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Tag: Anambra

  • Anambra Central’s long-delayed rerun poll

    Sir: At the end of the Anambra Central Senatorial poll held during the 2015 general elections, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, the then candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. On December 7, 2015, six months after she was sworn in, the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu nullified her election and ordered that a rerun be conducted within 90 days from the date the judgement was delivered.

    The rerun poll which ought to have held on March 5, was postponed indefinitely by INEC, after an Abuja High Court suddenly gave a ruling compelling it to include the PDP, as against the judgement of the Court of Appeal that disqualified the party and its candidate. The Appeal Court had barred Ekwunife from participating in the rerun election it ordered on the ground that she was not validly nominated by the PDP through a properly conducted primary.

    What that meant was that PDP had no valid candidate for the initial election and so could not be part of the rerun ordered by the court. INEC refusal to allow PDP or accept new contestant from any party for the rerun poll was based on an already decided case where the Supreme Court ruled that only candidates and political parties that were part of an annulled election can participate when a repeat of the exercise is ordered.

    The same scenario had played out in Kogi East and Kogi Central senatorial districts, where the two Senators elected on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) had their elections quashed by the Appellate Court and they were disallowed from being part of the ordered rerun, due to the same reason for which Ekwunife was disqualified. INEC has since conducted the rerun elections in those two senatorial districts (Kogi Central and Kogi East) without APC participating. The two reruns went in favour of the PDP.

    But the same PDP which profited from a similar judgement elsewhere is insisting that it must be allowed to present a candidate for the Anambra Central rerun and has instituted different cases that are delaying the conduct of the exercise. Former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, who was not an aspirant in the first election, is the man PDP wants to field as its candidate for the rerun. Ekwunife who had left PDP and attempted to secure APC ticket to no avail for the rerun poll is currently in Supreme Court asking for the reversal of the Court of Appeal judgement that sacked her, even when by the law of the land, National Assembly election matters end in the Appellate Court.

    In all of these calculated moves to unnecessarily prolong and frustrate the conduct of rerun in Anambra Central, the people of the senatorial district are being denied representation in the highest legislative body of the country. As a result, there has been nobody speaking for the people of the zone in the Senate. The 2016 budget was passed without a Senator from Anambra Central pushing for the inclusion of developmental projects and programmes for the benefit of the senatorial district. 2017 budget would soon be presented to the National Assembly. What is the fate of the Anambra Central people?

     

    • Michael Jegede,

    Abuja.

  • Anambra to spend N3.6b on community projects

    Anambra State government said it will spend N20 billion in 181 communities in the second phase of its Community-Chose-a-Project programme.

    Economic Planning and Budget Commissioner Mr. Mark Okoye spoke yesterday in Awka at a joint post-budget presentation news conference.

    Officials at the conference were Commissioner for Information and Strategy Chief Tony Nnacheta and Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Budget Efficiency Mr. Melie Onyejekwu.

    He said the fund for was provided for in the 2017 Appropriation Bill presented to the House of Assembly by Obiano on December 6.

    Okoye said the budget, a product of consultation with the communities and civil society organisations was realistic and in tune with economic realities.

    He said the budget was based on the principles of optimal resource allocation, stronger collaboration with the Federal Government and holistic approach to development partners.

    The commissioner said the N115.5 billion budget had a deficit of N10 billion designed to take the state out of recession.

    According to him, the budget, christened: “Budget for Economic Recovery and Inclusive Growth”, was an amplified version of the stimulus package announced by the governor two months ago.

    He said the state projected N20.4 billion as Internally Generated Revenue, adding that it will be realised from corporate taxes and blocked leakages through improved automated collection system.

    Okoye said the government would make  public-private-partnership with investors more robust and mutually rewarding.

    He said a pact with the Federal Government on the school feeding programme was concluded on December 5.

    The commissioner said the government was targeting 70,000 school children at a tentative rate of N70 per day for every child.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obiano, on October 6, presented an Appropriation Bill of N115.5 billion in the ratio of 51:49 for capital and recurrent expenditure to the House of Assembly.

    According to the draft, road and infrastructure got the highest chunk of N24.1 billion, representing 40.9 per cent of the capital estimate; while poverty alleviation and agriculture were second and third with N5.6 billion and N5.4 billion, representing 9.4 and 9.2 per cent.

