Chairmanship Election : I have divine mission to positively change the narratives of Oguta LGA – Obodo

From Everest Ezihe, Owerri

As preparations for Imo State local government area elections slated for Saturday 21st September, 2024 heats up, Barr. John Bosco Obodo, a frontline aspirant for the Chairmanship of Oguta Local Government Area under the political platform of All Progressive Congress, APC says he has a divine mission of positively change the narratives of the council area if given the mandate.

Obodo who addressed Journalists on Monday with his mammoth supporters at the State Secretariat of APC along Okigwe Road, Owerri shortly after a crucial interaction with some of the party’s State Executive members

The renowned public servant who’s aspiring to led the oil rich people of Oguta LGA as their Executive Chairman, said it point blank, that he wants to use his wealth of experiences to better the lots of his people.

He seriously canvassed on the need of giving young people the opportunity to serve their people with youthful energy, visionary and purposeful leadership, while decrying the idea of using young people for political thuggery and anti social vices, mostly during elections.

“My mission is to correct the erroneous impressions some people have against the youths of Imo State and restore the confidence Governor Hope Uzodimma has on them as focused, patriotic, transformational and results oriented people.

“Am on this mission, to positively change the narratives and passionately better the welfare of our people, they know me, am only looking for the opportunity to serve and make them happy by truthfully renewing their confidence and trust in governance.

“It’s important to note that Governor Uzodimma has been on the forefront of positioning and empowering the youths that are competent and capable of holding positions of trust.

“Moreso, having been man of the people and well acquainted with their needs, if offered the opportunity, certainly, we will be focused in running with the ball, because I have already positioned my mind in changing the ugly narratives, in all strata of Oguta Local Government Area.

“It’s an obvious truth that Oguta LGA is blessed with abundant mineral resources like gas and crude oil, Governor Uzodimma has special interest in accelerated development of the area, thus, just recently his administration signed into law, the Orashi Electricity Regulatory Commission, the essence is to ignite steady power supply in the State” he noted.

The political icon observed that the vision is coming from Oguta/ Ohaji Egbema LGAs that have the gas deposits to empower the electricity, lamenting that It’s unfortunate that most of the youths from the oil rich council areas have no professional skills to with stand the current economic realities.

“The essence of youth empowerment is not by given them tricycles, motor bikes or clippers to open barbing salon. There’s the need to give the youths meaningful skills in tandem with the 21st century demands, so that they can gain competitive and meaningful employments, and would no longer be used by politicians or any body for violence or negatively.

“Once they are meaningfully empowered, they will be useful to themselves and will no longer be available for anti social vices”.

Obodo further expressed disenchantment that most of the rural communities in Oguta LGA are marginalized and neglected by lack of infrastructural developments and government presence.

According to him “just to shock you, there are so many communities in Oguta that have never experienced power supply from the ancient of days till date. This is why, am divinely committed in changing the ugly narratives in the council area through quality and qualitative collaborative partnership with the Governor who’s so much acquainted with the plights of the Council areas.

“It’s so annoying that in Oguta most homes are not aware of how to access quality health delivery, they still believe in the patronage of quack patent medicine dealers, with the assumption of being cheap but ignorantly unaware of the health hazards it constitutes.

“My mission is to give them proper orientation, make good and effective health facilities accessable and affordable, thus strategically changing the narrative to better alternative and inline with the new global order.

On the issue of agriculture, Obodo said that “it’s worrisome that our people, despite the massive land acquisition with natural fertility, still goes to Delta, Benue, Edo and Enugu States to buy garri and other agricultural products, this is totally unacceptable under my watch.

“Oguta Local Government Area has the capacity to feed their people and export excesses outside. It’s more annoying that the people are still using orthodox and archaic method of farming, this narrative must change by instituting mechanized farming methods with high yielding seedlings.

“We must say no to subsistence farming and say yes, to commercial farming, which is the in thing”.

He passionately appealed to all stakeholders of the local government area to support and encourage his mission and vision for the council area noting that he means well to them.

Adding his voice,
Similarly, Mr Elegbua Uzoma, an illustrious son of Agwa ancient autonomous community in Oguta Local Government Area, and a reverred Waste Management Consultant with Federal Ministries noted the aspirant as the people’s choice as an administrative icon, with pedigree and integrity.

Uzoma who applauded Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State for his administration’s commitment in conducting the local government elections, noting Uzodimma as youth friendly Governor while also canvassing on the need for him to give the youths the chances to pilot the affairs of the fourth tier government in the State.

The business guru who also commended Governor Uzodimma for his people oriented governance with legacy projects solicited for his unflinching support and cooperation with the aspiration of Obodo, reiterating that he is the best among the aspirants for Oguta Executive Chairmanship position in the forthcoming local government elections in the State.

According to him ” with Obodo, APC is sure of winning the Chairmanship of Oguta Local Government Area with ease, because he is man of the people, very intelligent, youthful and philantropic, for years now he has been serving Agwa Development Union, ADU as their Secretary General and his performances are very much commendable, just as he distinguishes himself as a legal luminary.

“He’s a grassroot person and a game changer when it comes to Oguta politics. Above all, he is very humble, respectful and listens as man of the people. It’s the uttermost desire, of Oguta youths for Governor Uzodimma to accept Obodo as part of the strategic measures of wiping out the tears of his Agwa Community people, based on the mayhems they have suffered in the recent past, due to insecurities and Hausa Fulani herds men incessant attacks on them and their farmlands” he pleaded.

Uzoma who is also youthful and an Onitsha based business guru, pointed out that his support for Obodo is out of the conviction that the aspirant as a patriot with fear of God and believes in the best services ever rendered is that rendered to humanity, will definitely perform in the overall interest of the populace.

He passionately appealed to the political leaders and stakeholders of the council area like His Excellency, Chief Gerrad Irona, Hon. Eugene Dibiagwu of Federal House of Representatives, Hon.Kerian Uchegbu of NDDC, Dr. Gideon Nwaeze, Prof. Innocent Anwuka among others to give the aspirant a chance in his vision and mission of transforming the local government area insisting that the people will not regret it.