Residents of Afikpo North Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State are jubilant over the nomination of a two-term Vice Chairman of the LGA, Mrs Patricia Obila, as running mate to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Hon Francis Ogbonnaya Nwifuru.
In an exclusive chat with this reporter, the Chairman of Afikpo North LGA, Hon. Obiageri Oko Enyim, said the choice of her Vice as deputy governorship candidate should be celebrated, adding that Governor David Umahi has proven once again that he is gender sensitive and means well for Ebonyi people, especially Afikpo North.
She said: “I have always said that His Excellency Governor, Engr David Nweze Umahi, means well for Afikpo people in particularly and Ebonyi State in general. Time and again, he proves his critics wrong by doing what he knows is the best for the state. Since the creation of the state, I have never seen a more friendly, understanding and gender sensitive governor than Governor Umahi.
“The best thing to happen to Afikpo people is the nomination of my Vice Chairman, Her Excellency Princess Patricia Obila, as the first female Deputy Governorship flagbearer of our great party, the APC. She is a graduate with impeccable experience in leadership, having served as a two-term Vice Chairman of Afikpo North. Her nomination is a great joy to the people of Afikpo North Local Government Area. The entire stakeholders of Afikpo North LGA are glad with this wonderful opportunity given us by His Excellency.
“The commendations by our people are good examples of the good qualities of Mrs Obila. It is a well deserved nomination by our indefatigable Governor to put smiles on the faces of Ebonyi Women. I also commend Our Mummy, Her Excellency Rachel Ogonna Umahi, wife of the Governor, for making the Gender Affirmative order a reality in Ebonyi State.
“I urge my people to register and get their PVCs ahead of the 2023 general elections, so that we can make this dream a reality. Afikpo North is presently the 4th in Ebonyi State, with regards to the registering of PVCs. We have three machines used in the registering in the council. On a daily basis, officials move from ward to ward registering residents. So, we should all take advantage of the extension of the deadline by INEC to get registered and vote the APC next year.”
Also, in a Facebook post on Thursday, the Special Assistant to Governor David Umahi on Government House, Hon. Amauche Otunta Godwin, popularly known as Opuruiche Worldwide, said that Obila’s emergence as running mate is a win for women in the state and beyond.
Amauche, who was initially projected to be the deputy, advised her supporters to celebrate Obila’s emergence and continue to support the ruling party, noting that her time will come in the future.
She said: “Congratulations to you, Her Excellency Princess Patricia Obila, on your well deserved appointment as the incoming deputy Governor of Ebonyi State. Your patience, dedication and hardwork has paid off. This is a great win for all the women in Afikpo north and Ebonyi state as a whole. Finally the jinx is broken! First female Deputy Governor.
“To our Indomitable Governor David Nweze Umahi and our great party APC Ebonyi State, thank you for making this history. And to my dependable supporters, I am overwhelmed by the love and your best wishes for me. You had prayed and wished it was me… Remember, God’s response is either YES, NO, NOT YET! Trust me, all are answers to prayers.
“Yes – is Yes. No – Saving you for the best. Not Yet – Training/ Preparing you to be able to handle whatever he’s got for you in the future. Be not discouraged, my time and turn will come and we will celebrate, but while we wait, let’s celebrate our dear mother, sister and daughter whom God has favored. She is our own and we must give her all the support to succeed.”
Other residents of Afikpo North have also celebrated the appointment on social media, hoping the APC will win the governorship election in the state; in order for them to achieve the dream of producing the first female Deputy Governor in Ebonyi.