By Oninyechi Nwankwo
Moved with compassion for his people over their social and economic deficiencies, an altruistic leader in Umuchoko Obube in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, High Chief Albert Uchenna Ahanonu (Arufuoaku Chukwubuikem 1 of Umuchoko Obube), has declared his interest and readiness to help improve the standard of living of his people, hence he purchased the Nomination/Expression of Interest forms for Owerri North Chairmanship Seat.
Ahanonu, in a chat with our reporter after he had obtained his Chairmanship forms at the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Party Secretariat, in Owerri, recently, expressed disgruntlement over the suffering of the people of Owerri North.
Stating his reason for contesting the election billed to hold on 21st September, 2024, Ahanonu said he was tired of the suffering of the agrarian people of Owerri North, saying he has a tender heart and he is ever ready to make genuine sacrifices to arrest their economic and social despairs, as he would not watch them continue to languish in penury and pains.
He expressed grief that the locals feel abandoned by the system. “Nelson Mandela once said ‘a good leader is the one that hears the heartbeat of his people’ and when asked how could one hear the heart beat of his people, Nelson Mandella explained that ‘one must bring your ear close to their heart’. So, a leader must get close to his people to know and understand their predicaments in order to find a solution”.
Ahanonu noted that his love for his people motivated his decision to run for Executive Chairman to holistically interact and share views to tackle the challenges in the local government.
Ahanonu intensively discussed three tiers of major projects he intends to actualize “the power sector, agriculture, and industrial/production industries. Many investors followed me into the country and I believe the current government has created enabling environment to continue promoting these developmental projects. For instance, sugar production with sugar beets, which is already seen in places such as Egypt and the western world.
“As Executive Chairman, the establishment of a sugar beet factor in Owerri North, will not only create a food chain that will provide thousands of jobs for the local and state government and the nation at wide, it will also create byproducts to use as animal feed in the agricultural industry. The hydro plant that will generate power for the factory will also create enough power for Owerri North and surrounding areas to have continuous light”.
Reassuring the people of his commitment to attract dividends of democracy to them by upholding republicanism and rule of law, Ahanonu appealed to them to give him full support, as well as vote him in as their Executive Chairman, vowing that he will not disappoint them, but make them proud.
