By Cajetan Mmuta
Leadership and members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Saturday dared the federal government and opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that there is no going back retaining the state under its banner come November 6th Governorship poll in the state.
They insisted never to leave the state in the hands of political thieves, chronic debtors, and those who set it ablaze for selfish ends in the past.
National chairman of the party, Chief Victor Ike Oye, and his predecessor, Senator Victor Umeh, and Governor Willie Obiano who led eminent leaders and elders as well as members states this during the grand flag off Governorship campaign rally of the party’s candidate Professor Charles Chukeuma Soludo and his deputy Governorship candidate Dr. Ifeanyi Ibezim held at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka the Anambra state capital.
Chief Oye said; “There is no party that has the capacity to turn around Anambra state and the state has come to stay with APGA and only death can do is part. The APC and PDP will very soon go into a coma. Soludo will make the state Silicon Valley of Africa.”
“We don’t need anything from the center, all we need is to bound together and work together. We are for life and let’s live. Our emphasis is on Soludo as a solution with his excellent track record in academic and global experience as former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). We can’t miss the opportunity of choice of Soludo as the next governor of Anambra state. APGA is the party to be voted for on November 6th,” he said.
Former National Chairman of the party, Senator Victor Umeh said, “We need to reiterate that APGA should continue in office in Anambra state, this is the third journey of APGA; not just that we want to continue, we have served the state and it’s people very well. We don’t want to hand over the state to those who want to destroy it.”
“There’s no party in the state that can bring this crowd. APGA owns the state because we want to serve the state and it has run the best campaign against what others have done. Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people.”
He lauded Governor Obiano for the giant achievements that have further positioned the state to the country and the world with resounding projects such as the international cargo/passenger airport, the 12,000 capacity seat international conference center, and others.
“Obiano has served the state very well and I am proud of him. All the things we told people of the state about Obiano when he campaigned he had done those things. We are proud to say that APGA has distinguished itself as a party to serve the state. Prof. Soludo is the best among all the candidates to serve the state and to take over from Obiano.”
He pointed that “This is time for the major task, we must join our hands together to build the state. People are running away from the PDP, a party with one stakeholder campaigning for the party. Obiano has better records with better achievements that surpass that of Peter Obi. It’s our desire that Soludo will do better than Obiano.”
Umeh also declared that they will never take Anambra state, those plotting to take the state by hook and crook I want to say today that it’s not possible. We must flush them out those who said they are going to take the state by force. Let the federal government continue to do what they are doing in Abuja and his us our share. They are borrowing money here and there and they are building the railways on other areas leaving the Southeast.”
According to him, “Those I’m authority should not waste time to come to Anambra because they won’t get it, adding that INEC should be ready to conduct the free, fair, and credible election and avoid any attempt to rig the process.
Governor Willie Obiano urged the people to cast their votes for Professor Charles Soludo whom he said has the reach and all it takes to make the state stand tall among other states across the country.
He said “One is very clear, that this state Anambra is APGA state is not on doubt and it’s not in the contest. We don’t want Anambra people to vote for thieves and chronic debtors but for the quality candidacy of Prod Soludo who has the reach, he knows how to get the money. A vote for Soludo is a vote for progress.
The governor noted that he has no doubt in his “mind that the November 6th election would be won with a landslide victory by APGA.
He said his administration had built 153 roads across the state with 34 others under construction in addition to three Flyovers and 18 bridges in parts of the state.
“What I want to assure you is that I know the pedigree of Prof Soludo, he will not gamble with the state and the state. Soludo will be best, the former Governor did well, I did better and Soludo will do best.”
The APGA governorship candidate Professor Soludo in his acceptance speech on behalf of various support groups and campaign organizations expressed appreciation to people of the state for their support which gave him the edge to emerge tops over other aspirants of the party during the governorship primary.
He unfolded his manifesto which according to him is the covenant with the people of the state, promising wealth creation, youth empowerment, industrialization, and infrastructural development.
Anambra: Obiano insists Soludo remains his successor
He reminded those out to forcefully take over the state that Anambra state is not Imo state.
“Anambra state is not IMO; Anambra state is where votes count when it comes to the election no substitute. The logic is that they want to go the center; that is idiocy.”
“They are talking about going to the center, we are the ones who are at the center because I am the only one person and candidate among all of them who’s a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council. APGA is what the Igbo need to be in the front row. APGA is the voice of the Igbo. We are going to build on the solid foundation laid by Obiano and Peter Obi who left APGA and becomes a political orphan.”
The highlight of the event was the handover of the Party’s flag to Prof Soludo for the November poll and the presence of Nollywood actors such as Yul Edochie, Flavour, and Sunny Michael who thrilled the mammoth crowd of party faithful and supporters with music entertainment.
