By Vincent Akogun
In the much anticipated interview by our correspondent in Akoko-Edo, Hon Christabel Eremah Ekwu spoke on her candidacy recently when she visited ward 5 principal officers as part of her consultation bid as the most popular candidate for the Edo State House of Assembly.
“I am Mrs Christabel Eremah Ekwu from constituency 1, also known as North Constituency in Akoko-Edo. I am going to be representing the constituency at the Edo State House of Assembly come 2023 by God’s grace,” she said when asked to introduce herself. The amiable lady was full of confidence as she exuded relaxed and reassuring ambiance.
“I have come a long way with the party and I am sure that its time my loyalty is rewarded. Over the years we were in the opposition, individuals like us had the opportunity to decamp, but we stood strong to keep the party afloat in Akoko-Edo and Edo State. I am not like the so called ‘election politician’ who are basically seen during elections contracting posters and all that without knowing or enhancing the growth of the party at the grassroot level. This ‘culture of abandonment’ must be discouraged in PDP. It is how you dress your bed you sleep in it. If every individual like us abandon the party to wait until elections, how and what do we go to to contest elections with?” She quarried in a matter of fact.
“We must deliberately hold the party together through sacrifices, encourage the grass-roots to grow, to continue to meet, to feel they are not just going to be used for voting alone but participate in policy formations in the party. They must be engaged during regular meetings to know their political and economical challenges and to help proffer solutions. The party must be promoted since we have a viable opposition in the LGA. We must be on ground to strategize to win, to register voters, to know where our strength and weakness lies, to participate in meetings…it is not enough to be ‘a diaspora’ politician without knowing what it entails to hold the party together to this level at the grass-roots. You must know how units run, how wards fair, how the LGA is being funded, rents, cost of organizing meetings and a gamut of other political activities here in Akoko-Edo.”
Asked to speak about herself, she had this to say, “Never underestimate yourself just because others don’t know you enough to believe in you. I am a visionary asset to Akoko-Edo PDP. I have over the years developed an impeccable character and an unusual dedication to the people of Akoko-Edo through my interventional NGO. My record proves commitment to not only in public service, but to the envisioned empowerment of women specifically because I think they are the fulcrum in which the family runs. I am young, a visionary, I am hardworking and very resourceful, I am energetic and accommodating, I am humble and accessible, I am a dedicated and a respectful woman who is keen on the wholesale development of Akoko-Edo.
“My sole and avowed aim of going to the Edo State House of Assembly is to deliver the dividends of democracy to my constituents through collaborative efforts. In the next 4 years from 2023, we will sit down to constantly appraise my efforts. Thank you for your time…I need to meet up with these ward 5 principal officers to continue with our political business that brought me here…”
