Speaking at the event that brought all Okpoko Stakeholders across party lines together, Mr. Ezeanua Nzeribe, told the crowd that Okpoko and indeed Ogbaru Local Government Area now have the dream opportunity to present not just a governor but the best candidate for the election pledging the total support of the community to Mr. Obaze. He reminded the community that after this opportunity, they may not get a chance until about 20 years time urging them to mobilize total support for Obaze.
In the same vein, a former Member of the House of Representative and in APC Chieftain, Hon. Afam Ogene, recounted how they campaigned for the governorship to come to the Northern Senatorial zone only for the incumbent to waste those years with his woeful performance in government. He said his support for Obaze is not because he's his brother but because he's at home with the work needed to be done in Anambra and posses the required competence describing Obiano as the Pharaoh Anambra is currently facing with Obaze, the Joseph that will rescue the State.
In his remarks, the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, bemoaned the unacceptable deterioration of Okpoko whose roads due for renewal are failing and the gutters an eyesore. He particularly decried the abandonment of the Obodoukwu road saying he will soon take a walk there to plead for the patience of the people for a PDP government to deliver the road. Obi reminded the stakeholders that during his campaign for Obiano, promised that if he fails to perform, he will lead the campaign for his removal.
“We had an agreement with the Federal government that if we do the road from Atani to Ogwikpele, they will construct the bridge across it. School fees is now 10 times what it used to be. The same with tax and levies and a lot more yet, there's nothing to show for it”.
“Sen. Chris Ngige was fighting a war of survival as governor yet he did 194KM of road in 34 months. In my first tenure with impeachment battles, I did over 400KM, can you name any road Obiano has completed in over three years?” he asked.
He added “Our foreign partners came here looking for communities to upgrade, we agreed on Okpoko and a UN Habitat study was conducted and recommended the need for Urban Renewal to build really special structures in the community but the project is yet to commence because our foreign partners don't believe in partnering with the incumbent governor, especially after Oseloka H. Obaze left as SSG”.
“Okpoko, this is the closest you've gotten to having a governor, you can't go wrong supporting OHO”, Obi concluded.
During his address, the PDP Candidate, Mr. Oseloka H. Obaze, who was visibly at home thanked Okpoko community for their total support. He maintained his commitment to human capital development through investment in education by devoting 26% of the budget to education as recommended by UNESCO with 10% going to faith-based schools. He also stated that his government will offer free education from kindergarten to JS3 while investing heavily on vocational training for Youths and artisans for improved skills and employable manpower.
On health, Mr. Obaze said “we will pass a Charity Care law that will ensure that in Anambra State, any emergency will be treated before payment is requested and with the charity care, once a patient is verified by the Charity Care administrator as indigent or unable to pay, the bill will be offset from the Charity Care fund”.
“Members of the Chamber of Commerce can contribute to the Charity Care fund, the government will contribute, Manufacturers association and other groups, this will positively touch many families in Anambra State and that's how government should function”, he concluded.