  • Gov. Obiano urges Anambra people to cooperate with the Army

    Gov. Obiano urges Anambra people to cooperate with the Army

    Gov. Willy Obiano of Anambra on Tuesday welcomed the launch of the “Exercise Python Dance” by the Nigerian Army in the state and urged the people to cooperate with the army in sustaining the relative peace in Anambra.

    “They are not Army of occupation as being labelled by some people, especially on the online media.

    “Nobody will be molested,” Obiano told the people but warned criminal elements to steer clear of the state as the exercise would not be friendly to them.

    He recalled that when he took over the mantle of leadership of the state, there was insecurity, making many indigenes to stay away from the state.

    The governor, however, noted that the trend had been reversed with the task force he had set up to deal with the situation, adding that incidents of kidnapping and other forms of criminality had been checked in the state.

    In a remark at the launch, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the exercise was a training programme like others launched in other parts of the country.

    Buratai stressed that the exercise was part of the Army’s constitutional responsibility to aid civil authority in maintaining internal security.

    He warned that those who would want to disrupt the peace of the state would have themselves to blame.

  • Anambra to spend N610m on markets

    Anambra to spend N610m on markets

    Anambra State is to spend N10 million each on 61 major markets, to address their infrastructure challenges, Governor Willie Obiano has said.

    Obiano, who addressed leaders of the Amalgamated Anambra Traders Association (AMATAS) and representatives of major markets in Awka, said the projects would be executed by the leadership in each market.

    He said this was in line with the  government’s N20 million community-based projects in 181 communities.

    The governor said he would stop illegal and multiple taxes as part of an stimulus package to cushion hardship.

    He said the government secured the conviction of 30 illegal tolling agents, who defrauded the people.

    “My government will sponsor projects to be determined by market leaders, but not exceeding N10 million, to upgrade 61 major markets.

    “We have the money, but will wait until the 2017 budget is passed. The contractors will be determined by the market community.

    “I want to remind you that we are in a recession and this is part of our efforts to keep the economy upbeat.

    “Pay your tax. We have streamlined our tax system with the POS collection method. If you see any illegal collector, apprehend him and hand him over to the police.

    “Already, 30 of them have been jailed,” Obiano said.

    AMATAS Chairman Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo said the market community was happy with the government, which enhanced their business.

    He dismissed the insinuation of a harsh tax regime on traders and solicited support for Obiano.

    “We are happy with his leadership style. All we ask for is continued support from the government and soon, we shall prosper,” Ezenwankwo said.

  • Moghalu: Why I want to govern Anambra

    Moghalu: Why I want to govern Anambra

    Dr George Moghalu, the National Auditor of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is a governorship aspirant in Anambra State. He spoke with GBADE OGUNWALE in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on the Buhari administration, the crisis in the ruling party and his ambition to rule the Southeast state.

    Why do want to be governor of Anambra State?

    I am very confident that the APC will win the next gubernatorial election in Anambra State because by the time we put all the issues on the table; by the time we get our people to understand the issues on ground, when we do a realistic assessment of governance and what is on ground, I’m sure the people will see the need for a change. Yes,  I have said it several times that I am qualified to be a President or a Counselor. That said, let me say that I am usually driven by the wish of my people. The observation that I am nursing a governorship ambition is very right. But, I’m going to elaborate on it at the appropriate time. As to wheter I’m desirous of running for the governorship seat next year, the answer is an emphatic yes.

    What is your reaction to the visit of some Southeast Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator to the President?

    My reaction to that visit was one of surprise. Granted that the Southeast is in dire need of what they were talking about, which is failed infrastructures but it is instructive to note that these same set of people have been in government, have been in power for 16 years. There was a time the Southeast had the Deputy President of the Senate, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Secreatry to the Government of the Federation, our daughter was the Minister of Finance and at the same time we had our sons as Chairmen Senate Committee on Works and now they were talking about failed infrastructures. That’s very embarrassing because these are the people that have been in government for the past 16 years. I’m rather happy and very excited  that these people I called ‘born again champions of the Igbo interest’ are now waking up to their responsibilities. With all those I listed earlier, isn’t it a shame that we are talking about failed infrastructures in the Southeast? But it is all good because, as one Igbo proverb says that whenever you wake up is your morning, it could be that they have woken up from their slumber and I’m happy for it.

