Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ukwa West LGA have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to appoint their son, Mr Odinakachi Nwankwo on the board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The appeal was made during a solidarity rally in Ukwa West on Monday, where party members said Nwankwo had the capacity to deliver for the oil-producing council.
Chief Uju Nwaire, former APC Chairman of Ukwa West, said the gathering was to thank the President and show support for Nwankwo.
He said Nwankwo had supported the party in many ways and always reached out to know happenings in Ukwa West.
Nwaire stated that whenever he had financial difficulties as chairman, Nwankwo supported him and the party structure.
He said Nwankwo was humble, loyal, friendly and a grassroots politician who invested heavily to sustain APC in Ukwa West.
He urged the President to carry Nwankwo along, adding that with his appointment, Ukwa West would witness rapid development within six months.
He lamented that despite being Abia’s only oil-producing LGA, Ukwa West lacked good roads, markets and other basic infrastructure.
He said the people did not know where NDDC funds allocated to the area were being channelled.
Nwaire alleged that projects were being diverted to non-oil areas, especially Bende Division, while Ukwa West remained neglected.
He said Nwankwo was a man of the people and enjoyed massive support, promising that Ukwa would deliver more votes to Tinubu in 2027.
He said if Nwankwo was carried along, the President’s 2027 votes in Ukwa would surpass previous records.
Another party leader, Mr Innocent Chiuwa, said the gathering was organised by Nwankwo’ s political structure to thank Tinubu for restoring equity to Ukwa West.
He noted that the President returned the House of Representatives ticket to Ukwa West for 2027 and gave the Abia South senatorial ticket to Aba South.
He said many people joined APC because of Nwankwo, describing him as a peace advocate with unquestionable character.
He pleaded with the President to remove what he called the influence of some cabals in NDDC appointments.
He said Ukwa West had no NDDC roads, school projects, scholarships or adequate solar lights despite having 36 villages.
He urged the President to personally appoint Nwankwo as commissioner, saying he had been tested and trusted since 2019.
Mrs Chinyere Oguguo, the women’s leader for Nwankwo structure, said women were behind Tinubu and his wife for 2027 and sought inclusion for Ukwa West women.
She said women lacked many things and wanted the President to remember them in his programmes and appointments.
Dr Felix Chidubem, an illustrious son of Ugwati-Asa, thanked the President for his love for Asa people and anticipated Nwankwo’s appointment.
He said the crowd was a sign of support for Tinubu’s re-election and for Nwankwo’s emergence as NDDC commissioner.
A community leader, Chief Onyekaozuru Nwankwo said Ugwati land was fully marginalised and believed Nwankwo’s appointment would benefit grassroots people in Ukwa West.
The crowd carried placards with inscriptions urging Tinubu to consider Nwankwo for NDDC and pledging support for his 2027 re-election bid
