By Fidel Ozugha
Protocol
It’s with immense joy and every sense of humility that I stand before you today to accept this task of leading the youths of our great town Abagana. You all will agree with me that the journey to this destination has been a long and tortuous one. We’ve had to weather several storms and waltz through so many mazy paths to get here. Thank God for the resilience shown by all of us in this arduous journey.
Let me first and foremost salute all the youths of Abagana for our tenacity, sacrifice, and commitment towards the process of electing Abagana Youth EXCOS. As someone who was involved in all the processes and stages of this history making contest, it’s not lost on me the enormity of the responsibility that has been thrust on our shoulders. On behalf of other members of the newly elected executive, I promise you that we will not disappoint. We’re willing, ready, and adequately poised to give our very best in the service of Abagana youths and our town. We will do all it takes to defend and protect the interest of our youths; project the image of our town.
Before proceeding, let me appreciate the Igwe Abagana, the President General, and the entire executive of AWU for being committed to project Abagana Youths. Sincere gratitude to the Abagana Youths caretaker committee ably led by comr. Obum Kujah for remaining resolute and insisting that the right things should be done rightly. Big ups to the members of the screening committee, which first disqualified me. That disqualification played a key role in the fine tunning our strategy as well as increased our alertness to the dangers of being awake without being observant. My very special and sincerest appreciation to the Hon. Elochukwu Nwokoye Appeal Committee for the courage to stand firm and ensure that the right thing is done despite all the pressure. To the electoral committee, thank you for giving us a free, fair, transparent, and credible youth election. I also salute the courage of other comrs. who played several other roles in the run into this election. I also thank the ASATU youth team who observed the whole process yesterday. To the security agencies that were present throughout the voting process, kudos to you all.
To all those who contested this election, I thank you all for being part of this contest. Abagana nwelu mmadu! To all my supporters, especially members of my campaign team, this victory is a testament to your dedicated labour and commitment to putting Abagana on the path of growth and progress. It’s my earnest prayer that God repays each and every one of us, pro rata, for our works.
Distinguished colleagues, this election is concluded, and you all have given me this mandate to serve. Let me tell us, this victory is not mine alone rather a victory for the entire Abagana youths, it’s a victory for the entire Abagana people for I know I have a number of things to offer to our beloved town. I’m deeply committed to leading Abagana youths to take its rightful place in the onerous task of salvaging our town and getting her out of doldrums occasioned by our collective actions and/or inactions. Never again shall our youths stand idly by why Abagana is trampled upon. Consequently, I invite all the contestants who lost the positions contested to join us in what I choose to call Abagana Renaissance.
As an attendant to the foregoing, my administration will be anchored on honesty, transparence, fairness, credibility, truthfulness, speedy and precise handling of issues, and respect to whomever is deserving. We shall be humane and firm in discharging our responsibilities.
Comrade Emeka Okajiegbe Benedict (Ijele)