    Could the President’s focus on Southeast infrastructural development swing the region in favour of the APC in the next general election?

    There is no doubt about the fact as a government and as a party, I am very confident that this administration will pay attention to infrastructural development in the region, because we are a component part of this nation. For instance, a look at the first APC budget will show you that attention was focused on infrastructural development in the Southeast with specific projects. This goes to show the concerns of the government, that it appreciates the need to address the failed infrastructures in the region and the commitment is there. I’m confident the government will do it.

    Dont you think the economic recession, militancy, kidnappings will affect the APC in 2019

    The year 2019 is still far away but this is about governance, interest of the people and not politics. This is about implementing the party’s manifesto and promises made by Mr President. Everyone acknowledges that there is recession but I must also say that it is not peculiar to Nigeria alone because the challenge we have today in the economic sector is global. It is also a fact that we have a mono product economy with a far greater percentage of our income coming from oil, which price is  deternined outside the shores of this country. Therefore, whatever affects the product Internationally must naturally affect us being our major source of income. That is why this government is shifting focus to other sectors of the economy like agriculture and solid minerals with lots of emphasis and investments in these two areas. Very soon, I believe we will start to reap solid dividends from them. We are also aware of the challenges in the Niger Delta with the resurgence of militancy which is affecting our oil outputs that has led to a drastic reduction in resources available to the government. That is not to say that the government is not alive to its responsibilities because the President assured the nation that the recession is for a short time and he must have said that based on information available to him flowing from policies and strategies put in place to address the situation. Like every other Nigerian, I’m concerned since all of us, both the APC members and non-APC members buy from the same market. I dont think there is a market designed for the APC members or non- APC members alone, so, whatever happens to Mr A happens to Mr B, whatever effect this is having on Mr A is equally felt by Mr B. Meanwhile, when talking about this recession, we must not lose sight of the fact that we failed to save for the rainy day, when the going was good despite being warned severally by the World Bank and others. Sadly enough there was a time oil was selling not below $100 a barrel but regrettably we had no savings neither did we address the issue if infrastructural decay. We all know how much was spent on power infrastructure but does that increase our power output? We only spent more for less and that is why the government is laying emphasis on corruption in public businesses. We all understand the challenges but I will always urge Nigerians to continue to give support to this government in whatever way we can contribute to get things right, let us look at it from the point of veiw of the Nigerian state and not from individual’s point.

    What about the fuel price hike speculation that has refused to go away?

    If I heard the Minister of State for Petroleum right, he had said there is nothing like a planned hike in fuel price. This only goes back to the realm of speculation because the Minister and the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are in the right position to make such pronouncements and nobody has come out to quote these two on that sensitive issue. When people sit somewhere and project into the future and think this is how things may or should happen and start to make news out of it, them it becomes  worrisome.

    With the APC having  majority in the National Assembly, is the President enjoying the support it deserved?

    There is no crisis between the APC-led government and the APC-led National Assembly, what I see there is just communication gap or communication management. For instance, when the issue of loan crept up, the Senate sent it back with their reasons that the details weren’t attached. I see this as a plus not a negative trend because ordinarily, being of the same party, it is expected or taken for granted that whatever demand or request is sent to the National Assembly will just be approved. That mesns that what we are witnessing now has shown that every arm of government is living up to its responsibilities. That an Executive sent something to an Assembly where it is in the majority and that Assembly said no, we have to examine this very critically without prejudices, without partisan politics, then I want to believe that our democracy is growing positively for the interest of the masses. This goes to show that there is synergy, that as a party, we are not partisan with issues that concern Nigerians.

    Would the performance of the governor not affect the chances of the APC in next year’s election?

    It is usually very embarrassing when I hear people say a governor is paying salaries as part of achievements. Are the civil servants in those states working for free? It is their entitlement, so it makes no meaning to applaud a governor for paying salaries, it is like telling me that it us an achievement for me to feed my family. So if a governor is paying salaries, it is his duty and part of responsibility of government but such should not be elevated to the level of absurdity making it an achievement. Flowing from that, I think we are coming to a point where we separate reality on ground from propaganda, where we have to put the issues straight by looking at governance, people’s expectations, promises made, looking at where we are and where we should have been and where we should be in future. I am going to address the issue of Anambra at the appropriate time with statistics.

