The Labour party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 General Elections in the Country, Mr. Peter Obi, has reiterated that he was not desperate to become Nigerian President, but strongly committed to impacting the poor, especially at the grassroots.
Mr Peter Obi, who was speaking at the maiden edition of the Amautu Village Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Summit at Agulu, Anoacho Local Government, decried the attitude of some privileged individuals who live in affluence without considering the plight of the poor around them.
Mr.Obi, who is also the former Governor of Anambra State, confirmed that he had only one building in Onitsha which he does not use often.
“What I have is one house at a time, nobody can point fingers at me and say that Peter Obi has a house in Abuja or Lagos”,he said.
“I worked as a Governor in Anambra State and I have no house in Awka or a piece of land given to me by government.
Even since I left as Governor of Anambra State, government had not even bought a sachet of pure water to me because I refused any form of gratuity or pension as a former Governor because I don’t want them.
He promised to refund the facilitator of the event, Aisha Edwards Maduagwu, the resources she used in organizing the programme, noting that Mrs Maduagwu is doing a great work with the sickle cell patients in the community, assuring that since she had started phase one of the programme that he will be part of it and extolled her and her team for putting the event together to assist the needy in the community.
The former LP Presidential Candidate urged privileged individuals in the society to always assist the poor around them without conditions.
He assured the community that he would support their Health centre project as soon as possible.
In a brief speech,a former Chaplin in Aso-Rock Abuja, Reverend Williams Okoye, represented by his daughter, Joy Okoye, assured the community that he is committed in making a difference in the area through impacting lives and encouraging development in the community.
Declaring the event open, the Chairman and a former Provost Federal College of Education, Technical, Umunze, Processor Josephant Ogbuagu, maintained that Agulu as a community has every reasons to always thank God for blessing them with Mr.Peter Obi, describing him as one great son of the community.
He bemoaned the existing politics of impunity in the country, noting that Mr Obi has become a household name in Nigeria because of his philanthropic gesture which according to him had traversed every length and breathe of the country without discrimination.
In a keynote address, the Guest Speaker and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics, Paul University, Awka, Professor Stella Okunna, described the LP Presidential Candidate, Mr.Obi as grassroots oriented person as well as a global philanthropist, advising the community to always pray for God’s protection and safety over him as he goes around doing good allover the country.
Also speaking, the Regent of Agulu Community, Chief Oliver Afamuefuna, said that the entire people of the community are proud of their illustrious son, Mr Obi, whom he said had impact in no small measure in the community and Nigeria at large, adding that they always pray to God to grant him his heart desires.
Earlier in her address of welcome,the facilitator of the programme and Director, Sickle cell Orphanage and Underprivileged Home, Agulu, Aisha Edwards Maduagwu, said that they have gather to celebrate a significant milestone in their community’s journey towards progress and prosperity by empowering 50 beneficiaries of their own women and youths with cash and equipment as well as providing them with tools they needed to unlock their potential in pursuing their lofty dreams.
She thanked Mr Obi for his tireless efforts in promoting human capital development in the community, describing the event as a momentous occasion in the lives of the beneficiaries and advised them to work towards contributing their quota to the growth and development of the community.
The Chairman of Amautu Village, Mr.Chilota Ibeh, in a remark, commended the philanthropic spirit of Mr. Obi and his positive impacts in Agulu community and beyond, Some of the beneficiaries who smiled home with a brand new sewing machine, a set of clipper and a set of hair addressing equipment with cash, including Mr.Ifeanyi Okonkwo, Doris Nwafor and Onuike Uchenna, thanked the organizers and financiers of the programme for putting smile on their faces, especially now the country is witnessing sever economic down turn.
The event which was graced by corp members serving in the community, featured presentation of the empowerment items to the beneficiaries by Mr Obi among other dignitaries, while cultural dance and drama among others things distinguished the occasion.
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