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Tag: Ngige

  • Anambra: Ngige, three others battle for APC ticket

    Anambra: Ngige, three others battle for APC ticket

    The newly registered All Progressives Congress has continued to grow in lips and bounds in Anambra State, as preparations for November 16 governorship election in the state gather momentum.

    Already, four candidates are now battling for the party’s governorship ticket, especially from the Central and South Senatorial Zones in the state.

    Those vying for the position are – the former governor of Anambra State, now a Senator representing Central Senatorial Zone, Dr. Chris Ngige, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo (a philanthropist), the Deputy National Chairman of (APC) (South), Senator Annie Okonkwo and Hygers Igwebuike.

    However, members of the party in the state are calling for free and fair primaries to give aspirants a level playing field.

    They contended that it would be proper to give any aspirant irrespective of his zone the chance to grab the party’s ticket since those already at the helm of affairs are from the central.

     

     

  • ‘Ngige is best man for Anambra governorship’

    ‘Ngige is best man for Anambra governorship’

    AHEAD of the Anambra governorship election billed for November, the spokesman for the Lagos State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr Joe Igbokwe, has tipped Senator Chris Ngige as the best man to take over from Governor Peter Obi.

    Igbokwe hinged his recommendation on the need to sustain the tempo and raise the stake of good governance in the state.

    The ACN spokesman, who recalled how his preference for the incumbent over Ngige in 2010, pitted him against party members, explained that his position was informed by the trauma Obi went through to reclaim the mandate freely given to him by the Anambra people.

    He listed such hurdles as the denial of his well-deserved mandate, the controversial impeachment by the state Assembly and the tribunal/judicial battles he fought to before he was restored as governor.

    “I wanted Governor Peter Obi to get a second term because of all the troubles he went through to reclaim his mandate and all the troubles he suffered going through criminal impeachment and through courts and tribunals to reclaim his mandate,” Igbokwe explained in the statement.

    Though Igbokwe said the supporters of the senator reported him to former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu, alleging that he was engaging in anti-party activities. He said Obi has justified his mandate with the landmark achievements of his administration.

    Igbokwe noted that those who took his case to Tinubu leveled the allegation against him in the presence of the party’s National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande and Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who was then the Lagos Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure.

    According to him, the time has come for Ngige to take the mantle of leadership and add more value to the politics of the state.

    He said: “The rest is now history but it was an excruciating and daunting experience for me. I have never regretted it.

    “I will appeal that we put this matter behind us and move on. We have a target and that is to make 2014 a memorable year. We will join the teeming and enthusiastic Anambra voters to elect Dr. Ngige as the governor of Anambra State. So, let us all move forward with that spirit until victory is achieved.”

    He expressed confidence that the All Progressive Congress (APC), which will field a progressive candidate for the November 16 election will succeed Obi, whose two-term tenure of eight years expires next year.

    Igbokwe said: “All the energies at our disposal will be deployed to make this a reality. We will put our hands, our feet, our eyes, our brains, our strengths, our human and material resources to make the dream come true. “This support would not be based on flimsy grounds but the best interest of Anambra at heart. We will work hard to elect for ourselves a man best suited to continue the progressive march.”

    He noted that Ngige during his first stint as governor, was the architect of the historic liberation of Anambra politics from the shackles of godfathers and minions, adding that the liberty paved the way for Obi’s success.

    “For the avoidance of doubts, the template of Anambra renaissance we all are benefiting from today was set up by Ngige when he damned the hawkish demands of the godfathers to free Anambra and its resources for the people of Anambra,” Igbokwe said.

     

  • Coalition marks Ngige’s abduction 10 years after

    Coalition marks Ngige’s abduction 10 years after

    Ten years after the ignoble abduction of sacked former governor of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige, by persons yet to be prosecuted, Anambra multiparty coalition has lamented that the perpetrators are still walking the streets freely.

    The lamentation of the group came on the heels of the ten years anniversary celebration of the abduction yesterday in the state.