  • Anambra Central rerun: Umeh pleads for patience

    Anambra Central rerun: Umeh pleads for patience

    The candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the Anambra Central rerun, Chief Victor Umeh, has appealed for calm and patience.

    The former past National Chairman of APGA, assured that the rerun would hold, despite politician’s antics to frustrate the conduct of the exercise with frivolous court cases.

    The rerun fixed March 5  was postponed indefinitely by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enable it appeal an Abuja High Court ruling compelling it to include the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the judgement of the Court of Appeal that disqualified the party and its candidate from participating.

    The APGA candidate said: “What played out in Anambra Central was what played out in Kogi East and Kogi Central Senatorial districts.

    The PDP challenged conduct at the tribunal on the ground that they did conduct primaries. And the elections were nullified and their candidates were also disqualified by the Court of Appeal.

    He said the rerun had  been concluded in Kogi East and Kogi Central senatorial districts.

    Umeh said: “In the case of Anambra Central, PDP doesn’t want to give up. Their candidate has also gone to the Supreme Court, I mean their then candidate, who is no longer a PDP member, had gone to the Supreme Court to seek reinstatement, even when the final court that handles National Assembly matters is the Court of Appeal.

    “So, they are doing everything to deny the people of Anambra Central the right of representation. Why PDP is struggling to be part of an election they are already out of the way, their candidate who was disqualified by the Court of Appeal is also struggling to get reinstated outside the provisions of the law.

    “They’ve boasted openly that since they can no longer occupy that senatorial seat that nobody will occupy it until 2019. And they are working hard to frustrate the Court of Appeal from hearing the Appeals pending at the Court of Appeal against the judgement of the High Court that ordered that PDP should take part in a rerun after their candidate has been disqualified.

    ‘They are doing everything to frustrate the progress of the matter at the Court of Appeal. For me, I feel so bad because there are so much to be done for our people using that opportunity. But they have no option other than to be patient. I am urging them to be calm and patient. The antics of those causing this unnecessary delay will be exhausted very soon.”

    He explained that Ekwunife’s adventurous appeal at the Supreme Court, was argued on the November 14, noting that the Supreme Court has reserved judgement for  February 10 next year.

    “If on that day the Supreme Court upholds the law and puts her case to rest, that distraction will be completely over; her own distraction will be over. Then we will accelerate action on the pending appeal at the Court of Appeal for which they have gone on an interlocutory appeal to the Supreme Court. So, God willing and God being our helper all those protracted issues will be resolved. And the election will be conducted by God’s grace.

    Umeh added: “I know the good people of Anambra Central are missing a lot already, because if I have been there before now, the story would have completely changed. But they must know that anything that will be good, before it will come your way; you have to put up a very strong fight for it.

    “I am assuring them that even if it is two years that we are able to salvage in the current tenure they will see the difference, very big difference than what they have been seeing before. And like I have said before, they will just have to be patient because there is no alternative to doing what is lawful.

    “If we don’t fight all this brigandage that has been going on in Anambra State during elections – the manipulations they have been doing in this state, there will be no stop to it. So, by the time we go through the whole hog of this Anambra Central senatorial district issue, people will learn their lessons.

    “People will be prepared to submit themselves to the provisions of the law. Anybody who wants to contest election knows that there is no shortcut to obtaining the mandate to represent the people.

    “When elections are called in the future, people will be prepared to be vigilant and look at what the law say, keep yourself in line with the laws and go to the people to obtain your mandate, without keeping your hope in rigging elections, manipulating the security agencies and the INEC.”

  • Ngige mourns Anambra community leader Igbonwa

    Ngige mourns Anambra community leader Igbonwa

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has said the death of Chief Lazarus Igbonwa, the father of a former Deputy National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okife Uzoma Igbonwa, is a huge loss to Alor town in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    He was 84.

    Igbonwa, a foremost community leader and successful businessman, was also a leader of the Alor Peoples Convention, a community welfare organisation formed in the 1950s to champion the town’s development.

    The organisation is instrumental to various development projects, such as electricity, schools, potable water, security, peace and progress of the town.

    The late Igbonwa was said to have used his religious convictions in the Anglican faith to promote the growth of the church as well as his tolerance at a time that such had turn an instrument of divide in some communities.

    In a tribute to the deceased, Ngige said Igbonwa was a “leader whose impact was felt in Alor community where his outstanding contributions as an elected member of Alor Peoples Convection will speak for ages to come”.

