Enugu Polls: Ugwuanyi dedicates victory to electorates, extends hands of fellowship to opposition
The Enugu State governor-elect, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Tuesday dedicated his victory at the last Saturday's governorship election in the state to the people of Ndi-Enugu. Delivering his acceptance speech at a ceremony which held at the State Peoples Democratic Party Campaign office in Enugu, Ugwuanyi called on members of the opposition parties to join hands with him in moving the State forward. He expressed happiness that the voters in the state chose him as their next governor in an election that was 'widely acknowledged as transparent and credible, devoid of any moral burden or legitimacy crisis.'
In the speech which is the first after his landslide victory, the governor-elect said it was only rational that he continued with the developmental programmes of Governor Sullivan Chime whom he said had laid a solid foundation for the socio-economic development of the State.
He reaffirmed his commitment to seeing through the legacy of Chime's four-point agenda and also introduce his own four-point agenda which includes Employment generation, Social Services and Good governance, rural development, security and justice.
'I appreciate those who contested against me both in the party primary and general election; I also recognize the support of the 22 political parties that endorsed me and I invite them to come and join me in moving the State forward because there is work to be done.
'I want to tender my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Enugu State, I salute the commitment and sacrifice of the ordinary Enugu men and women both at home and in the Diaspora towards the actualization of this victory.
'In particular I want to pay a special tribute to the people's governor Sullivan Chime for his great and heroic roles in making this feat possible,” he stated.
The charismatic third time member of the Federal House of Representatives and House Chairman Marine Transport expressed appreciation to elder statesmen and former governors Ken Nnamani, Jim Nwobodo, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chimaroke Nnamani, Alison Madueke and Anthony Oguguo.
'I am happy that you have resoundly chosen me as your next governor but for me it is even more important and heart warming that my election has been widely acknowledged as transparent and credible.
'I must appreciate the electorate who defied rain and sunshine to ensure that their votes counted. They are the true heroes of our democracy and will be surely rewarded with good governance,' he said.
According to him, democracy only qualifies to be seen as government of the people and for the people when the electorate holds the franchise to making and dethroning their leaders. Ugwuanyi who acknowledged cheers from the party men and women, who thronged out en masse at his campaign office, to listen to his acceptance speech, said that he has renewed the message of peace, hope and development of the state, adding that government was a continuum.
Dignitaries at the event includes the Deputy Governor-elect, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, Enugu East Senator-elect, Prince Gil Nnaji, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze and the DG Enugu State PDP campaign organisation, Barr. C.O.C. Egumgbe, the Secretary, Ms. Rita Mba, Enugu North Senator-elect, Barr. Chuka Utazi among others.