    The group contended that should the crime be swept under the carpet, it would be setting a negative precedence and institutionalising brigandage and gangsterism in the Nigerian polity.

    Addressing reporters at Marbel Arch Hotel Awka, yesterday, venue for the Anambra liberation day luncheon, the chairman of Anambra multiparty coalition, Chief Ben Oranusi stated that those involved in the 2003 mayhem in the state should be brought to book.

    According to him, “this is ten years that these people committed this crime and since then, nobody has been prosecuted for abducting a sitting governor. We cannot go on like this, people must account for their sins against the state and the society.

    “These people today walk along the streets freely without fear and nobody is talking about it and they have not been prosecuted. The Federal Government should not allow such illegality to thrive in our country; one wonders if Anambra State is a banana republic.”

    Oranusi further noted that the celebration was a time for reflection on the growth and development of Anambra State.

    He added that the coalition is also celebrating itself for standing behind Ngige from the day he left office as governor to date.

    However, in a release from Senator Chris Ngige and made available to reporters in Awka yesterday, he used the opportunity to announce that he had concluded his consultations over the 2013 gubernatorial election.

    He said that due to pressures from well-meaning Anambra people, he had offered himself to serve the state in any capacity that it deems proper.

    The release said: “Considering the barrage of requests from well-meaning people of Anambra origin, this July 10 2013 will mark the end of consultation and ruminations on whether to run or not.

    “But in all, I rededicate myself serving them in any capacity they deem fit, God bless the land of Anambra people.”

    The Secretary of the multiparty coalition for Ngige 2013, Chief Okonkwo Okom, noted that the liberation of Anambra State on July 10th 2013, was as a result of the risk Ngige took to salvage the state.

    He stated that come March 17, 2014, Ngige would return to the Government House, Awka to complete the good work he started in 2003.

  • Why I’m running for governor, by Ngige

    Why I’m running for governor, by Ngige

    Former Anambra State Governor Chris Ngige has said he is running for governor again to uplift the people and give them a sense of belonging.

    Ngige represents Anambra Central Senatorial District.

    Addressing members of his constituency, Idemili North and South, at the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Nkpor, Ngige said he is concerned about the welfare of the people and development of the state.

    The leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the new All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southeast said: “There is no big deal about being a governor again, I have been one before. My only urge in public office is service; I seek to touch your lives in a positive way so that you will smile again.

    “By the end of this month, we will formally launch the APC Southeast zone in Awka, and we believe that it is the party that will make a difference here. APC will form the next government in Anambra.”

    Ngige thanked the people for their support and gave them assorted gifts, including wrappers, blenders, food flask and cash.

     

  • Ngige faults Obi’s zoning stance

    The Senator representing Anambra Central, Chris Ngige, has faulted Governor Peter Obi on the statement that the governorship position should be zoned to the North Senatorial Zone.

    He spoke at a meeting with aspirants from the Central Senatorial Zone.

    Ngige asserted that there has never been a time the governorship slot was zoned since the creation of the state 21 years ago.

    He wondered why every person has kept quiet and refused to reject Obi’s imposition of zoning.

    “When we left Enugu we felt all of us were the same, there was nothing like this person is from here or there.

    “But if we must “dash” out the governorship slot to the North, we must discuss it. Let us know when it will start,” Ngige said.

    He said it was not the fault of Anambra Central Zone that it has successful children and therefore should be skipped out of the governorship race, insisting, “Governor Obi is not all knowing. We can’t keep shut.”

     

     

  • Tears flow freely as slain ACN S’East Deputy National Chair, Nwike is laid to rest

    Tears flow freely as slain ACN S’East Deputy National Chair, Nwike is laid to rest

    Tears flowed freely amidst encomiums yesterday at Amawa Village, Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State when the remains of late Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Deputy Chairman, South East, Dr. Chudi Nwike was laid to rest.

    His remains were interred exactly at 1:30 Pm in his compound with his immediate family members wailing uncontrollably.

    Nwike died at the age of 60 years.

