By Abdullahi Suleiman Otiwe.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, Engr. John Ibrahim has called on the electorate in Ibaji local government to vote for all APC candidates in the forthcoming general elections.
Ibrahim made the call during a Town Hall Meeting convened on Thursday in Ibaji.
According to Engr. Ibrahim, the town hall meeting was convened under the auspices of the APC as a party to afford the people of Ibaji the opportunity to know why they have been neglected so far as a local government area.
The meeting which was attended by major stakeholders of the party had in attendance the Chief of Staff to Kogi state Governor, Chief Edward Onoja, the convener, Engr. John Ibrahim, Ibaji local government Administrator, the APC Chairman in Ibaji, Mr. ThankGod Omale; the APC Zonal Chairman, Ward Excos, party men and women.
The meeting was a thought-provoking one as it afforded the people the most striking revelations by the Chief of Staff to the Governor on how the government was unable to meet the yearning of Ibaji people.
In his welcome address, Engr. John Ibrahim commended Onoja for honouring his invitation and also recognised the efforts of all the party leaders in the state down to the local government in making the occasion the largest one in Ibaji throughout this electioneering campaigns.
While challenging the electorate in the area to use the opportunity the medium afforded them as the party recognised the area with the number two position of the state despite the misuse of such by the current holder, Engr. John Ibrahim noted that “the APC was the first political party in the history of the state to have accorded maximum respect to Ibaji as a community by the fact that the party never won the local government area in the past. However by your turnout today, I am convinced history is going to be made in the forthcoming general elections.”
He urged the people to use the opportunity that will be presented in the elections to vote for the All Progressive Congress while noting that “even as the opportunity provided by the party to us has been abused by us; I mean by one of us, we must continue to count every disappointment as a blessing.
Speaking, Edward Onoja exposed the Deputy Governor, Elder Simon Achuba describing him as the cause of the Yahaya Bello’s administration inability to reach the people, noting the government had lofty projects for the community but argued the Deputy Governor allowed those projects to go for his personal interests.
The Chief of Staff urged the people to know who the real enemy is, noting that “most enemies are always within.”
The Administrator of the local government Mr. ThankGod Omale used the privileged occasion to thank the APC-led administration of Yahaya Bello and urged his people to use their PVCs to ensure the party’s victory noting that “it is only through free and fair elections the APC could win the next elections.”
Engr. Ibrahim thanked the various groups that came together to work for the party to continue in doing so for the interest of the local government area and to chart course to move forward to the next level beyond the forthcoming elections.
The event was largely attended by the people of Ibaji who turned out in their numbers and thanked Engr. John Ibrahim for providing them the avenue to formally declare their interests to work for the APC in the forthcoming general elections.
Over five political groups came out openly and announced their readiness to work for the success of the APC in the forthcoming elections. The groups were welcomed by the Chief of Staff who admonished them to rally House-to-House supports so that the victory of the party in the area could shock the state.
Speaking for the various groups were their leaders who were unanimous in their supports assuring the Chief of Staff in their realistic supports to the party. Also amongst the group was a formidable women Group which was admired by the Chief who confessed that “if Ibaji women give you political supports, you’ll have no option than to win.
Meanwhile the Chief of Staff to the Governor supported the groups with a sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira, Engr. John Ibrahim with a sum of a Hundred Thousand Naira and the Administrator with Fifty Thousand Naira.
The large turnout of the event was epoch at Onyedega the Headquarter of Ibaji local government area as the event closed with cultural displays honouring the personality of Engr. Ibrahim who convened the meeting.
