The Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has declared interest to contest the Abia State Governorship seat at the 2023 General elections.
Abaribe made his interest known at a civic reception organised in his honour by Nzuko Ahiaba La Abayi, a sociocultural organisation in Ahiaba in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state.
He expressed his readiness to serve and to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people.
The lawmaker said “As an Igbo man, I respect constituted authority. I believe the number one citizen of the state should know and I have paid him that respect.
“I have let him know and by extension the people of Abia and I am telling the people of Abia to look forward to seeing me in charge in Abia state come 2023.”
Abaribe said that it was time for people of Abia to make choices that would facilitate enhanced socio-economic development in the state.
He expressed gratitude to God for divine guidance and thanked his constituents for organising a civic reception in his honour.
“This is a special occasion. I have been in politics since 1998. I have been in and out of politics and even gone to DSS custody because of Nigeria.
“This is the first time a civic reception is being organised for me.
“This occasion is significant because it is coming from my ancestral home and shows that they are saying that they are proud of my antecedents, achievements and that I deserve a title,’’ Enyinnaya Abaribe,” he said.
The Chairman of the reception, Sen. Adolphus Nwagbara, described Abaribe as one that had the interest of his constituents at heart.
Nwagbara urged the Senate minority leader to continually give quality representation on issues that would transform the lives of his constituents and Nigerians at large.
A representative of the Socio-cultural organisation, Mr Stanley Nwahiwe commended Abaribe for his contributions to the development of the area, saying the reward for hard work was more work.
“Sincerely we feel highly delighted and honoured by your actions and style of governance as a vibrant senator,’’ Nwahiwe said.
The Senate minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe was conferred with the title of “Maduforo Ndi Ngwa’’ (A man of the people in Ngwa land) at the reception.
Present at the reception were; a former Senate President Sen. Pius Anyim, a former Minister of Defence, Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Chief Okey Emuche, the National Secretary of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, among other dignitaries.
NAN