    In his sermon, Reverend Fr. Vincent Ejembi from Pilgrimage Center Aokpe, Benue State, urged the family to take solace in God, especially when their spouse was killed struggling to better humanity in his field of politics.

    He noted that the caliber of people in the church showed that Nwike was loved by his people and many more.

    Father Ejembi mandated the killers of Nwike to come out and confess their sins so that God Almighty would be able to forgive them. He insisted that without confession, there would be no atonement for their sins.

    The man of God who suddenly went philosophical and spiritual said: “The kidnappers are four in number and are right here in this church. Though a lot of people have gathered to celebrate Nwike, but for the kidnappers it is not so, the faster they confess their sins, they better for them. The living must remember that one day they must go and meet the creator and so should amend their ways.

    Former governor of Anmabra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife whom late Nwike served was speechless and traumatised.

    The same goes for the National Chairman of UPP and ADC, Chiefs Chekwas Okorie and Okey Nwosu, respectively as well as the Action Congress of Nigeria governorship Aspirant, Mr Godwin Ezeemo.

    Senator Chris Ngige blamed Nwike’s death on porous security and appealed on the state government to step up security in the state.

    For Mr. Ezeemo who led uniformed ACN members in their thousands in a condolence message enjoined the family to take solace in God as death was inevitable and prayed the Almighty to give them the fortitude to bear the loss. He stressed the need for the government to tackle security challenges in the state by providing jobs for the unemployed youths to enable insecurity reduce to the barest minimum.

    He described late Nwike as a good man who contributed his best to the development of his party and his state.

    It would be recalled that the late Nwike was kidnapped by yet to be identified gunmen in his home in March this year and was later found dead in Asaba, Delta State on April 8th, 2013.

    Late Nwike was born on July 31, 1952. He was first in the family of 10 children, five boys and five girls. Until his death, he was the Vice-Chairman South East of the Action Congress of Nigeria.

    He is survived by three children Chudi Nwike Jnr; Chito Nwike and Ifeatu Nwike

  • Anambra 2014: Ngige, Ezeemo battle for ACN ticket

    •I can’t be deputy, Ezeemo insists

    •I’m still in the race, says former gov

    THE race for the governorship ticket of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Anambra State thickened yesterday with the declaration of business mogul, Godwin Ezeemo, at the party secretariat.

    The declaration witnessed by several party supporters came as speculations were rife that the party executives might have adopted Ezeemo ahead of ACN’s leader in the state, Senator Chris Ngige.

    Until the declaration, Ngige, the senator representing Anambra Central, was the only candidate in the race.

    Ezeemo, publisher of Orient Daily newspaper and Orient News Magazine, reportedly rejected the offer of deputy governorship while answering questions from party officials.

    He said: “Deputy Governorship is good but from where I am coming from, I have been offered a ticket and I don’t want it.

    “This is because I will be a lone voice to some who came to make money when I will not change my views on some decisions based on pecuniary interests.

    ‘’A deputy governor is a spare tyre to be used at will when the main tyre is not functional. So, I don’t want deputy.”

    Asked if he would leave the party if he was not given the ticket, Ezeemo said: ’’This mission is not a do- or- die affair and I must not be a governor but I have volunteered to serve my people waiting for them to give me the power to serve them as the Executive Governor of Anambra State.”

    Charging the party to conduct a free and fair primary, the aspirant said: ‘’All I am asking for is for a free and fair primary that would be credible and seen to be so.

    “When candidates are handpicked for an election it is not always the best because that has been the problem of politics here.

    ‘’Primaries must be credible, free and fair. I remind you that I decided for the party long time ago to be part of it as a progressive whether I am contesting for governorship or not. But I don’t want to be deputy governor to anybody.”

    He pledged to tackle insecurity and unemployment with creation of jobs through the informal sector.

    Contacted, former Governor Ngige denied insinuations that he was no longer interested in the race.

    He said: ’’There is no truth in that rumour that I am not running for governorship election in Anambra State.

    “I am consulting but at the final stage, and from indications so far it looks very likely I will run for the gubernatorial election whenever INEC gives the go- ahead.

