Youths operating under the aegis of Ihitte Uboma Youths Association at weekend endorsed Hon. Chike John Okafor for a third term in the House of Representatives.
Okafor, a two-time lawmaker represents Ehime Mbano/Ihitte-Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State in the National Assembly.
The youths gave their nod at a meeting held at the Umuoma country home of their leader, Christopher Achi.
Christopher who described the meeting as symbolic recalled that the youths of Ihitte Uboma resolved in 2014/2015 to change the political narratives of the area and succeeded.
According to him, the decision of producing political leaders of their choice has stopped the old order of imposing leaders on them.
He averred that that the decision paid off with the election of Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu, Hon. Chike John Okafor of the House of Representatives and Hon Uche Ejiogu of Imo State House of Assembly.
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The youth leader said Okafor has proved his mettle through outstanding performance and visibility on the floor of the House.
He recalled how the lawmaker played a major role in the nomination and election of former House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
According to Christopher, “Deacon Chike did not disappoint them in his first term between 2015 and 2019 which informed his re-election in 2019.
He added that Okafor has continued to justify the confidence reposed in him by attracting various life-changing projects.
He recalled that in 2015 the youths endorsed Okafor as against their own brother and sister who were contesting for the same office on the platforms of the opposition PDP and APGA.
Christopher further averred that Okafor started endearing himself to the people when he served as the Imo State Commissioner of Finance and has consolidated with his superlative performance as a federal lawmaker.
In their separate speeches, two notable members of the association, Ifeanyi Anyanwu and Emeka Eguzo noted that a third term mandate will place Okafor at a vantage position to occupy presiding officer’s position at the House of Representatives.
They observed that some federal parliamentarians that later clinched principal positions in the House like Emeka Ihedioha who became Deputy Speaker attained the position as a ranking member on a third term mandate.
Responding, Hon. Chike Okafor expressed gratitude to the youths for their endorsement in 2014 of his candidature despite the fact that his two main rivals on the platforms of APGA and PDP were from Ihitte Uboma.
He listed his achievements to include annual free medical/surgical outreaches, building of blocks of class rooms, rural electrification, facilitating federal employment opportunities, poverty alleviation initiatives and payment of WAEC and JAMB registration fees.
Okafor pledged to do more for the people, bearing in mind that the sole purpose of holding political office, whether elected or appointed is to attract projects and programmes that could improve the well being of the people.
