Elechi urges Chukwu to join Ebony guber race

By Lawrence Olaoye

Ebonyi state Governor, Martins Elechi, yesterday on behalf of himself and the people of the state, appealed to the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, to contest the 2015 governorship election in the state to succeed him.

Elechi, who was in Aso Villa to confer with President Goodluck Jonathan, told State House correspondents that though the minister was not ambitious and is reluctant to contest the governorship election, the people have resolved to make him the next governor of the state.

He said “let me put the facts straight, the minister of health has no ambition to become Governor or hold any other political office; but we, the people of Ebonyi state, have assessed him and we think he is a good material to do the job. So we are appealing to him, he is not canvassing, but we want to conscript him to answer the call of his people.

“I have known him for many years as Chief Medical Director in our teaching hospital back home. He is a serious minded person and as minister of health, the nation is his witness. He is focused and determined to do things right and I think we need people like that. People who do things right”, he said.

Asked whether Chukwu had been endorsed by the state PDP, Elechi replied “We have not endorsed; we are saying he should show interest. It is still the state congress that will choose whomsoever they want. It is not against the dictates of the NWC.

“There is no conscription in our own case. When you appeal to somebody to show interest, you know many people are shy and they don’t want to come out but the people who are to be served, the people are the people who determine their own destiny.

“It is up to them to choose whom they like. It is not an imposition of any kind. People are saying ‘we know you, you are good, come and continue your good works at this level’ and I think that makes the job easier for the party”, he said.