    The minister regretted that Alor Peoples Convention had become the butt of ridicule because some people allegedly usurped its leadership for “selfish purposes”.

    He urged the residents to bring the community back to its glorious days which the late Igbonwa and contemporaries championed.

    Ngige described the late Igbonwa “as cousin to the Umu-Udenwa lineage of Umu-Ngige clan, to which I proudly belong. He was a trove of filial bond whose wisdom and sound reasoning mirrored his reliable forthrightness”.

    He added: “There could have been no other reason that made him, despite the huge difference in age, the closest maternal cousin to my late father, the patriarch of Umu-Ngige, Ozo Akunnia Pius Okonkwo Ngige, and his siblings than this.”

    Ngige prayed God to grant him eternal rest.

  • 115-year-old man leads protest in Anambra

    115-year-old man leads protest in Anambra

    I have no much time to live on earth,” declared 115-year-old Godwin Nwosu. “It could be days, it could be months and it could be years, but I will be the happiest man on earth if Governor Willie Obiano comes to the aid of the people before I join my ancestors.”

    Pa Nwosu is one of the elders of Aguluezechukwu, one of three communities in Anambra State cut off from other parts of the state. The two other communities are Ogboji and part of Oko communities. The communities are in  Aguata, Orumba North and Orumba South local government areas respectively.

    Pa Nwosu took it upon himself to rally the communities in a protest in a bid to get the state government to fix the road, even if it was the only thing he did before his transition.

    The road linking the three communities from Pal Junction in Oko-Aguluezechukwu-Ogboji has been abandoned for many years without any government attention.

    As a result, erosion has cut off the neighbouring communities, leaving the residents in severe  pain.

    The condition of the road is said to have forced some of the companies located along the road to go moribund.

    The elders say the road has been about three times without any positive result, while the military coup of 1983 stopped the former Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme from fixing it.

    When The Nation visited the place, it was discovered that their  farm produce such as cassava, yams, tomatoes do not get to the markets outside the communities because of lack of access road. The road equally links Achina in Aguata Local Government Area apart from the other three from the Pal Junction at Oko community close to Ekwueme’s house.

    The protesters said the state government only remembers them during electioneering campaigns when they come to seek for votes.

    Speaking with The Nation, Pa Nwosu said, “This road has been like this for the past 40 years because there is no person to speak for us especially in Aguluezechukwu; this community does not have one single road done by the government”

    72-year-old Mercy Nwankwo from Ndi Okpalaeze said the her people are devastated

    Traditional ruler of Ogboji, Igwe Festus Iyioku said they believed  Obiano would fix the road.  He said neighbouring communities no longer visit each other because of the bad condition of the road.

    “My people are suffering, we are in pains because we have no road, we plead with Governor Obiano to come to our aid,” he said.

    The Chairman, Obofia-Aguluezechukwu, Chief Bernard Chukwuka lamented that their farm produce do not go out of the community again because of the erosion as the buyers find it difficult to access the area.

    Some of the women carrying placards urged Obiano not to abandon them.

    Some of their placards read: “We are part of Anambra State, come and help us in our plight, “Oko- Ndiokpalaeze- Aguluezechukwu- Ogboji are no slaves in Anambra, our Governor come and rescue us“.

    Another community leader from Akpo, Chief Joe Ifediobi said the state government  is not moved at all by the lamentations of the people.

     

  • Agony of six siblings’ death in Anambra

    Agony of six siblings’ death in Anambra

    Their remains have been interred but the agony endures in the hearts of their parents and so many in Ekwulumili, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The six siblings died in circumstances that some have described as mysterious.

    Their burial evoked emotions as the people could not hold back their tears, including the priest, Bishop Michael Anene of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, who officiated the event..

    The children were Chukwuebuka, 17, Chinemerem, 15, Afomachukwu, 13, Chekwubechukwu, 11, Onyekachukwu, 9, and Chukwuziterem, 7, who died one after the order after a meal.

    Since their death, on July 15, the state police command has not  established anything on the case as the new state commissioner Mr. Samuel Okaula refused to talk about it.

    The incident took place when Mr. Hassan Karma, now Assistant Inspector of police (AIG) was Anambra State police commissioner, who said the incident, was being investigated.

    Last weekend at the Ekwulumili home of the deceased persons, it was all lamentations as the priest Anene cursed anybody who was involved in the death of the children.

