By Ada Bosa
Senator Chris Ngige today in another of all rallies at The Basilica of the Holy Trinity playground ,venue of the formal flag-off of his gubernatorial campaign tagged Onwa G’Eti Ozo (The second coming of Onwa, as Ngige is also known)challenged Anambra State to vote in free education, robust security where traditional ceremonies of Anambra indigenes will stop holding in Lagos, Abuja and London owing to current insecurity ,food security achievable through graduate farming An Anambra State Airport and minimum wage for workers in Anambra State by entrusting him yet again with the mandate to lead the state.
Ngige was addressing a mammoth crowd of over 120,000 persons drawn from all walks of life who defied early downpour and other pressing engagements to witness the traditional hand-over of flag from the National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande even as Ngige took time to espouse the 12 items contained din his manifesto which has caught on in Anambra State as the most elaborate and detailed, practical and programme from any contestant so far..
Ngige introduced his running mate in the November 16 2013 elections, Hon Ralph Okeke who had been the Chairman of Anambra West Local Government Area (LGA) and had represented Anambra East -Anambra Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives for two terms, after coming down heavily on half-educated persons seeking to govern Anambra State
Okeke called on the capacity crowd in an event relayed live by Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and African.
Independent Television (AIT) to (NTA) to rise and reject what he called ‘Fidelity Dynasty’ noting that he as a committed son of Anambra North understood early enough that Gov Peter O Obi was not sincere in his pretentious mantra about warding he governorship position to Anambra North, noting that politics is devoid of undue sentiments.
Okeke also insisted that Anambra North will have a governor at the right time sanctioned by God, when they can get the position on merit and not be answerable to any god father.
Earlier Gov Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State had descended on some aspirants in the Anambra State gubernatorial race to coming to the contest with half-education, noting that he is proud to come form a state that values education , and where the people only choose those who are educated like themselves ,or more educated to enable them learn from them.
Adams Oshiomhole, Governor of Edo State went down memory lane recalling that he led the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to strikes under Gov Chinwoke Mbadinuju , and was therefore privileged to be acquainted with the magnitude of debt owed by Anambra State ‘before Ngige came with his magic and wiped the whole dept off’. Hence according to Oshiomhole’ I have not come to Anambra State to tell you who your son is because you know him. I have only come to remind you this very good drug has not expired and yet heis in APC and is a medical doctor. He is the mediccine that Anambra need now.
Tinubu urged Anambra people to break the cycle of disappointments by governments that are not committed t the people and vote Ngige in to place Anambrra at the right profile. Gov Richas Okorocha instiste din his speach that the people must rise against hte interventions to the choice of Anambra State by ‘Abuja’l with tres to remote-control the state from outside.
At Okorocha’s prompting, massive crowds of people stepped forward to the podium to donate cash to the Ngige Campaign,while others demanded an account number to credit, to which Okorocha replied that an account will be publicised in AIT ,NTA and other mass media.
Every speaker asked the people to remain in the polling booths to defend their victory after voting on November 16, 2013, as according to Oshiomhole ‘We in Edo State voted and defended the votes , and I have no doubt that Anambra State can do the same, given the commitment I have seen here today’.
