Don Hill woos Nigerian voters in Dallas

Don Hill woos Nigerian voters in Dallas

· As united and revitalized OOPA aims at new and greater heights

Dallas, Texas

Monday, March 12, 2007

“Saturday, May 12, 2007, the citizens of Dallas will elect a Mayor and 14 council members on the Dallas City Council. The Mayor will be elected by voters citywide. The council members must live within the single-member district they wish to represent and will be elected by the qualified voters of that district.”

In his spirited effort to court immigrant voters, particularly Nigerian voters in Dallas, Don Hill, a mayoral candidate for the city of Dallas visited the largest Nigerian organization in the Dallas metropolitan area, Old Orlu Progressive Association (OOPA) on Sunday, March 4, 2007.

After a brief introduction by Dr. George Njoku, Chairman of Political Committee of OOPA, Don Hill went on to thank the association for allowing him to come and address its members concerning his candidacy for Mayor of Dallas.

Mr. Hill expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to speak to members of Old Orlu Progressive Association (OOPA) about his aspiration and pledged that he would be available to and address the needs of minorities, especially those immigrants from Africa if elected mayor of Dallas. He said, “I will maintain an open door policy when elected and would continue to meet with this group as long as I’m the mayor.” “I would like to be a mayor for all the people of Dallas,” he continued. He said the eyes of the world are on Africa. Every country is looking for ways to do business with Africa because Africa is untapped market. “China, Japan, and other countries want to do business with African countries,” he said. As a result, “I would want Dallas to be an international city and therefore must need and involve every Dallas resident to make it a reality.”

As he was praising OOPA members for their heritage and soliciting their support for his election as mayor, Hill said that he truly realized their value; the Nigerian community has much to offer him than he could offer them because of Africa’s rich history and tradition. He said that he values their heritage. He further stated that Africans have a longer history and tradition than African-Americans and “we have a lot to learn from Africans,” Mr. Hill added as he was elated to see how warmly OOPA members received him.

Don Hill, a lawyer and city councilman for almost a decade, promised full cooperation with Orlu people and would like to expand the relationship to include development, education and establishing business in Nigeria particularly Orlu.

Similarly, Craig Watkins, last year visited OOPA when he was running for the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. Mr. Watkins came for the support of members of the association. Watkins went on to win the race as the first African-American Dallas County District Attorney (DA). Don Hill said that he heard that Watkins visited OOPA and went on to win his race and he thought that was an omen worthy of repeating. He further said that he would like to follow Watkins’ footsteps; he would like his visit to culminate in his victory in May 12, 2007.

Among the people in audience were: Engr. Chris Anyaibe, President, Hon. Mrs. Ngozi Orabuchi, Vice President of OOPA, Chief Jerry Ike, Chairman of the Board, and Chief Sunny Ejesieme, President of Egbuoma National-USA. Also Chief Humphrey Agbor, Engr. Festus Okolie, Dr. Simon Odueze, Chief Emma Onwumere, Dr. Richard Nwachukwu, publisher of African Herald, Mr. Chris Anyiam, President of Nwangele LGA Association-Dallas, and Nze Nasa Madumere, President of Igbo Community Association-Dallas were there to grace the occasion. Additionally, Hon. Mrs. Edith Agbor, Mr. Emeka Odueze, Mr. Celestine Muoneke, Mr. Emmanuel Ibe, Mr. Innocent Mmaram, Chief Ifeanyi Iwunze, Madam Theresa Duru, Nze Rowland Ikaraoha, Mr. Emeka Iwunze, Nze Tony Akabue, Chief Jude Ezeh, and host of others were there to listen to Mr. Hill.

Engr. Chris Anyaibe, Dr. George Njoku, and Chief Emma Onwumere, first president of OOPA, each expressed gratitude to Don Hill for recognizing immigrants’ voting power and taking the power seriously.

Indeed, Old Orlu Progressive Association (OOPA) has a brighter outlook, especially this year, with the emergence of a new philosophy. Members are diligently and assiduously building a more united and revitalized OOPA that is aiming at new and greater heights. OOPA is on the move with progressive and committed members coming up with innovative ideas as they try to position the association in city, county, state, and national politics.