Men, women, youths and children of Ogwuaniocha, Mputu, Ossomala and Ogbakuba communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Tuesday, turned out in numbers to welcome the wife of the Governor Willie Obiano, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano , as part of her tour of the 181 communities in the state.
Speaking, the women leaders stated in their welcome addresses to Mrs. Obiano that their appreciation of her and the Governor Obiano was for bringing government presence to the area through the construction of the Ossomala-Umunnakwo-Mputu-Ogwuaniocha road the only access road crossing the communities, construction and renovation of schools, health-centers and the N20m Choose-Your-Self project which is ongoing in each town.
At Ogwuaniocha, the Woman Leader Mrs. Justina Nwobi stated: “our husbands, children are happy and are thanking you from their innermost heart for energizing, remembering and revisiting them… for the ongoing road project, we thank you and want you to hasten the work before on-set of the rainy season. This is our farming season, but many of us still came today to see you and we are happy.” In the same vein, the Woman Leader of Mputu, Mrs. Dorothy Omegbu said, “we thank God for the caring Governor His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, Akpokuodike, the man of the people, creative, honest and one who listens to the plight of his people. We thank God for giving him the wisdom to lead the state and for all his achievement…”
At Ossomala, more appreciation of the wife of the Governor and the charitable programmes of her NGO, Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ) by the Woman Leader, Mrs. Ebele Mbanefo who asserted “We are delighted to welcome you to Ossomala kingdom. You have been giving hope to the less privileged,” was echoed by the traditional ruler, HRM Igwe Victor Awogu, Okakwu who praised the well-known caring nature of Osodieme and the commitment of the governor to development of the communities and concluded that “Willie is working.” The joy and commendation at Ogbakuba community was no less effusive as the people thanked governor Obiano and urged him not to relent in his “good works which is seen and acknowledged by Ndi Anambra.”
Responding to the addresses,Mrs. Obiano thanked the people for their show of love and support to her and the governor, noting that the governor is anxious to give communities in the area a sense of belonging. As she put it: “one thing is to cast your vote for someone the other is for the person to remember you with good work and dividends of democracy. Obiano is humane and never shirks responsibility to the people.” she said.
The governors’ wife explained that the visit is to identify with members of the communities, note their challenges and take feedback to the governor who will review and proffer solution. She assured the people that the government is committed to rendering services to the communities for even development across the state, and that she will continue to support the efforts of her husband through the programmes of CAFÉ.
Mrs. Obiano called on people in the communities to avail themselves the opportunity to be trained by CAFE, which aims at eradicating unemployment amongst women and youths through skill acquisition training and empowerment. She explained that through the NGO she supports indigent women and youths as well as indigent widows and the less privileged.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Roads, Rail & Water Transportation, Hon Chinwe Nwaebili, told the crowd at the various communities stops that governor Obiano has shown good faith by embarking on key projects in the area especially the roads, and assured that the government is committed to successful execution of projects in the communities like the Choose-Your-self-project and urged each town to quickly complete the first phase and go for the second. The Commissioner informed Mrs. Obiano that the area boosts a large voting population and have resolved to support the governor.
On his part, a Youth Leader, Mr. Sunday Mbanugo also stated that the communities has every reason to be happy because governor Obiano is the first to remember them by constructing access road and N20m project for among other projects the towns.