By Obinna Nze
Since 1999 when this 4th Republic started, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has held on to the “Lion Building,” the seat of power in Enugu State. This has made the State to be described as “PDP State” by some members with sagacious expression to the annoyance of other political parties that have tried severally to dislodge them without success. It came to a point when getting PDP ticket in the State for any election is celebrated with fanfare before the real elections with the assurance of success at the end.
But this is about to end, according to a man who was a member of PDP since inception in 1998 and now a House of Representatives candidate of Labour Party for Nkanu West and East Federal Constituency Barr. John Edeh.
Speaking with this reporter exclusively in Abuja on Wednesday, the Labour Party candidate said that nothing will stop his party from sweeping votes in Enugu State during next year elections because the “Obedients” are prepared to change the narratives.
His words; “Our people are tired of PDP in Enugu State due to non-performance especially the current government of Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Enugu people are waiting and praying for the take over of the State by the Labour Party which has Hon. Chijioke Edeoga as its governorship candidate.”
He disclosed further that the look of things now shows that many Labour Party candidates in the state for the various legislative positions at State and the federal level and the Governorship candidate will sail through during the elections starting February next year by God’s special grace because our people need a change.”
To him, the Ugwuanyi government has performed woefully in the State in the past seven and half years. “He couldn’t maintain what they met on ground provided by very effective Sullivan administration when they came in or improve the well-being of the people with their own new projects,” he said.
Reminded that he was part of the government before he decamped to the Labour Party, he said that PDP in the State “lacks internal democracy, that is why many of its former members including the Governorship candidate left the party when a new and viable option came up.”
On the possibility for him to take over from the current PDP House of Representatives member Hon. Nnoli Nnaji who is recontesting, he said clearly that he will win.
According to him: “Let me tell you one thing, I was instrumental to the winning of some of them from our area in the past elections as I delivered all the wards under my control. And you think I can’t deliver myself with the support of majority of our constituency voters? The answer is positive because they love me both the elderly and the youths that constitute the “Obedients” family,” he said.
Barr. Edeh said also that without holding any serious political appointment since this dispensation, he has been able to empower many people in the State.
“I donated two transformers of 500KV to two different communities in my constituency to solve their power problem and helped other people solve some of their problems. I hope to do much more than that if by the grace of God I become their representative at the House of Reps after next year elections,” he posited.