Sen. Sam Egwu, representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District has said that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) believed that through persuasion and appeal that the quest for political power could be achieved.
He, therefore, called on politicians and political parties to eschew violence and any threat that could compromise the legitimacy of forthcoming polls as they woo the electorate.
Egwu, who is seeking reelection to the Senate for a third term stated this at the party’s governorship campaign rally at the Ameka community in Onueke, Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi.
He noted that PDP had denounced violence in all its activities and believed in democratic norms where elected representatives were freely chosen by the people through the ballots.
Egwu, the first civilian governor of Ebonyi advised the party faithful and supporters not to fall for the alleged threats and intimidation of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) but charged them to vote according to their conscience on the day of the election.
He said: “I want to say again that as a party we do not believe in violence, we believe in persuasion and that is what we are known for.
” I’m appealing to APC who believed that they are going to intimidate our people that it is not possible; that we must vote according to our conscience and Ebonyi will prove that we are PDP.”
Egwu while commending the mammoth crowd of supporters that thronged to the rally, appealed to them to remain steadfast in their support for the party assuring that PDP would reclaim the state in the forthcoming election.
Meanwhile, Chief Ifeanyichukwuma Odii, the governorship candidate of the party in his address promised to run a human-oriented administration if elected assuring that youth empowerment, civil service reform and agricultural development would receive top priority.
“The government that will be under our watch will bring the total transformation of Ebonyi; it is a government that will give empowerment to the youths, and it is also a government that will bring total empowerment to the women.
” Our government will give premium to workers welfare; ensure timely payment of staff salaries, allowances, pay pension and gratuity to our retirees as well as ensure that the education system is prioritised for enhanced quality and quantitative education,” Odii said.
The PDP stand-bearer further promised to leverage his knowledge as an international businessman to industrialise the state and create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
“If someone comes to you and tells you that he wants to be governor, ask the person who are you, what have you done before you want to be a governor.
” Ask me (AnyiChuks), what I have done to qualify to contest for governor; I will say to you that before, in the past 18 years that I have been able to touch lives with my foundation which I cofounded with my wife, the AnyiChuks Foundation.
“We have built schools; theatres, hospitals, given start startup capitals to indigent people and we have built and donated over 150 houses to the less privileged indigene of the state.
” We will do more if God helps us to access larger resources and the suffering of our people will be over,” he added.
Odii called on the party members and supporters to vote for all the candidates of the PDP from the presidential candidate down to the House of Assembly candidates.
