BY PATRICK OGBOGU
Asaba, Delta State Capital City South-South Nigeria, was agog with political activities Wednesday February 4,2015 as President Goodluck Jonathan accompanied by his wife Dame Patience Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo with the PDP Presidential train stormed Asaba in continuation of the president's nationwide campaign for his re-election bid for February 14,2015 general elections.
The Presidential Campaign team which included President Jonathan and First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, Vice President Sambo , National Chairman of the PDP Adamu Mu'azu, governors, national and state legislators, ministers, captains of industry and other top leaders of the party coincided with the grand finale of Delta PDP Governorship Campaign rally for Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and his running mate Barr Kingsley Otuaro.
Delta State government had declared Wednesday 4 a public holiday, while the popular Ogbeogonogo modern market Asaba, was shut down to enable the citizens to welcome the Nigeria President Jonathan to Asaba.
Suffice it to say that the PDP Presidential/ Governorship Grand Finale rally that took place at the Cenotaph Asaba was celebrated amidst pomp and pageantry.
Traffic was disrupted as major roads in the capital city namely Nnebisi Roads, Inter Bau, Summit, Bishop Nwosu, Cabinet office, Delta Broadcasting Service,the Cenotaph junction and the adjoining streets were cordon off by red eyes looking military and mobile police men in ensuring the security of the venue of the event. People had to pack their vehicles in a distance, some of them came on convoy and had to walk some distance to reach the venue.
The Cenotaph venue of the rally was given a new look in readiness of the rally as the floor of the arena was tarred with its fence extended and decorated with PDP banners, while President Jonathan and Senator Okowa's posters adorned every part of the venue; just as all billboards of those that lost in the last governorship, national and state assemblies primaries were removed.
The occasion was much to behold.
At about 10 am, a sea of heads had overtaken the entire Cenotaph as every part of the place was jam packed with men and women and the youths who waited patiently to see the president and the incoming governor of Delta State.
Major political pressure groups such as Goodluck Support Group, Delta Coalition for Okowa, Oshimili South for Onwusanya, Asaba for Okowa, Angela Nwaka Vanguard and the organised labour were adequately represented.
Women groups abound everywhere. Traditional chiefs and opinion leaders were also there to give blessing to the event.
Several cultural dancing groups from various local government areas of the state were on hand to entertain the audience and give it a beautiful cultural background and outlook, while some Nollywood actors and actresses and array of popular musicians including Daddy Showkey added glamour to the occasion.
Moreover, the pressure groups danced energetically round the arena clutching large posters of Jonathan and Okowa and other PDP candidates.
The occasion was reminiscent of the typical Ezeugbo cultural festival celebrated by the Asaba people and the popular Igwee festival of the Owa people as many visitors and participants including the Ward 6 Oshimili South Chairman Prince Paul Ofulue aka Panco tete did not mince words to say that they had never seen such a large political rally in the political history of Asaba.
Food and mineral vendors had a field day as they made brisk business and recorded huge sales.
Two giant balloon with the image and inscription of President Jonathan and Senator Okowa hovered round the sky and it became the cynosure of all eyes and captioned the imagination of onlookers.
The presence of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly Rt Hon Peter Onwusanya and his wife charged the occasion the more as shouts of 'Uncle Pee!' by the enthusiastic crowd filled the air.
The PDP Governorship candidate in Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa soon alighted from his convoy and walked into the waiting hands of top party leaders and was led to the podium amidst shouts of 'Ekwueme!' from the ever surging crowds. They sang in praise of Senator Okowa who smiled and displayed a sign of victory to the crowd.
The appearance of President Goodluck Jonathan and his presidential campaign team almost shook the very foundation of the Cenotaph as the crowd went into jubilation on sighting the president and waved flags to welcome him and his wife, the vice and others; President Jonathan kept smiling and waved to the crowd, affirming his commitment to the transformation of all sectors of the nations economy.
He said if voted into power he will work with Okowa to develop the youths through skill training and acquisition that will guarantee them employment and a secured future, adding that the Federal Maritime University and the proposed 16 Billion Delta Gas City in Ogidigben, Warri South West were two major projects meant to provide jobs and develop the state.
Dr Jonathan who punctuated his speech with broken English commended Deltans for producing great men and women who had done the nation proud, appealing to Deltans to vote the PDP in all the elections.
In his welcome address, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan assured the president of total support in winning second term in office, noting that the support was a reward for the president's unwavering support for the development of Delta State.
Dr Okowa and other people who spoke lauded Jonathan for his achievements.
President Jonathan later commissioned the new Government House, Asaba to the admiration of all.
No comments:
Post a Comment