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…Says Soludo has failed
By Jude Opara, Abuja
Ahead of the November 8 governorship election in Anambra state, an aspirant to the office, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo has asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) to give him the guber ticket and he will win the state for the party.
Okonkwo spoke on Wednesday when a group under the aiges of the Anambra Coalition for Progressive Change (ACPC) purchased and presented the nomination and expression of interest forms to him.
Okonkwo, while accepting to forms said he was humbled by the gesture of the group, even as he added that if given the opportunity he will not disappoint the state and the party.
He said the time has come for well meaning indigenes of the state to join the coalition to rescue the state from the grips of the incumbent governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The business mogul further stated that the efforts of Soludo have been to stop him from picking the ticket of the APC because he is afraid of an impending electoral defeat.
He further weighed his chances by stating that he comes from Anambra Central senatorial district which he said is supposed to produce the governor of the state.
Speaking further, he added that he hails from Idemili which has two of the most populated local government areas in the state. He added that he will rely on the existing partnership with Anambra North to clinch the victory for the APC.
Okonkwo equally took a swipe at the administration of Prof. Soludo, saying it lacks inspiration and idea of how to move the state forward.
He said despite the fact that APGA has been in power in the state for about 20 years, Soludo has rubbished everything Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the former national leader of APGA stood for.
Okonkwo further claimed that it is easy to defeat the Governor Soludo because of his manifest poor performance.
“Since he could not provide security for Anambra people in the last three and half years, he has no reason to seek for reelection.
“Anambra people are known for business and without security, there is no way business could thrive, which was the situation in the last three years”, he said.
The Chairman of the United Air also called on all Anambra people to come out enmass to remove Soludo from office, because he is a man who does not take advice from anybody.
Speaking further, the frontline aspirant said he is not in this race alone.
“We are against the present government in Anambra State because of the issue of security and issue of zero economic activities.
“I am encouraged by your support and I am calling all those who are not happy for what is happening in Anambra state to join the coalition.
“Soludo takes no advice from anybody.
We are aware of the money Soludo is throwing around to stop me from getting ticket but l am prepare for the battle.
“We may not have the control in having the ticket but if we have, we have what it takes to give APC victory.”
Okonkwo also used the occasion to dismiss the insinuations that he was new in APC.
Earlier in his remarks, leader of the Anambra Coalition for Progress, Chief Cyril Ndubusi Ezeani said the Coalition said they decided to persuade Okonkwo to come and contest and win the governorship election for the Anambra people because they are convinced that he has all it takes to rebuild the state.
Ezeani took a swipe at Soludo for the poor security situation in the state, insisting that the recent effort in the formation of the security outfit, Agunaechemba is only because of the forthcoming governorship election.
