Michael Ovat, Author at Tribune Online

Ahead of the forthcoming November 6, 2021, Anambra State governorship election, about 2,500 Anambra State elders, under the umbrella of the Association of Past President- General of Anambra State (APPAS), members, on Thursday commenced debate for all governorship candidates, in a bid to elect qualified, credible and transparent candidate to replace the incumbent Governor Willie Obiano, whose second tenure term expires on March 17, 2022. The event which was held in Awka during the quarterly general meeting/debate for all guber candidates had in attendance the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, and Accord party flag bearer, Dr Godwin Maduka and their teaming supporters. Addressing the audience, the Acting National President of the Association, Mazi Omife I. Omife, stated that the reason why the body decided to engage the guber candidates on the debate exercise, was to align with the right candidate who would perform better than the present All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), led government in the state. "Some people are quarrelling with us over the invitation of governorship aspirants and candidates. I want us to know that we are not existing in isolation from the rest of society. "We do not exist to fight governments in power but to be partners in progress. By calling the political parties and their candidates to address us, they have known us and that whoever that enters the government house tomorrow will not forget us and the entire Ndi-Anambra. "Today, we begin with the candidates of Accord Party, Dr Godwin Maduka and his PDP co-contestant, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, and it will go round all the candidates before we will take a stand on who to endorse, mobilise for and vote for," Omife explained. He advised the candidates to campaign with soft tunes. In his speech, the candidate of Accord Party, Dr Godwin Maduka, told the elders that his mandate was to take Anambra State to a greater height, where he would ensure that all primary and secondary schools would be made free, in a bid to make the state the number one literate state in the country. He equally assured that the medical facility in Anambra would be top-notch, while stating that he would make available 21 medical centres with ambulances situated for proper medical service delivery across the 181 communities in the state. Maduka disclosed that most of the past PG would be elected as local govt chairmen, which he would ensure after six months of his administration. He added that Agricultural loans would be made easily accessible for rural farmers. The PDP Candidate, Valentine Ozigbo, on his part, recalled that in December 2020, APPAS was one of the first groups to formally endorse his candidacy for governor months before his victorious outing at the June 26 PDP primary election. “This association forms the core of the leaders and decision-makers at the grassroots in Anambra State and, therefore, has a crucial role to play in the upcoming election. “This election is critical because the future of Anambra depends on the choices we make in November. These choices will shape the policies of the future and determine the reality our children will contend with. “For now, we must take advantage of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and ensure our people in our various wards are adequately armed with their voter’s card. “We need to break the cycle of unproductive leadership in Anambra and install a government that will revolutionise governance and usher in the Anambra of our dreams,” Ozigbo added. He thanked the former President-Generals for their commitment to the Ka Anambra Chawapu project, promising to live up to their lofty expectations. The Deputy candidate to Val. Ozigbo, Mrs Azuka Enemo, who speak to Journalists, shortly after the event, said Ozigbo "represents a generation of leaders that will ensure that Anambra reaches its full potentials." “The truth is that Anambra has tragically depreciated from what it used to be when we were in office,” Mrs Enemo, a two-time Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, stated. “Fortunately, we have Mr Valentine Ozigbo, a good man with an exceptional drive to restore Anambra’s glory. “His experience in relevant fields, especially heading one of Nigeria’s strongest organisations, Transcorp Plc, separates him as one of Nigeria’s best brains and a blessing to Anambra. “He has the brains, character, and connections to change the story of Ndi Anambra, and I’m proud to partner with him to ensure that we get it right this time,” Enemo said. 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