The people of Obowo in Imo State, South-East Nigeria, have been enjoined to sustain the peace and political harmony existing in the area for accelerated development.

A former commissioner of Finance, Deacon Chike Okafor, made the call at the maiden meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at the council headquarters, Otoko.

He noted that such unity of purpose would enable the people to attract more democracy dividend from the present administration led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

Deacon Okafor called on the people to see themselves as statesmen rather than politicians who never think of the future of the people.

He maintained that Obowo had never had it so good in the last 12 years, noting that the change witnessed in the area was initiated by the present administration. He urged the people to sustain the change by keying into the mainstream of the governor in order not to be disadvantaged.

The ex-commissioner however called on the people to develop a formula to sustain what was happening in the area and pledged the peoples support to the visions and missions of the present administration. He said that the level APC had attained so far, would be difficult to sell PDP to the people of the area. He added that 2015 would take care of itself, if the people were re-oriented to embrace APC.

In his speech, Chief Austin Chukwukere, the state Organising Secretary of the APGA faction that joined APC, said that APC was a national party that had the interest of the generality of the masses at heart. He urged all to put aside their individual differences and embraces one another to achieve victory, noting that the mandate of APC was to wrestle power out of the Peoples Democratic Party and to deliver dividend of democracy to the people.

Chukwukere described the registration of APC by INEC is a signal for greater things to come.

Also speaking, the former state Deputy Chairman of the defunct ACN, Mr. Nzenwa Nwosu, said the registration of the party was an indication of good things that had come to stay. He called on APC members to operate on mobilising pending the release of the templates from the nation levels.

On his part, the chairman of APGA in the area, Mr. Lawrence Osuagwu said that APGA in the area had collapsed into APC and enjoined all to work together to achieve the desired result.

As for the erstwhile ACN chairman, Jude Anyanwu, he called for unity of purpose among the party faithful.

Contributing, a former Imo Commissioner for Health, Dr. Goodluck Anosike, thanked God for the opportunity given to the people to fight and defeat PDP through APC. He commended INEC for recognising APC in the country’s electoral system.

In his remarks, a former Commissioner of Police, Francis Ihekere, said the people of Obowo are solidly behind Governor Okorocha, noting that where ever he goes was where Obowo would go. He maintained that the people were not interested in the party, but in the vision of the present administration.

In his contribution, Mr. Brenard Acomas of ACN commended the manner the party members conducted themselves and urged them to work in one accord.

Also speaking, the Sole Administrator of Obowo, Mr. Wilson Chukwuocha, noted that the governor has in his efforts to place Ndigbo at the national level, acquired key position in the party for the Igbos. He called on them to be first soldiers and avoid bickering as to realise their goals.

The meeting was attended by the representative of all merging political parties in the state – ACN, ANPP, APGA and CPC.

•Photo: Deacon Chike Okafor, former Commissioner of Finance (left) with some other stakeholders of APC in Obowo LGA during their maiden meeting with the people of the LGA.