By Okey Maduforo Awka
Ahead of the conduct of the November 8th gubernatorial election in Anambra state the Ohaneze Ndigbo has thrown it’s support behind Gov Charles Soludo noting that as the apex Igbo sociocultural organization it must always support any performing governor in the South East geopolitical zone irrespective of his political party .
Announcing the backing of the body at the inauguration of the 489 member Soludo Campaign Council, the National Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo and former Deputy Governor of Anambra state Mr Emeka Sibudu explained that;
“It is in line with the policy and position of the Ohaneze Ndigbo that we must support any governor of Igbo extraction that is performing well and Gov Charles Soludo is doing well and we are supporting and encouraging him to continue in that regard”
“The people of Anambra state can tell the story of his performance as a governor and it is clear that he is doing well and we in Ohaneze Ndigbo congratulates him for his great performance ” he said.
Also speaking the duo of the National and State Chairmen of APGA , Bar Sylvester Ezeokenwa and Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye noted that it is a total victory for the party and it’s party in the coming election adding that no single electoral ward would be left behind.
The noted that there is no contest come November 8th gubernatorial election in Anambra state adding that the entire Anambra people have already endorsed the candidacy of Gov Charles Soludo.
Director General of the Campaign Council and Secretary to the State Government Prof Solo Chukwulobelu said that elections are won at the polling units and wards urging the members to go down to the grassroot.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration Gov Charles Soludo said that APGA is stronger and more united than before adding that this is in the spirit of being your brother’s and sister’s keeper.
“This is a Campaign Council of 489 members out of about 8,5 million Anambra people and this being a state movement being part of the membership of the council you are all the apostles”
“We did it in 2017 , we did it in 2013 , 2010 but I tell you one thing , there had never been any time in the history of APGA and in the history of the state when the party has been more united and stringer than it is than before”he said.
Soludo recalled the past crisis in the party which almost ruined the party but for the doctrine of necessity.
“In 2009 and 2010 , no National Chairman signed the nomination form of the governorship candidate of the party then under APGA”
“It was a doctrine of necessity with the National Chairman on that side and National leader on the other side and the National Secretary on the other faction had to sign”
“There was Maxi Okwo and Victor Umeh faction and there was attempt to mend fences”
“Despite that in 2017 we won 21 over 21 and at some point we fought up to Birinikudu the boundary between Niger and Nigeria’ and came back and we still defeated them and even last year they came again and we defeated them” he noted .
Soludo however mocked the All Progressives Congress APC candidate Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu over his boast that the by elections would be a test case for the November 8th gubernatorial election which according to him was lost by Ukachukwu.
“In August 16th we did not declare it as a mock election but the APC gubernatorial candidate. He called it a do or die and that it is going to be a mock election for November 8th election and that it would be used to test if they are serious or not for the election and when they take it not when they are elected”
“Then on that day we saw the allied forces at Onitsha North including those that lay courses on people at the alter and their Presidential candidate and the Traditional people and Senators just for a state Constituency”
“Some started attending August meeting and all that they were doing they were fighting the will of God and the will of the people and they never asked God what he has said “