    Parents of the children, Apostle and Mrs. Rita Oramalu did their best to draw some courage and comfort after the death of six of their seven children in one fell swoop.

    The only surviving and only child in the family is four.

    Mrs. Rita Oramalu said they would want the state government to offer him scholarship as the only hope of the family. Their late children had chosen what they wanted to be in life, while late Chineremerem said he would like to be an engineer, and had started showing some signs of that, like repairing generating sets, according to the mother.

    The other siblings had chosen to be lawyers, doctors and nurses before their untimely deaths.

    Till date, the police in Anambra have not been able to ascertain whether they were poisoned or not. However, The Nation gathered that the children could have been poisoned by an unknown person.

    When Mr. Ali Okechukwu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), now anti-cult leader in the state, he had raised the alarm that some youths of the community had impeded investigations on the matter.

    He claimed then that the youths did not allow policemen to enter their community by blocking their way, lamenting that the command was being frustrated on the investigations.

    When the incident happened, the parents of the children were being held by close relations and friends from committing suicide.

    The father of the deceased, Apostle Chuks Oramalu, told The Nation that he could name the killers of his children based on investigations so far.

    But he admitted that some people in the community were accusing him of killing his children for rituals and asked, how can this be?

    According to him, “the children I suffered to beget and nurture, why should somebody have that thinking? He vowed to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.

    Their mother Rita Oramalu said the government should investigate the matter well to bring any culprit to book, but where such is not possible “let God who has been taking control continue to fight for the family”

    Another interesting aspect of the matter was that the third child, Afomachukwu 13, came 2nd in her last examination in the entire Nnewi south local government area before her death.

    During his sermon at the burial of the children, Bishop Anene said that someone must have been behind the death of the children.

    He said whoever that had hands in the death of the innocent children, would expect grave consequences of his or her action, citing several portions of the bible to buttress his pronouncement.

    According to Anene, “woe betide the killers of the children and it would have been better the person was not born than to have committed the dastardly act”

    When contacted by The Nation whether the state government of Anambra State was involved in the burial and what the family experts from it, the special adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on media, Mr. James Eze said the question would have been whether the state knew about the incident.

    However, he said the government would work hard in making sure that the governor’s attention was drawn to it, adding that Obiano would stop his convoy to help accident victims in the state, “how much more this ugly incident”

    When the state police commissioner was called on the phone by The Nation, he did not answer, nor did he return the call.

     

  • Obiano has failed in Anambra, says APC chieftain

    Obiano has failed in Anambra, says APC chieftain

    Anambra State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Nze Modestus Umenzekwe spoke with Nwanosike Onu on the Obiano administration and the prospects of the APC in the Southeast state.

    The Buhari administration has been criticised by the opposition for not getting it right. As an APC chieftain, are you comfortable with the situation?

    When you look back to the time he was the governor of Borno, his record at the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) days and his military background, you know that he is destined to succeed; he is a go getter.

    How does anybody think the president can resign? To handover to who, to hand over to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a fragmented party that ruled for many years without anything to show for it. We have been clamouring for a leader that would clamp down on corruption and that person has come in the person of President Mohammadu Buhari. after contesting for four times, before he got it shows his seriousness of fighting crime. to destroy is easy, but to build is always difficult. What the man is doing now is starting afresh to rebuild Nigeria.

    Nigeria’s image is improving again in the international community. His policies are okay and we need to give him a chance. once he gets it right, nobody can come and scatter the economy again.

    You have been in Lagos for a long time. Is Ndigbo being carried along by the governors?

    Lagos state is a mini Nigeria. For the past 16 years, Lagos has been in the opposition, the governments we have had in the place has done well, beginning from Tinubu, who is a trainer, a political colossus, a man that knows how to stand up in time of pressure, an achiever and a friend of Ndigbo.

    He continued to fight. even, when he had problem with the federal government, he did not relent. He mobilised the South West and made sure we have this amalgamation in politics today in the name of All Progressives Congress (APC).

    When he was going, he gave us Fashola. What we are talking now is no longer change, but progress.

    Fashola’s humility showed when he had little problems with the Ndigbo in Lagos. he came out to beg. Look at what is happening today in Lagos from Lekki to Badagry road, among others.

