By Tony Adibe
As preparations for the upcoming general elections gather more momentum daily, over 500 different support groups, with members numbering thousands of people walked the streets of Enugu, the state capital, on Saturday to show their “unflinching love and support” for the gubernatorial aspiration of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Dr. Peter Mbah.
NewsBits reports that the groups, who marched in solidarity across the major streets of the capital such as Presidential Road, O’Connor Street, Ogui Road, Stadium, New Layout, Independence Layout, among others, were seen adorned with colourful uniforms, caps, and placards bearing inscriptions of endorsements and approval for the candidates of the ruling PDP, especially its governorship standard bearer.
During the solidarity march, tagged, “Occupy Enugu for Peter Mbah”, NewsBits observed the presence of some frontline pro-PDP support groups such as Tomorrow Is Here Ambassadors, Peter Mbah Support Group, Peter Mbah Support Vanguard, Ebeano Volunteer Movement for Peter Mbah, Solidarity Alliance for Peter Mbah and Ifeanyi Ossai, Ladies Assembly, Peter Mbah Xclusive, Liberal Lawyers for Peter Mbah, among numerous others announcing that the PDP and its gubernatorial candidate had no rival in the state.
Also, some of the notable youth groups were equally seen in large numbers expressing delight for the choice of Barr. Mbah by the people. They promised to demonstrate their voting strength at the polls on March 11 governorship election.
Addressing the groups which finally gathered at the popular Michael Okpara Square, Independence Layout within the Enugu metropolis, the convener and Director, PDP Support Groups for Peter Mbah in the State Campaign Council, Rt. Hon. USA Igwesi, said the mammoth crowds that took over the capital to recommit their earlier support for Barr. Mbah was a reaffirmation that PDP would win all the polling units in the state, including the presumed support base of the opposition parties.
Hon. Igwesi said any doubt about the victory of Barr. Mbah and the PDP had already been cleared by the teeming number of people that left everything they were doing to express their love and readiness for Mbah’s candidacy.
Hon. Igwesi, a former member of the House of Representatives, said: “I don’t think we need any other election to prove that you have already won. The people have already delivered their verdict and they’ve shown they’re at home with your candidacy. All we need at the poll now is a mere formalization.
“These people have marched across the major streets of the capital to show their resilience and determination to give you victory, and to show that their tomorrow; that their future is secure with you as their governor.
“Your Excellency, you’ve demonstrated capacity, competence and leadership capability both in the public and private sectors and we are only waiting for you to give us that new state of economic prosperity you promised us.”
Earlier, the patron, Peter Mbah Support Group, Hon. Barr. Sam Ogbu Nwobodo, told newsmen that he was “thrilled by the turnout of supporters”, adding that, “this is legendary.”
Nwobodo described the outing as one in a million and a reconfirmation that victory had already been decided in favour of Barr. Mbah. The legal practitioner vowed that his group would not rest on the gain they had recorded but would continue to go the extra miles until the PDP gubernatorial frontrunner is declared winner on March 11, 2023.
While appreciating the overwhelming crowd for the uncommon strength and gesture it displayed, Barr. Mbah, who was satisfied with the crowd of supporters, stressed that the people had shown they were comfortable with the PDP over the past years.
Mbah said: “You have shown you are with the PDP yesterday, today, and that you’re going to be with PDP tomorrow, and that tomorrow we’re talking about is here.
“Indeed, you have shown today that you’ve taken this project as your own and this your demonstration is reassuring.”
Noting that elections were already around the corner and that the people were close to the finishing line, Mbah charged the jubilant crowd to come out in their large numbers with their voter’s cards and deliver overwhelming votes for the party.
He said: “We’re almost at the finishing line and we must finish it together. We must come out and replicate what you have done today at the polls, and together, victory will be ours.”
The oil magnet promised that his administration would ensure good governance and dividends of democracy, especially for the youths, women, and the general populace.
