The Member Representing Okigwe South Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives Abuja and House Committee Chairman on Health Care Services, Hon. Deacon Chike John Okafor has thrown his weight behind the decisions of the Imo State Governor and leader of the Rescue Mission political family in the State Owelle (Dr.) Rochas Okorocha (OON) as regards his anointed candidate for 2019 general elections. This was conveyed through his successful hosting of Okigwe zone APC meeting at Umuariam Obowo penultimate Sunday, 25th March, 2018 where the APC party leadership and officials from the 64 wards of the zone, across six Council Areas unanimously reaffirmed their loyalty to the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and also adopted his anointed candidates at all level including Ugwumba Uche Nwosu for Governor, Prof Nnamdi Obiareri for Okigwe zone Senate seat and others.
Addressing a mammoth crowd of party faithful who thronged in their numbers across the six Council Areas of the zone to participate in the epoch making meeting at UmuariamCommunity Primary School, Obowo LGA to participate in the epoch making meeting, the Umuokeh Obowo born Crown Prince and former Senior Manager of Zenith Bank Plc Deacon Chike Okafor reiterated that he convened the meeting to bring everybody together to strength the party in the zone ahead of 2019 general elections and also adopt Governor Okorocha’s anointed candidate from the zone as well as the gubernatorial candidate, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu.
He admonished all and sundry to always keep fate in relationships and avoid biting fingers that fed them in life, adding that he who fails to know where he was coming from may not know where he is at the moment and would not know his next direction. He stressed that he never got involved in politics in his life until he met Ugwumba Uche Nwosu who in his magnanimity introduced him to the Governor Rochas Okorocha at the verge of his emergence as the fifth Executive Governor of the state in 2011 and thereafter got appointed through that contact as the Commissioner of Finance under the Rochas Mission Government.
According to the winner of the Best Committee Chairman Award in the 8th House of the Green Chamber, the way Uche Nwosu had related with him since then and the massive support he received from him and the Governor when he was drafted by his people to contest for the Federal House of Representatives election in 2015 made him full of gratitude and appreciations to Uche Nwosu and Okorocha.He further revealed that the Governor in his magnanimity connected him with some people and guided himon how to play national politics at the National Assembly which eventually made possible his emergence as a Committee Chairman despite his first timer disposition.
Deacon Okafor acknowledged the massive support he has received across board in his Federal Constituency and the good will messages from the leaders who eulogized him on his giant strides in diverse areas and observed that since the consensus was that he has performed creditably in his first outing and that if he returns for a second term that he will do much better and thatguided by that conviction and clamour, he has decided to answer the clarion call to offer himself for mandate renewal with firm belief that the slot for speakership may not elude him if he returns to the Green Chamber.
He told the people of the zone that were gathered that his former lecturer at the University Prof. Nnamdi Obiareri who has been anointed for the Senate position was eminently qualified and called on all and Sunday to throw their weight behind him. He also made case for the gubernatorial aspiration of Ugwumba Uche Nwosu whom he acknowledged had requisite sterling qualities needed in a Governor and urged everybody to continue supporting the Governor and other candidates anointed by him in the interest of continuity and consolidation of the massive developmental strides in the last seven years.
In his remark, the Chief of Staff to the Imo State Government and a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the ruling APC in the state, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu conveyed his appreciation to the people of Okigwe South and Okigwe zone for their support and reiterated that their worthy son and representative, Deacon Chike Okafor has been and remained his bossom friend and confidant. He admonished party faithful to be mindful of strangers in the party who are now trying to displace the original owners as they now strive to reap where they did not sow.
The Chief of Staff promised to continue to carry everybody along in the system, adding that he had no doubt in his mind that he would eventually succeed in his gubernatorial bid. He also said that his case was similar to the biblical episode where little David was anointed despite his age and low status and encouraged party faithful not to be afraid of the rantings of the opponent whose capacity cannot be matched with the Rescue Mission family.
In his remark, the State Chairman of the APC, Dr. Hillary Eke thanked the people of the zone for such wonderful package and assured that there will be level playing field in the conduct of the upcoming party primaries at all levels, adding that Deacon Chike Okafor and the entire people of Okigwe zone had demonstrated steadfastness and commitment towards the growth of the party in their area. He further said whatever any party faithful aspires is rested squarely on the shoulder of the electorates and God Almighty who gives power.
Speaking earlier on behalf of the entire stakeholders and leaders of Okigwe zone APC, the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Acho Ihim stressed that the unity of Okigwe zone was sacrosanct and on the strength of that they had resolved that their illustrious son Deacon Chike Okafor should return to the Green Chamber for a second term mandate so that the good work he started could continue and by God’s grace, attain the position of the Speaker of the Chamber.
He also said that Prof. Obiareri had been adopted for the Senatorial Representation as alreadyanointed by the Governor who is the leader of the party in the state.
Hon. Ihim announced to the gathering that the gubernatorial aspiration of Ugwumba Uche Nwosu was a settled matter hence the people of Okigwe zone have unanimously adopted him so that the good works or the Rescue mission would continue. He there and then invited the Chief of Staff to the podium to address the people.
Other prominent leaders from Okigwe zone who spoke in consonance with the adoption of UgwumbaUche Nwosu as the Governor, Chike Okafor for mandate renewal and Prof. Obiareri for Okigwe Senatorial position included Hon. Kennedy Ibe representing Obowo in the Imo State House of Assembly, Barrister Emma Ibediro, Commissioner for Local Government, from Onuimo, Hon. Joy Mgbeahurike, Commissioner for Market Development from Isiala Mbano, Ifeanyi Onwuenyiagba, Commissioner for Youths from Obowo, Emma Buka Iwuanyanwu, Commissioner for Technology and Science Education from Ehime Mbano, Engr. Uchendu from Ihitte Uboma alongside party leaders and officials from the three Council Areas of Okigwe South whose remarkswere full of praises for Deacon Chike Okafor.
The Obowo declaration signaled the preparedness of the Rescue Mission family to actualize the lofty objective to deliver the ruling APC at all levels in the upcoming 2017 general elections.It was a harvest of encomium as much emphasis was made on how Deacon Chike Okafor had brilliantly represented the Area in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly and the efforts he has consistently made to galvanize the party in the zone which could amply be buttressed by the successful hosting of the zone at Obowo.
