Over 600 Local Government, Zonal and Ward executives of G17 in Enugu State, yesterday, paid a solidarity visit to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, declaring their unalloyed support and loyalty to the governor ahead of the 2023 general election.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General of G17, Sunday Ajogwu, commended Ugwuanyi for his administration’s developmental strides in Enugu State as well as its remarkable achievements in the rural areas.

Ajogwu, who stated that the governor was “the master of rural roads”, described him as a peaceful man and the Grand Patron of G17.

He disclosed that “the greatest achievement of this government is the peace we enjoy today in Enugu State”, adding that “we do not take that for granted.”

He added: “It is if you have security on the road that you can move around. If you don’t have security, you cannot move around. Thank you Your Excellency for providing peace and security in Enugu State. All the things you are doing in Enugu State we cannot start mentioning them one by one here.

“But if you plied through Agbani Road, you will see the hand of the governor there. Anybody who plied Nike Lake Road will see the massive flyover bridge project going on there.

“Your Excellency, you have vigorously constructed rural roads in Enugu State. You are a master of rural roads.”

Ajogwu, on behalf of the members of the group across the 260 electoral wards in the state, assured Ugwuanyi that “we are intact, loyal, motivated, ready, in high spirit and on the ground, waiting patiently for you to speak and you will see the wonders of this original G17”. 

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” he stressed. “This is the leadership of G17. Our G17 is not the G17 of social media. This is the original G17. We are on ground. Our leadership comprises the Director-General, three Zonal Heads, 17 LG Coordinators, 19 Executives in each of the 17 LGAs, 17 LG Directors and 260 Ward Coordinators.”

In their separate speeches, the three Heads of G17 in Enugu East, Enugu West and Enugu North senatorial districts, Okey Mbah, Destiny Nnagbo and Dr. Chris Onodugo, respectively, reiterated the stance of the group, saying they would follow the direction of the governor when the time comes.

On her part, the Woman leader of the group, Mrs. Lizzy Ani applauded Ugwuanyi for being gender-sensitive by using a woman as his deputy and appointing other women into government positions. 

She reassured the governor that the women at the grassroots were solidly behind his administration and would support his 2023 decisions.  

In his goodwill message, Basil Ani, pointed out that the group has the capacity to mobilise people and has “worked assiduously and tirelessly for the past five years behind the scenes in our various local governments to get G17 to where it is today.”  

“We were able to achieve significant mobilisation during the 2015 campaign and elections due to the enormous possibilities that abound when technology is effectively deployed by a people driven by patriotism and love for the administration of Your Excellency. 

“Your Excellency, I want to use this opportunity to reiterate that due to the signing into law of the new Electoral Act, the votes of every singular person must surely count and it will be our obligation to ensure that this statutory right of the populace is enforced, by deploying the latest technology available in 2022 backed with enormous enlightened and learned Human Resources. 

“My personal definition of a stakeholder is that man or woman who can deliver his polling unit at any cost without the primary intention of being recognised or rewarded. Your Excellency, I assure you that these men and woman present here in our midst today are willing to fight the good fight in ensuring that the political and electoral status quo is maintained,” he added.

Present at the event were the Patrons of the group in Enugu North and Enugu West senatorial districts, Chief Ikeje Asogwa and Chief Anayo Onwuegbu, respectively.