    ‘’I will speak to Anambra people very soon on the issue. Thanks.’’

    Anambra chairman of ACN, Chief AmechiObidike, welcomed the declaration of Ezeemo.

    He, however, denied the business mogul had been adopted, saying a candidate can only emerge after primary.

    According to him: ‘’We have not adopted any candidate for now because we need more aspirants to make the party interesting during primary. ‘’

  • Ngige to Obi: I’m not afraid of debate

    Ngige to Obi: I’m not afraid of debate

    Former Anambra State Governor and senator representing Anambra Central Chris Ngige has said he is not afraid of a debate with Governor Peter Obi.

    In a statement by his Media Assistant, Igboeli Arinze, Ngige described the call for debate as laughable, saying facts speak for themselves..

    He said: “The governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Val Obienyem, said Ngige built roads only in Idemili Local Government, this is not true.

    “Roads such as Isuochi- Owerri, Ezukala-Ogbunka Umunze, Umunze to Igboukwu, dualisation of Zik Avenue, Modebe Avenue in Onitsha, Amawbia – Agulu, Abba-Abagana, Nnewi to Neni and other notable township roads were built by the Ngige administration.

    “The Obi administration claimed that it has built more roads, having spent eight years in power, but we believe that it should have done more than what it claimed.

    “What is important is the quality of these roads built by the Obi administration, which at best can be said to have a lifespan of two years.

    “Does it make sense to build roads with such enormous resources only for successive governments to revisit these roads with resources that would have gone to other areas, such as healthcare, education and security?

    “Ask Ndi Anambra to compare the roads done by Ngige with those done by the Obi administration.

    “On the issue of the senator attending Alor Boys, it is on record that Senator Ngige attended St John’s Alor and not Alor Boys as wrongly stated by Obienyem.

    “Also it was wrong of the Obi administration to accuse Ngige of neglecting his alma mater, since he has contributed to the renovation of buildings, provided solar lighting and donated a functional computer centre to the school.”

  • Obi challenges Ngige to a debate

    Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has challenged Senator Chris Ngige to a public debate.

    Ngige had called on Obi to account for the over N2trillion he collected as revenue since he became governor.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Valentine Obienyem, the governor said it was laughable for Ngige to raise the issue of infrastructural development when the people marvel at the infrastructural development in all sectors.

    He said: “Besides the roads Ngige built in Idemili, he did nothing for other parts of the state and in other sectors.

    “Look at his alma mater, Alor Boys, he is not ashamed that the place is being rebuilt by Governor Obi .

    “The other day, we met him at Girls Secondary School Alor, where he thanked the governor for rebuilding the school.

    “All he did was to move the State University College of Medicine to Alor, his home town, without building a table.

    “Today, Obi has built the teaching hospital from scratch and it has been accredited.”

    Obienyem said Obi would be comfortable engaging Ngige in a public debate.

  • APC’ll take over Southeast, says Ngige

    The senator representing Anambra Central, Chris Ngige, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will soon take over the political leadership of the Southeast.

    He spoke while addressing members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) at his constituency office in Awka.

    Ngige gave N200million gifts to party members for the Easter celebration.

    Some of the gifts donated included five cars, a bus, N1million to the party chairman, Amechi Obidike and N10.1million to the 326 wards.

    The lawmaker said he had been appointed as the chairman of the APC steering committee in the Southeast.

    Ngige, who is also a former governor, said the time had come to dethrone non-performing administrations.

    “We will start this dethronement from Anambra State, where only seven per cent of development took place since we left office in 2006.”

    He said his administration spent N12 billion to fix federal roads in the state.

    “During my tenure, we built over N12billion worth of Federal Government roads, which was reimbursed to the present administration.

    “We did that because our people were the people using the roads and not the Federal Government. Our specifications on those roads were better than the specification of the Federal Government. That was why it refunded the money.

    “But today, all the federal roads in the state are bad.

    “This is why change has become inevitable in the Southeast, starting from Anambra,” Ngige said.