By Patrick Ochei
Issele-Uku, the headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, Sunday, 5th February, 2023, became a beehive of activities as over 1000 okada riders, gathered under the aegis of Okada Riders Association, Aniocha North Branch, and expressed their implicit confidence in the candidacy of Hon. Prince Ned Nwoko and Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi for Delta North Senatorial District and Delta State House of Assembly elections respectively.
Nwoko appreciated them for their absolute support to his person over the years, assuring them he would do more to sustain the relationship as a Senator.
He posited that they would feel the impact of good governance this time, being a time Aniocha North alone would produce a Senator, a House of Representatives Member and a House of Assembly Member.
According to him, “This rare scenario means that power and government is coming to our people more than ever before in a unique way.
“To have this rare opportunity become a reality, we must have the complete team in place. The team must be PDP all the way, from Presidency to Governorship, to Senate, to House of Representatives and to House of Assembly.
“Everybody has to support the PDP, if not for anything but for the sake of Ned Nwoko. I know you love me and you know I cannot lie to you. We need a total overhaul of the Nigerian governance system. We need to rescue and reset Nigeria for the benefit all and sundry.
“First, I will stop the molestation of Okada riders by the Police. This is not to mean that I totally endorse the okada riding job for everyone of you. I know some of you are intelligent and educated but merely using okada riding as a means of survival.
“A time will come when we will sit and plan on how to improve your livelihood. I will not recommend okada riding for you, but if you must be involved in transportation of humans and goods, we will look at tricycles and cabs as more viable options.
“We will empower you, either through the government or I will do it personally. I will continue to fight on your behalf at every level. You need insurance policy to aid the job you do in the case of any eventual accident.
“I will also advise that you begin to register your business names. This is because the government that the PDP will form at the centre will empower about one million youths who will be going into Entrepreneurship with #50 million each. In my discussion with Atiku Abubakar and Ifeanyi Okowa, we agreed to make a special provision for the Nigerian youths, at least one million of them who will be able to come up with a viable proposal and qualify for the grant. This scheme will be handled by an Agency that will monitor and implement the project”, Nwoko assured.
On his part, Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi dazzled the Okada Riders with his usual singing and dancing to the entertainment of all, even as he showed his scorecard which encapsulated most of his achievements as a lawmaker in the past eight years.
He said he didn’t just come to campaign to them but to identify with them, owing to their unbroken support to him over the years.
Having presented copies of the scorecard to them as evidence of his social contract, he urged them to judge for themselves his capacity as a two term Legislator and that of other candidates who barely understand the functions of a lawmaker, let alone having the rudimentary experience that is required to attract projects to their Constituency.
However, the Chairman of the Association, Mr. Kilo Kachikwu welcomed the duo of Ned Nwoko and Emeka Nwaobi, praying for them to succeed in their electoral pursuits.
In his address on behalf of the Okada Riders Association, the Secretary, Mr. Fidelis Honnah assured both Nwoko and Nwaobi of their absolute confidence in them, affirming that the group would vote all the candidates of the PDP as resolved since the formation of the Association.
He said in line with their agenda for the elections, the group would start implementing its 2000-Man March for the PDP from February 10-12, 2023.
Moreover, in a unanimous affirmation of all the okada riders, they echoed their unalloyed resolve to back Ned Nwoko and Emeka Nwaobi, including other candidates of the PDP in the forthcoming elections.
