…as Abaribe, Eziuche Ubani, Ezinwa Abiri, Seth Agomuo, others attend his formal declaration
It was the gathering of who is who in Obingwa West (Uhie) State Constituency including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Rt. Hon. Eziuche Ubani, Chief Ibe Nwadioha, Chief Seth Agomuo, Hon. Sopuruchi Nwabekee, Chief Benjamin Nwankpa, Chief Ezinwa Abiri, attended the formal declaration of Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos, the leading aspirant for Obingwa West Constituency for the State House of Assembly at an elaborate event held at his country home, Isiko.
The event which also had in attendance an Abia State born former captain of the Nigeria Super Eagles, Uche Okechukwu, had major leaders, stakeholders and others pitching their tent with the aspirant.
Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos, a former Special Adviser to Abia State Governor on Media while making his intentions known to his people promised to run a responsive and accessible administration as a representative of his people if given the opportunity at the ballots come 2023.
The Obingwa West State Constituency aspirant under the People’s Democratic Party stated this at his official declaration to run for the State House of Assembly in 2023.
The former Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, said his intention to vie for the position stems from his decision to fill the yearnings of his people for an all inclusive legislation which he said is a void he will fill as he represents beyond the average.
Appolos said ” the major function or work of a legislator at his constituency most times is to receive complains, so when they can’t access you, how will they lay the complain? So, I am going to fill that gap because I am accessible, I am reachable, my people can always find me and see me whenever they want to see me, that is the thing I am going to bring in that aspect”.
Speaking on how he intends to combine his passion “journalism” and legislation, he explained that being a political journalist all his life makes it easier to navigate through the two and he will bring his wealth of experience in the political terrain to bear.
According to him ” I think I have being a political journalist, I report politics. All my life as a politician, I have being around politicians, I think I have enough knowledge from what it takes to move from the newsroom to a congressman”.
He further revealed that before joining the race, he has consulted widely including with the people contesting same seat with him and felt it was necessary to take the decision for the good of his people. The veteran journalist noted that he is not intimidated by any of the contestants but rather it is those contending with him that are intimidated by him joining the race as some of them have also asked him to step aside for them but his decision to join the race is undeterred. “This is not the time for somebody to sit at home and think that one big man will give him the ticket. No, we are all going to the field and I am prepared to meet everyone at the field”, he said.
The Former Personal Assistant to the Governor, appreciated Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for the platform that exposed him politically while he was under the political tutelage of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Hon. Eziuche Ubani, noting that he prides himself as the political son of the Governor.
While dismissing the insinuations that he has the endorsements of Obingwa Political Stakeholders including Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Rt. Hon. Eziuche Ubani among others, Appolos reiterated that none of them has endorsed him though he has consulted them like any other person in the race. ” The Governor has not endorsed me, he was the first person I discussed this with and like I said before, I am the only political son of the Governor in this Constituency. What I mean by that is that i am the only person in the race who has not tested political office before Dr. Ikpeazu became governor, so I am the only person that the governor can vauche for as the person he made politically, I am the only person. And I am not only banking on that, if I am banking on that, I should be here in my house, or if I am banking on the fact that Hon. Eziuche Ubani is my brother, I should be sleeping or if I am banking on the fact that I am in good terms with Senator Abaribe and every other person I should be sleeping. But I am still going around asking for people’s endorsements. So, the Governor has not endorsed me. Abaribe has not endorsed me. Hon. Eziuche Ubani has not endorsed me. I am still talking with the stakeholders, the delegates and even the people on the streets and I am sure they are going to give me this mandate”, he maintained.
Appolos who expressed optimism that he will get the mandate of his people at the end of the day, insists It is the responsibility of the people to decide who represents them, hence, the reason for bringing them together to inform them of his decision to contest the position officially.
The media personnel further revealed that should he be denied the ticket at the primaries of his party, he will return to the newsroom which is his first address as politics is not his first address, but will not contemplate decamping to another political party.
On his relationship with the media if he clinches the position, Mr. Appolos said the win will not just be for his people in Obingwa West but also for journalists especially those in Abia but frowned at the level of interlopers in the media industry.
He queried why the admission of anyone into the profession because of the advent of the social media. He called for more caution in admission of members into the Nigeria Union of Journalists to preserve the honour of the revered profession.
Also speaking, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos has done the right thing because telling the people means you value them and the ballots will decide and the electronic transmission makes it easier to decide. He called on him to go all out with his decision and show the people he can “Show strength and when you show strength. You will succeed”, he said.
Senator Abaribe maintained that politics is not for serious differences and everyone has to contest any elective position and that makes for a healthy democracy, expressing confidence that Mr. Appolos will make an effective representative.
The event also had in attendance, Elder S.M.C Eze, the Obingwa LGA Chairman represented by his Deputy, Hon. Uloma Okezie, the ward chairmen of the 6 wards and their leaders, councillors, among others.
