By Jude Opara, Abuja
Sir Paul Chukwuma, one of the aspirants for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday said he is optimistic that the performance of the party in the South East is enough to ensure victory for the party in the forthcoming governorship election in November.
Chukwuma who spoke shortly after returning his nomination and expression of interest forms said he stands the best chance to help the ruling party claim the South East state which is presently controlled by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The former member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party equally noted that being the first aspirant to have returned his forms means that he is most likely going to win the primary election alated for April 5.
“If you recall, we picked up the nomination and expression of interest forms a couple days back and we have to travel to Anambra state to the grassroot members of our party and they were more than delighted to receive us and we are back to submit the forms as required by the rules.
“Interestingly I was told I’m the first to return my form and I don’t think that was by accident, it is an indication that I will be the first on the ballot. I will win that election and make APC proud. And we will turn Anambra to APC state by the grace of God”.
On the entrance of some other notable contestants, Chukwuma said despite the fact that he is never afraid of any other aspirant, he explained that as a long standing member of the APC, he knows the plan of the party stakeholders in the state who have wanted to ensure that the state joins the ruling party.
“We envisaged while we were putting the plans in place three years ago, remember Anambra is under opposition party, our plan was to rebrand APC, take APC closer to the grassroot, engage with the grassroot and explain what APC will do differently and that is why we are having different people because we have a new APC. People are jettisoning their former parties to join APC.
“Instead of being afraid or having concerns I am excited and happy. The fact remains that we are foundation members of the party, we built the party and we are excited to receive our brothers who are joining our party. After I have emerged as the candidate of the party, we will work together to win the election”.
The frontline aspirant also reacted to the security situation in the state, saying he has the blueprint to redirect the security question in the state, adding that the incumbent governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has more or less been sleeping while the state was almost over ran by criminal elements.
“The current administration in Anambra state to the best of my knowledge is not doing anything so it is not about what I will do differently because nothing is on ground.
“Every day people are being kidnapped, everyday we are having all forms of criminality and some of us started talking about it because the state belongs to all of us and we don’t have any other passport apart from the Nigerian passport and we must ensure our homeland is secured for us and our children.
“So, what I’m I going to do differently? First, we have asked the governor several times, what is he doing with his security vote. The security agencies are complaining, not even a motorbike has been purchased for the Police, Department of State Services (DSS) or talk about the military. It is a big problem and we will have to address it.
“We need to do mapping of the streets, most of the camps are deserted and we need to invest in mechanised farming because if the lands are put into productive agricultural engagements they won’t be available for crimes. A lot of other things are contained in our manifesto for Anambra”.
On the issue of zoning, Chukwuma said there is nothing like a zoning arrangement in the state. He said it is always the tactics used by APGA to retain power.
“Let me be very categorical, anybody telling you about zoning is an agent of APGA. This is because APGA has devised a means of sticking to power in Anambra. I’m from the Northern senatorial district and the serving governor is from the Southern senatorial district and every senatorial zone has seven local governments.
“They are now making mouth about zoning more than ever because I’m on the ticket. And why are they doing that? If you go by premodial sentiments which zoning is all about, then everybody goes to his zone. Then we will never have a contest, it is only when you take your candidate from different zones that you can have a proper contest. But if you take your aspirant from the zone of the governor, then it is dead on arrival. And that is how they have rescued themselves in power, even when they have not done much and when they are done, they will leave the party. So, it is a tool they have designed to keep Anambrans under their hold. And that is why we must make it very clear that there is nothing like zoning in Anambra state”.
Meanwhile, another aspirant, Dr. Valentine Ozigbo also purchased his expression of interest and nomination forms at the National Secretariat of the party.
Ozigbo who recently decamped from the Labour Party (LP) said he decided to join the race to redeem the state from what he described as inept administration of APGA led by Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
He was represented by leader of the a group known as Val movement and the Anambra in Diaspora, Teddy Ezike.
Speaking to newsmen after obtaining the forms, Ezike assured that Anambra state will be better off with a tested administrator like Ozigbo whom he said has distinguished himself in all the places he has worked.
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