PEACE AND POVERTY ERADICATION, MY 2 POINT AGENDA FOR ANINRI – HON BENNET AJA, IGWE MENNIA, ANINRI PDP LG CANDIDATE



Awgu: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), candidate in Aninri LGA in the forthcoming Enugu State Elections, Hon Chief Bennet Aja has stated that his vision for Ndị Aninri is encapsulated in his 2P Agenda.
Hon Aja, a Port Harcourt based business magnate and philanthropist made the assertion while addressing a massive crowd of supporters at the grand finale of his Local Government campaign tour held at Okpanku, his hometown.

Indeed, it was a heroic homecoming for the man popularly called “Igwe Menia” by his teeming admirers, as the people of Okpanku came out in unison to express support and solidarity for a deserving son of the soil.
He started his speech with a popular Igbo Christian song, “Asị na ọ bụghị Jehova”, in thanksgiving to God for finding him worthy to be the PDP candidate in the forthcoming Enugu State Local Government election.
Continuing on the same note of thanksgiving, he said, “I thank God for giving me money and as well providing those who I would help.
“As several speakers here have said, I never knew the Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi, from Adam before my emergence as the PDP candidate.

Elucidating on his 2P Agenda, he stressed that his 2P Agenda stood for Peace and Poverty Eradication.
“I’m not coming to Aninri to make money. I have come to work. God brought me to bring peace and progress and as well to fight all forms of injustice, He brought me to fight poverty in Aninri. I cannot achieve any of this without your support.
“Dangote is a man born of a woman. If Aninri has a Dangote, our youths won’t be looking for jobs. If we have more rich people in Aninri, we shall be able to provide more employment for our people and there will be less poverty.
He also promised not to forget how those present left all their engagements to attend the grand finale of his campaign tour.
“Help me by drawing my attention whenever you feel am going wrong. I will appreciate that more than your clapping for me.
Finally, he asked for prayers from all and sundry,
“I urge you to pray for me, that I may have Solomon’s wisdom, so as to be able to achieve all I intend doing, if elected into office as Executive Chairman, Aninri Local Government Council.
The first port of call of the campaign train was the Palace of the traditional ruler of Okpanku, HRH Igwe Reginald Aja Chukwu , Mkpume Asaa of Okpanku, where the royal father gave him royal blessings and as well handed him an “ọfọ”, the Igbo totem of authority and moral fortitude.
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Earlier, the member representing Aninri in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon Engr. Chinedu Okwu was full of praises for all political leaders in Enugu State and Aninri
“We thank our Governor, the leader of PDP in Enugu State for his infrastructural development. Also, we thank Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Ikeoha, three time Deputy Senate President, who is responsible for most of the infrastructural development in Okpanku same as our late brother, Hon Chief Mathias Ekweremadu, Jnr, Eze Igbo na Dengi.
“The Senate has approved the Federal University of Agriculture, Mpu. The development will spill over to Okpanku and other parts of Aninri.”
He then introduced Emma Aja Ogbonna as the PDP Councillorship candidate in Okpanku Ward.
In his own speech, Hon Vicctor Okoro, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP I’m Aninri LGA assured the electorate that Igwe Menia was God sent
“God does not look at faces but at the heart to bless those he wishes to bless. People should stop doing “Eye service” ; it does not pay.
“Igwe Mania has been going around blessing and empowering people from his own resources as an individual and from nowhere God chose him”
According to Hon Mrs Ijeoma Chukwu, a one time Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA,
“Igwe Menia’s emergence as PDP Chairmanship candidate was not by chance, but divinely ordained.
“Ndi Okpanku gave him the title, “NNANYEREUGO”, meaning God given victory, decades ago.
In her own speech, Dr Mrs Dorathy Odi, Woman Leader, Enugu West Patriotic League urged women and everyone else to turn out enmasse to vote for PDP and Igwe Menia.
Hon Peter Aja, SSA to the Enugu State Governor on Transport spoke on behalf of the Enugu State Governor’s appointees from Aninri LGA
In his words, “The entire Aninri has endorsed Hon Chief Bennet Aja, Igwe Menia. The four Oduma wards endorsed him, the three Nenwe wards equally endorsed him. Ndeagboh and Mpu did the same and today, Okpanku has done same”
Hon. Engr Dr. Charles Aja, Director of Works, Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu and a former Commissioner for Water Resources in Enugu State thanked God for answering the prayers of Ndị Okpanku and Ndị Aninri through Igwe Menia.
According to him, Okpanku had been marginalized since Igwe Menia’s emergence as PDP Chairmanship candidate was the first time they had the chance to produce an elected executive Chairman of the Local Government Area.
In his own speech, Hon Uche Ogbonna,the Enugu State Commissioner for Labour and Productivity said “My message is that of Thanksgiving. We (Okpanku) appreciate Ndeagboh for conceding to us.
The former Caretaker Chairman of Aninri LGA continued, “Okpanku has not been marginalized.We have been blessed in so many ways ; with infrastructure, with Caretaker Local Government Chairmen, with a former Provost of the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA. Okpanku has best network of roads in Aninri. We thank the Governor, we thank Ikeoha”
In his own remark, Hon Engr Emma Chukwu, one of the pillars of the party from Okpanku and a strong ally of Late Chief Mathias Ekweremadu, Jnr, Eze Igbo, said he did not have much to say other than that “the battle is over”.
The political juggernaut also known as “Elder” equally thanked God who made it possible for Okpanku to produce the flag bearer of PDP in the forthcoming Local Government Elections.
Hon Chief Amos Oshi urged all present to observe a minute’s silence in memory of Late Chief Mathias Ekweremadu, Jnr, Eze Igbo, who he referred to as his “boss”
Also, footballers from the Okpu Football Association presented a cup they won in a competition to him as well as a medal. Igwe Menia has remained a key financier of the football team from Okpu, his own village in Okpanku.
In his vote of thanks, the PDP Councillorship candidate, Hon Aja eulogized Igwe Menia on behalf of Okpanku students and youths, referring to him as their “cheque master” owing to the uncountable number of times he gave them cheques (financial support)