Posted by By Ogbonna Nwuke on
Colourful posters prepared by the people of Etche kingdom have appeared on the streets of Abuja....
Colourful posters prepared by the people of Etche kingdom have appeared on the streets of Abuja according to reports reaching our news desk.
Thursday the Etche people stormed Government House Port Harcourt to urge Governor Peter Odili who is yet to openly declare for the presidential race in 2007 to formally join the contest.
Our correspondent reports that the procession to Government House which began from the College of Arts and Science, Rumuola attracted quite a lot of attention as the Etche people carrying posters and handbills extolling some of the qualities, which have made the governor the man to beat in the forthcoming presidential elections slowly approached the city centre.
By Friday, the Telegraph gathered that the same posters had been put up at strategic areas in the federal capital barely 24 hours after the visit.
Chief Allwell Onyesoh, Commissioner for Sports who spoke with the Telegraph remarked, "The Etche people love Odili because of his exploits and what he has done for our people."
Onyesoh noted that Odili has endeared himself to most Nigerians and shown a strong commitment towards erecting bridges of cooperation between component parts of the nation.
"We are not mincing words when we say that the Eze Ugo I of Etcheland should enter the race", Onyesoh explained, "in terms of political profile, bridge building efforts and his excellent track record in delivering the dividends of democracy, there is no one in the land who is better placed to rule Nigeria and take democracy to greater heights than Governor Odili."
Bisi Nwankwo, a politician from Omuma, one of the two Etche speaking local government areas told the Telegraph, "the appearance of the posters in Abuja is evidence of our support and devotion to the Odili presidency in 2007"
"The Etche people", he went on, "are happy that our Golden Governor is being considered across the country as the man likely to succeed Obasanjo. It is the first time that a Rivers man would be taken so seriously in the race to the presidency and the Etche people are proud of this."
He said the support for Odili is unflinching and total and "we would place all hands on deck in our determination to ensure that he emerges president."
Wondering why that should be an issue in considering who should be president, they say that the fact that Odili has become the object of attacks is evidence that he is a strong contender for the presidency in 2007