    Today, what he did in Lagos is what he is replicating in his three powerful ministries, from Ore to Benin, to Asaba and others.

    We give kudos to Asiwaju for giving us Fashola. The opposition can say whatever it likes. there is tremendous progress in Lagos.

    The foundation laid by Asiwaju was implemented by Fashola and now Ambode has continued. look at Ikorodu. Transportation is being made easy. armed robbery, kidnapping have reduced to their barest minimum.

    The assistance given to Ndigbo is massive, look at the markets being built in Lagos along Orile and Mile 2 called Adem industrial and commercial complex which he was about to commission before his exit. But we believe that soonest, Ambode will come into it.

    So, opposition groups are neither here nor there. Ambode will do a second term because Ndigbo will rally round him. Asiwaju gave us hope. he laid the foundation. Fashola also maintained that hope and implemented it, and now Ambode has really amplified it. Asiwaju’s mother, Alhaja Mogaji, was a mother to Ndigbo and we were happy with her. Her demise was a very big loss to us and we have really seen that Asiwaju inherited her qualities of leadership. We will continue to thank Tinubu for giving us Fashola and Ambode.

    What is your assessment of the Obiano administration?

    We are not satisfied with what is going on in Anambra. And that is why we are working towards the APC taking over this state in 2017.

    Anambra North, Anambra Central and South are languishing in pains now because of lack of infrastructural development. Before now, Ngige came on board, opened up the door that made us to see that the state has money. All the roads he did in 2003 are still standing, especially his special work in Umuchu-Umunze road where he filled a serious gully that threatened the people, when others abandoned it.

    He was to continue, only to be cut suddenly by that unfortunate Appeal Court judgment in 2006. During his time as governor, security was okay, salaries were being paid, education was the best despite his security withdrawn by the federal government then.

    Now, Ngige is the minister of labour and employment, he has continued his leadership style at the federal level.

    I’m narrating all these to tell the people where we started. Ngige is a brand name in Anambra state and Nigeria. And he has used that style to stabilise the APC in the state. the people are no longer laughing at the party. APC has come to liberate the people not only in Anambra but entire Nigeria.

    You can take a trip to IgboUkwu, and other communities, you see death traps from Akpo junction to Ogboji unless you have caterpillar as a private vehicle you cannot pass those areas.

    From Eke-Achina to Oye-Achina, vehicle cannot pass from there to Ogboji, to Orumba, it is the same scenario. It is very painful. The people are alienated from their neighbours.

    The only panacea we have now is from Uga is Mkpologwu, Umuchu, but thanks to former governor Peter Obi for giving us hope. The Obiano administration is a hopeless regime. How can they continue? So they should start packing their bags and baggage because this present administration is visionless, wingless and will plung the people of Anambra into a hole.

    Does the APC has what it takes to challenge APGA and PDP in 2017 next year’s governorship election in Anambra?

    Unfortunately, one of the prominent Buhari people in Anambra state, Owelle Chukwma Azikiwe, is no more. He wanted to use his position with Buhari to give Ndigbo what they wanted. A man that hated corruption. A man that taught us a lot of things. They were like twin brothers. Despite that, we still have quality people in the APC to redeem the state. I’m not saying that Ngige will contest, but we know he is here to guide the party. to God be the glory. The APC parades an array of political egg heads that can lead Anambra and the country to the promised land.

    We are going to give Anambra state dependable and reliable candidate to lead the state to a greater height because those who are interested in the governorship in 2017 are men of integrity.

    Some Nigerians are still complaining about the composition of the Federal Executive Council. what is your reaction on this?

    Buhari has a vice president, a legal icon and (SAN) who had piloted the affairs in Lagos religiously. I believe he has a solid team to redeem the image of this country. Look at the people like Alhaji Lai Mohammed, he is not there to shout but to give you facts and figures, Fashola, Onu, Ngige, Ogbeh, among others. what Buhari has is a combination of hardworking individuals and experience. Very soon, the people of Nigeria will start to smile again, Nigeria is like a new building being constructed by new contractors who have come with solid materials. Therefore, he has a formidable team.

    Can APC defeat APGA in Anambra in 2017?

    Check the record of the APGA. they are going down every day. why did peter Obi exit from the party. APGA has nobody and nothing to challenge the APC and the PDP in the next election. We are going to use the Governorship election in 2017 to see how strong APGA is in Anambra State.