By Cajetan Mmuta
Anxiety heightened amongst leaders, elders, and stakeholders of the Anambra State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the party and Governorship aspirants met in the industrial and commercial town of Nnewi in what was seen as a move to streamline the number of aspirants ahead of the party’s primary slated for 26th of this month.
This is as leaders and stakeholders of the party vow to say no to money politics and resolved to work as a united front body as well as expressed the determination to support whoever emerges as the party’s candidate during the forthcoming party primary.
The meeting urged all the Governorship aspirants to shun all forms of rancor and bitterness
The meeting held at the residence of the former Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh had in attendance nine out of the 16 Governorship aspirants jostling for the number one seat at the Agu Awka Government House, Awka, the state capital.
Deliberations at the meetings which commenced at about 2 pm centered on ways to ensure hitch-free conduct of the governorahip primary.
It would be recalled that both the National and zonal hierarchy of the party has thrown the battleground open and refused to zone the governorship ticket to any particular area in the state.
However, the principle of rotation and zoning favours the South senatorial district of the state.
Findings showed that 14 out of the 16 gubernatorial aspirants under the platform of the PDP are from the south including Senator Uche Ekwunife who is from the South senatorial district but married to the Central zone; one is also from the Central and another one from the north.
Interestingly, all the aspirants including others from the APC, ruling APGA, and other participating political parties are all billionaires and are poised to clinch the exalted seat come November 6th this year.
However, among the governorship aspirants in attendance during the closed door meeting include Val Ozigbo, Chris Azubuogu, Chuma Nzeribe, Lady Chidi Onyemelukwe who is the daughter of former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, Emeka Etiaba (SAN), and Ifedi Okwenna.
Others are Ugochukwu Ubah, Winston Udeh, Obiora Okonkwo, Walter Okeke and Senator Uche Ekwunife.
The aspirants absent at the meeting include Tony Nwoye and two others.
Chief Metuh told newsmen at the end of the meeting that ‘First I would like to acknowledge that this is the first time in the history of politics in Anambra state that we have had this array of talents in my party aspiring to govern Anambra.I acknowledge them and we are happy. This meeting was called and we have met with the aspirants; we have deliberated and we have listened to the yearnings, demands and prayers of the people of Anambra. We have deliberated and resolved that the PDP will win the election come 6th of November 2021 and whoever emerges as a candidate at the primary will be supported by all the other aspirants for us to win the election.”
“Most importantly we have said no to money politics in Anambra state starting from today. We have resolved that the aspirants will no longer allow anybody to make undue demands or exploit them in governing the Anambra state. We have resolved that nobody should pay more than three thousand nairas as logistics and N30,000 as consultation fee. That way we have said not to money politics and we want whoever emerges to attain to the needs of the people. We don’t want the aspirants or candidates to spend too much money,” Metuh declared.
Metuh said, “When you allow the aspirants or candidates to spend too much money, you will open the vault of the state for them to exploit. Most importantly we are here with the understanding of our leaders in Anambra that we will work as a united party, PDP will be united and I would like to add that we even had an agreement prayer and convenient that we will never allow intra party bickering in PDP in Anambra state; no more damaging of character no more condemnation and no more so etching like that.”
