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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Widows across the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi State have declared their support for the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ifeanyi Odii, for next year’s general election.
The widows declared their support for Odii at the weekend, in Abakaliki, the state capital, during a gathering in solidarity with the PDP governorship candidate.
Speaking at the event, their leader, Mrs. Patricia Okun, said the decision to support Odii, popularly known as Anyichuks, was borne out of his consistent support for widows in the state.
“I am the state Coordinator of this Widows Assembly. I am very happy and very grateful. Today, the widows in the 13 local governments are here to endorse Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, the PDP governorship candidate, as our candidate because of what he has been doing for us and our children.
“I lost my husband 10 years ago and nobody has ever asked me how I’m doing, even the government, except Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, the husband of the widows. He honestly takes care of the widows.
“I don’t know for the other side, but for me and others here, we are happy with AnyiChuks and that is why we are gathered here to pray for him and assure him that we are supporting him in the 2027 general election that is coming.”
In his response, the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, thanked the widows for their solidarity and assured them of inclusiveness in his administration if elected.
Odii, represented by the National President, Odozi Obodo Youth Assembly, a support group of the governorship candidate, Mark Onu, said he deliberately insisted that the leadership of the widows group must be led by a widow who understands their pains.
“AnyiChuks, for you to know, is a man that tries to put eyes in all the necessary places. We still remember that in this state widows should have a say.
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“Widows should have a say. Because in some societies, widows are not recognised. The man who has been backing them cannot be there and people will relegate them to the dustbin.
And AnyiChuks has said ‘this will not be the way I will run my government. My government is going to be a government of inclusiveness’.
“Widows will have an office in his government. Widows will be given the opportunity to speak and we will listen to them. In this state, if all the widows come out and do solidarity marches in whatever thing they believe in, no government can joke with whatever thing they ask for. Because widows have authority. God listens to their prayers very fast.
“Did you know what it means when a widow cries? If you offend a widow and she cries and opens her mouth and says something, it will be very difficult for such a thing not to come to pass,” he said.
Onu further noted that widows face enormous challenges in raising their children alone and deserve the support of any God-fearing leader.
“Did you know why AnyiChuks insisted that it must be a widow that would lead the widows? The reason is that if you are not a widow you will not know the pain of a widow. You may see a widow that has five children to take care of when husband is no longer there.
“The children may not be financially buoyant. That widow will go to sell akara. That widow will go to sell pure water. That widow will carry yam on her head and move around the whole Abakaliki, just to sell that food item in order to feed the children. These are what widows are passing through in this state.
“So that’s why Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, the incoming governor of Ebonyi State, said that your state coordinator should meet with you people, to assure you that all is not lost. That he is your son, he is also your husband. That he is ready to always identify with you in the morning, in the afternoon and in the night,” he added.
He urged the widows to translate their support into action on election day by coming out with their Permanent Voter Cards, voting and ensuring their votes are counted. He also disclosed that arrangements were being made to include widows in the campaign council and appealed to them to continue praying for the PDP candidate.
“Continue to pray for High Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii. Prayers are also part of support because God listens faster, and answers faster when widows come together and pray,” Onu stated.
