Mode of primary will determine APC’s fate in Anambra – Guber aspirant

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Former Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Godwin Okonkwo, has said that the fate and future of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State would be determined by the mode of primary election which the leadership of the party decided to adopt to choose the party’s governorship candidate for the November 6 election.

Fielding questions from journàlists yesterday at the party secretariat shortly after submitting his Expression of interest and nomination forms, Okonkwo, who is also an ordained Anglican Church priest, prayed that God gives the party leaders the wisdom to do what is right.

He said once the party does what is right, God will do the rest, adding that given the precarious time presently in Nigeria, the party officials should be well guided.

“The party will choose a model that will make people in Anambra come to APC. I pray every time that God will give the party officials the understanding of the time. And knowledge of what to do and the courage to do the right thing. That is the only thing that will bring Anambra into the fold of APC. And once they do that, for sure, God will do the rest”, he said.

Shading light on the controversy over the issues of zoning, Reverend Okonkwo said in the spirit of fairness, equity and justice, the South should be supported to produce the State Governor, given that the North and central zones have respectively done their turns.

“I believe in fairness, equity, justice and good conscience. If the North had gone, equity demands that it comes to the south. If it doesn’t go to the South, it means it has to wait for another 24 years before it comes to it. How old will I be by then? So it should go to the South because I believe in natural justice and fairness”, he said.

He emphasized that he is well prepared to govern the State, considering his Sound mind, capacity, courage and character, adding “Because competence without character has no value. They both enrich values. And I think I have that. What are my bringing onboard? I am bringing unity to my people.

“I will be a father to everyone. And Anambra with me there, the hope of the poor will be restored. We will restore Anambra to a place that investors will have confidence and a place to invest in. That is what I am bringing onboard.

“It is unfortunate what I met on the ground when I joined the APC. It shows the church still has a long way to go in impacting love in the hearts of people. When our hearts are transformed, our love will not know colour. It will know no boundaries. I am an Anglican priest. When the sun shines, does it select where to shine on? Of course not.

“He who hates his sister or brother is a murderer. The bible says that and I believe very much in it. I cannot go against what I preach. I will be father to all. I will respect our elders. I will honor our fathers in the Lord and traditional rulers. But, I will obey God and I know God is a just God. I will fear him because his love doesn’t demarcate. That is who I am and what I will bring to the table.”

Meanwhile, reflecting on how he has empowered Anambra people in his private capacity to seek their mandates as Governor, the ex NNPC technician said he has seen that things are not going on well in the State, adding that he has employed so many people, and held businesses that employed and empowered many Anambrans.

“I don’t publish businesses that I have done. I won’t join people who publish what they have done for people in the pages of newspapers. Because when I got scholarships, I didn’t know anybody.

“One man took and paid my school fees. He didn’t publish my name in the newspaper that he trained me and that I lived with him for 21 years and I am who I am today. I wont do it because that will mean laughing or insulting their God. I have trained people through scholarships”, he said.