2027: IKONNE CHALLENGES AHIABA YOUTHS TO EMBRACE NEW LEADERSHIP, VOWS TO CONNECT ABIA SOUTH TO FG OPPORTUNITIES
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial Candidate for Abia South, Prince Paul Ikonne, has educated youths of Ahiaba Ward 5, Obingwa Local Government Area, on various Federal Government opportunities and empowerment programmes, while lamenting what he described as 20 years of disconnection between Abia South and the Federal Government.
Ikonne made this known on Friday during an interactive meeting with the leadership and members of the Oha-Ahiaba Youth Forum (OYF) at Ahia Nkwo Nwa-Elechi.
Addressing the youths, Ikonne led a redemption chorus with the words: “DO SOMETHING NEW IN OUR LIFE, DO SOMETHING NEW IN ABIA SOUTH.”
He described the Senate as a platform for influence, strategic lobbying and attracting development, insisting that the position should not be treated as a retirement destination.
“The Senate is not a retirement home. It is a market of influence, lobbying and attracting development. For 20 years, we have sent a man to that market without commensurate results. That is why Abia South has remained disconnected from meaningful Federal Government opportunities,” he said.
He observed that under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, several opportunities, including student loans, Bank of Industry (BOI) youth funding, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) grants and other empowerment initiatives, were available to Nigerians.
However, he argued that Abia South had not adequately benefited from these opportunities, attributing the situation to what he described as inadequate sensitisation and engagement by the current representation.
“Information is power. Politics is about alignment. Abia South needs a Senator who can sit where developmental policies are made. I offer connection, not confrontation; results, not rhetoric,” he declared.
Ikonne promised to attract federal projects and programmes that would accelerate development across Abia South and ensure that the people experience the benefits of the Federal Government’s policies and interventions.
In his remarks, the President General of Oha-Ahiaba Youth Forum, Comrade Chijioke Ochieze, expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as 20 years of poor representation, lamenting the absence of significant Federal Government legacy projects in Ahiaba Ward 5, Obingwa and Abia South.
“We are tired of a leader who only remembers us during elections. We have seen your antecedents at NALDA. Ahiaba Ward 5 will vote massively for Prince Paul Ikonne,” Ochieze declared.
Contributing, Mr. Nnamdi Kenneth Ugorji appreciated Prince Ikonne for recognising the youth forum and engaging directly with its members. He pledged that the Oha-Ahiaba Youth Forum would embark on house-to-house mobilisation to secure support for Prince Ikonne and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The visit was attended by several dignitaries, including Hon. Nnamdi Chidiebere Charles, Prince Adimchinobi Nwaigwe, Barr. Obinna Nwabiaraije, Hon. George Ubani and Prof. Solomon Iheonunekwu, among other political leaders and stakeholders.
The engagement provided an opportunity for Prince Ikonne to interact with the grassroots, explain his vision for Abia South and seek the support of Ahiaba youths ahead of the 2027 general election.
@Prince Paul Ikonne
Campaign Media Directorate
