By Deborah Hassan
365Daily– Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Southeast zonal leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Odu Olisaemeka Onyeka, has mobilised social media influencers to counter blackmail against the party in the zone by the opposition.
To achieve this, the South East Zonal leader organised a one-day retreat for APC youth media influencers from the five states of Southeast at a one-day retreat in Awka, Anambra State on Wednesday, February 16, 2022.
The theme of the retreat jointly sponsored by the Johnbosco Onunkwo foundation is “Youth and social media, the great assets of a progressive party.”
He noted while addressing then that despite the enormous legacy projects of the APC-led federal government in the zone, including the 2nd Niger Bridge, Onitsha-Enugu; Onitsha-Okigwe expressways, various empowerment programmes and many other achievements, “members of the opposition have continued to deceive unformed persons in the area that “APC is a northern party’
Onyeka charged them to be prepared to “market any presidential candidate for the coming 2023 general election, irrespective of whatever zone of the country such candidate emerges from, stressing that the utmost consideration should be that the party”s flagbearer has the capacity to win the election and must be a lover of the youth.
He also advised the party’s media influencers in the zone to strive to be gainfully employed, and, adopt their social media activities as a “part-time job”.
According to him: “The Southeast has benefitted immensely from our party, the APC, than from the PDP, (which) many perceive as the party of the Southeast. From infrastructural development to job creation, poverty alleviation with social intervention programmes like N-power and of course, the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge, (it) is a fact that under APC leadership, Southeast has had it so good”, the APC zonal youth leader noted.
He continued: “It is time we see the social media as a tool for change, a tool to set records straight and a tool to change narratives. The voice of those struggling to bring down our party or put our party in bad light will never again over shadow our voice as young progressives. It is time we start showcasing the great achievement of our party, the APC”.
Onyeka also urged them to show an interest in elective political offices, while avoiding tendencies that would bring division among their ranks because it is only when they pull their power and influence together that they can achieve their ambitions.
He warned them never to allow older politicians to be using them by causing divisions amongst them, but to strive to grab political power as according to him, ” no power is given, one must strive and get it”.
Deputy chairman of the APC in Anambra state, Chief Ifeanyi Osegbo, who represented the state chairman of the party, Chief Basil Ejidike, in company of the state welfare officer, Mr. Obi Ndigwe commended the zonal youth leader for his efforts in galvanising youth in the zone and urged members of media group to assist in promoting the good works of the party.