ABA NORTH CHAIRMAN HOSTS 34 POLITICAL PRO-GROUP LEADERS, ASSURES FULL INTEGRATION AND UPCOMING EMPOWERMENT PLANS

The Executive Chairman of Aba North Local Government Area, Hon. Timothy Kalu Iheke, on Tuesday received in council the heads of all Political Pro-groups operating under the Aba North political bloc.

The delegation, which represents 34 active Pro-groups, was led by its General Co-ordinator, Hon. Promise Iroabueke.

Welcoming the delegation, Hon. Iheke expressed deep appreciation for their visit, noting that the meeting was one he had long anticipated. In his words, “I’ve been longing to meet you people to encourage you all and to also update you of where we are and also how we plan to navigate this time around.”

He acknowledged their sacrifices during the last election cycle and offered an apology on behalf of Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, saying, “I appreciate your efforts in the last election, but I can only apologize on behalf of His Excellency that we’ve not boosted all of you.”

The Chairman assured the group that their empowerment and full integration into ongoing political structures would be addressed between January and February, stressing that no committed supporter had been forgotten. He applauded their steadfastness in advocating for good governance championed by Governor Otti.

Speaking on the state of Abia when the current government took over, Hon. Iheke remarked, “You all know that the Abia we met wasn’t the Abia we expected. What we met on ground was like a burnt building, but now you all can witness the progress so far in just 2 years.”

He continued, “You can now see that things are now working. Infact before now one can hardly identify his or herself as an Abian, but today the narrative has changed.”

Hon. Iheke also highlighted that several members of the Pro-groups had already benefited under the administration, citing examples such as some becoming former councillors and specifically noting that Hon. Iroabueke serves as Supervisory Councillor for Finance under his own administration.

In a major revelation, the Chairman announced upcoming state-sponsored technical training for mechanical engineers who will maintain the newly acquired E-Buses purchased by the Abia State Government. He further disclosed that the firm responsible for the project would subsequently recruit trained participants for both state and external assignments.

Earlier in his address, the General Co-ordinator of the Pro-groups, Hon. Promise Iroabueke, congratulated the Chairman for his progressive leadership and peaceful administration.

“So far, since you assumed as the Mayor of Aba North, there’s been peace and we have recorded maximum progress under your administration. People of Aba North are very much happy with your good leadership,” He stated.

He emphasized that lingering crises that once destabilized Aba North had now become a thing of the past under Hon. Iheke’s leadership.

“There’s been calm and you’ve restored peace and that is why we deemed it fit to come together to say thank you and encourage you to do more,” he said.

Hon. Iroabueke further announced that ahead of 2027, all 34 Pro-groups had unanimously resolved to throw their full support behind Governor Alex Otti’s re-election bid in order to consolidate the gains of good governance.

Also speaking, Hon. Kennedy Okafor, former Transitional Committee Councillor representing Industrial Ward 02 and a leader of a Pro-group, highlighted the pivotal role played by Pro-groups in the last elections. He noted that they were instrumental in mobilization, organizing rallies, and even funding several activities to ensure a shift towards purposeful leadership.

He recalled that although the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, did not emerge victorious, the groups remain grateful that Governor Alex Otti has “changed the narrative of what good governance ought to be.”

The meeting ended with renewed commitments from both the council leadership and the Pro-groups, reinforcing a united front ahead of the next political cycle and ongoing d evelopment efforts in Aba North.