In place of the sit-at-home order, issued by the separatist group, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), thousands of Imo youths today held a solidarity rally in support of the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari and governorship ambition of former Chief of Staff to the Imo state Governor, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu.
The youths, who adorned customized T-shirts embossed with President Buhari and Nwosu’s pictures, marched through major streets in Owerri, chanting pro-Buhari and Nwosu slogans.
As a result of the rally, there was heavy gridlock along major roads as vehicular and human movement were grounded.
Speaking while receiving the youths at his campaign headquarters, Nwosu, who is a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), assured the youth that the APC-led administration was doing everything possible to ensure that Nigerian youths are given opportunity to achieve their goals through the provision of sustainable employment.
He commended them for supporting the re-election bid of President Buhari, stating that it is the surest way to Igbo Presidency in 2023.
He said, “I want to thank the youths for your unflinching support for me and President Buhari and I want to say it again that the re-election of President Buhari is the surest and shortest route to Igbo Presidency”.
Chairman of the Imo Youth Council, Hon Jeff Nwoha, who spoke earlier, said that Imo youths have come to thank him (Nwosu) for accepting the clarion call to join the governorship race.
He said their decision to draft him into the race was influenced by the fact that he will sustain the legacies of the Rochas Okorocha’s administration, which they said has brought unprecedented development to the state.