By Adeleye Kunle
As political parties prepare to launch campaigns ahead of the 2023 general election, market traders, motorcycle (okada) and tricycle (keke) operators, and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Enugu State’s Udenu Local Government Area, comprising indigenes and non-indigenes, declared their unwavering support for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate for Enugu Market traders, keke and okada operators also expressed their support for the PDP’s governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, his running mate, Mr. Ifeanyi Ossai, and other PDP candidates, assuring them that they were fully behind them and the party.
They thanked Governor Ugwuanyi for the numerous development projects his administration has carried out in the state despite the state’s limited resources and the nation’s economic challenges, emphasizing that the roads and other infrastructure provided by his administration, particularly in rural areas, have helped their businesses grow.
The traders also thanked Ugwuanyi for his administration’s invaluable assistance in safeguarding lives and property in their various markets, including the distribution of fire extinguishers and palliatives during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and reiterated their unwavering support for the governor and the PDP. Chief Charles Ezeugwu, Chairman of Orba Modern Market, said during a solidarity visit to Governor Ugwuanyi at Government House in Enugu, that they are proud of the governor as their illustrious son and leader.
Accompanied by Hon. Solomon Obah, Chairman of Udenu LGA, Ezeugwu stated, “We the Orba and Udenu people, all the market traders, keke riders, okada riders, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) came here today to pay a solidarity visit to our brother, son, and father.”
He stated that they are pleased with Ugwuanyi’s peace and good governance initiatives, as well as the way he has handled Enugu State’s affairs, describing him as a peacemaker and a great achiever.
“We your children in Udenu LGA are telling you to keep it up because we are very proud of you,” he said. We wholeheartedly support your Senate candidacy in 2023. We came to show our support for you and all that you do in Enugu State. We wholeheartedly support the person you named as your successor, Barr. Peter Mbah, his running mate, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, and all other PDP candidates.”
Sunday Odo, the Chairman of Obollo Afor Market, spoke in the same vein. He congratulated Ugwuanyi on his achievements in Enugu State and assured him of their unwavering support for all PDP candidates in the upcoming general election.
In support of their endorsements, the leader of the Hausa community in Udenu LGA, Zachary Ibrahim Babangida, praised Ugwuanyi for promoting peace, national unity, and good governance in Enugu State, assuring him and the other PDP candidates of their full support at the polls in 2023.
Earlier in his remarks, Hon. Solomon Onah, Chairman of Udenu LGA and State Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), reaffirmed the endorsements of the market traders, tricycle and motorcycle operators, stating that their visit was motivated by their love and genuine appreciation for the governor’s good works in Enugu State.
Other speakers at the event, including the Chairman of NURTW, Udenu LGA, Ichie Theophilus Mama, a representative of women, Mary Odo, a representative of Okada operators, Cosmas Agboeze, and his tricycle counterpart, Comrade Onyebuchi Ugwu, expressed gratitude to Ugwuanyi for his development strides, peace and good governance initiatives, and reassuring him of their support for his senatorial bid and that of
