikedimkpa-Amaozalla-Egede-Awhum Federal Government road project was facilitated by Senator Ekweremadu.
“Ekweremadu attracted the Umuovu-Anekeze-Umuanum-Okwum Egede Erosion Control project. Our Senator attracted the ongoing Umulumgbe-Affa-Ikedimkpa-Amaozalla-Egede-Awhum Federal Road.
“The same applies to Solar Street lights, ICT equipment for the secondary school, and the Ikeoha Foundation scholarships, adult literacy centres, health outreach, and other empowerment programmes, which have made life better for people.
“There are new electricity projects, road project, school projects, and a water projects courtesy of Enugu West Water-for- All Programme, an initiative of our Senator”.
In his response, Ekweremadu dismissed the notion of any serious opposition in Udi as his work speaks for him, noting that he had never lost even a ward in the LGA in previous elections.
“My people cannot afford to entrust their lives and destinies in hands of a leaner in this Abuja trip. They prefer tested and trusted hands, hence they bought PDP nomination form for me in the first place. So, things can only get better for them as they return me to the Senate”, Ekweremadu said.
