…Says South East ready to embrace ruling party
By Jude Opara, Abuja
Ahead of the November 8 Anambra state governorship election, frontline aspirant, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo on Tuesday stormed the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to return his completed expression of interest and nomination forms which qualify him to contest the party’s April 5, primary election.
Okonkwo, who arrived the national headquarters of the APC in Abuja amidst pomp and peagentry with musicians and drummers, was received by hundreds of his supporters who had earlier arrived the secretariat of the party.
His arrival alongside multiple of other chieftains and supporters caring posters with different inscriptions all eulogising him as the right choice for the job. Their entry apparently disrupted both human and vehicular movements along Blantyre street which houses the APC secretariat, throwing the entirely headquarters into a carnival-like frenzy.
Addressing newsmen shortly after submitting the documents to the party, Okonkwo declared that he is confident of winning not only the APC primary but also the main election in November 8, to reposition Anambra state.
“I want to tell you that after praying and seeking God’s face, we have successfully submitted the completed forms. We have no doubt that we have entered another phase of the race and that we will be declared the winner after the primaries by God’s grace.
“Yes, power belongs to God and having submitted the forms, I totally submit to the will of God. What I am assuming is that an earthquake will erupt in Anambra to remove the rudderless incumbent governor. We will win Anambra for the APC. We will bring the state and the South East into the APC fold.”
According to him, he is confident on winning because from every ramification he stands a better chance ahead of other contestants.
“I am the only aspirant coming from Anambra Central, the zone where AC and ACN held sway before the party transmuted into APC. Returning to APC is a home coming for me and I am happy to be home. God made it possible for Action Congress (AC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to win elections in Anambra Central before, using me and other men of goodwill to actualize them.
“I hope to lead the campaign and be on the ballot paper. We already have the advantage and with the support of the party and God Almighty, APC will win Anambra State governorship election.
“We have only gotten pain, sorrow and agony from Governor Chukwuma Soludo instead of his promise to reproduce Taiwan, Hong-Kong and Japan in Anambra. Why did it take him this long to start doing something about the insecurity in the State? It is medicine after many deaths and the spirit of those who lost their lives will not forgive us if we give Soludo second term ticket.”
Reacting to the speculations that the presidency may have entered into an alliance with the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to deliver 25% to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, Okonkwo said; “This is the time for Anambra people to pay him back. Soludo claimed that he worked for President Tinubu during the presidential election but he did not. He only worked for himself. We have it on good authority that the letter written by the presidential campaign of the APC to him for a courtesy visit on him by Mr President but for 10 times, the Chief protocol of the governor did not intentionally meet them to receive the letter. And for that reason, he could not meet the President, even for a handshake when he came for the campaign.
“Allowing him to win with the support of APC from Abuja, means plucking your eyes and giving it to him to see based on the promise that he will deliver 25% for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Why should you go for 25% when an APC sitting governor can make him win landslide?
“We will never fall into that APGA gimmick anymore. Our president is a true party man and know that he cannot sabotage the party. We have heard that story but our message to him is that we are not buying into that APGA gimmick. There is no such arrangements. We know that APGA was led by Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu, but today, there is no APGA but Solutions.”
Okonkwo equally took a swipe at Governor Soludo for the rising spate of insecurity in the state, insisting that the recent effort of the state government to put up measures to challenge the criminals is rather belated and unconvincing.
