Okonkwo Samuel
The governorship aspiration of Senator Iyom Uche Ekwunife has received the blessing of a group, Authentic Anambra South Stakeholders and Leaders Forum, with Ekwunife being described as having all it takes to become the next governor of Anambra State, reports Jude Atupulazi.
This endorsement was made at a meeting of select leaders, stakeholders, and grassroots facilitators at Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State under the auspices of Authentic Anambra South Stakeholders and Leaders Forum recently, where issues pertaining to the coming Anambra State governorship contest in 2021 were critically discussed.
In his speech, a public affairs commentator and convener of Old Aguata People’s Parliament, Dr Kenneth Anozie, said it was time for the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to take over Anambra State.
Anozie, after analyzing most of the PDP aspirants, whom he praised for what he described as their bold steps and great contributions in building the PDP, said Senator Uche Ekwunife who represents Anambra Central Zone, was the best choice, given her pedigree in politics.
Describing her as a credible aspirant and team player, Anozie said Ekwunife possesed the needed credentials and what he termed winnable attributes to take PDP back to the seat of power; even as he expressed confidence that Ekwunife would positively transform the state.
In their own contributions, some women Leaders in Anambra State, Dr Rose Nwankwo, from Orumba North, who was one time ASUBEB Chairman in the state; and Chief Mrs Bridget Obi, one time Commissioner for Women’s Affairs, from Ihiala Local Government, lent their support to the aspiration of Senator Ekwunife, noting that as a woman and mother, she had all it took to totally transform Anambra State.
They further described her as a home bred politician and someone who had been around Anambra State almost all her life, and thus deeply understood what they described as the peculiar circumstances and needs of Anambra State.
They said they were fed up with those, who, according to them, picked PDP’s ticket only to end up answering former guber of the party.
Earlier in his opening remarks one of the conveners of the group, Mazi Ejike Nwosu, said that time had come for people to speak with one voice on the issue of Anambra State governorship and to make as to who could take the state out of the doldrums.
Chief Ogonna Obi, a stakeholder from Aguata Local Government, later moved a motion for Anambra South to endorse Senator Ekwunife in her aspiration to win the Primary of PDP, as well as the governorship election in 2021.
This was seconded, amid a resounding ovation, by Comrade Onyedika Ikegwuonu from Nnewi North, a businessman and industrialist, and Mrs Amaka Nwankwo from Orumba South, who both praised Ekwunife’s developmental accomplishments and empowerment schemes, which, they said, provided employment opportunities for the youth of Anambra State, irrespective of their places of origin.
They also commended her special relationship with all her supporters and campaign team, describing it as second to none among politicians in Nigeria.
One of the Stakeholders from Ihiala Local Government, Comrade Innocent Ujubuonu made a very big donation as a show of Support, both to the group, and in support of the aspiration of Senator Ekwunife.
Many leaders and stakeholders from across the seven local governments of Anambra South were present during the event.
In a closing remark, one of the organizers of the event and leader of Authentic Anambra South Stakeholders and Leaders, Chief Azuka Okeke, one of the longest serving chairmen of PDP in Nnewi North Local Government said Ekwunife had the right, both constitutional and filial, as a true daughter of Igboukwu, Aguata Local Government Area, to contest for the governorship election. He said zoning favoured her more
