Anambra governorship: APGA flags off campaign in grand style

It was a mammoth crowd at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, Anambra State for the official flag off of APGA campaign for the November 18th governorship election.
The crowd from 179 communities in Anambra came in flamboyant APGA colors to express their solidarity and support for Governor Willie Obiano’s re-election.
In attendance were the National Secretary APGA, Hon Labaran Maku, the former governor of Central Bank, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, the former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Amb Bianca Ojukwu, APGA executives, House of Assembly members and party faithful.
Others were traditional rulers, religious leaders, different cultural troops, musical artists, masquerades, different groups among others.
Receiving the party’s flag, the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano noted that his administration had clamped down on hoodlums and miscreants in the state to ensure adequate security, saying he would continue the tempo when re-elected.
“My administration has invested N200 million in Health Insurance scheme to provide free health services to the indigent in the state. I have finalised plans to increase workers salaries by next year and it has been factored in the 2018 budget,” Obiano said.
He noted that his heavy investments in agriculture would make the state self sufficient and boost exportation of crops and vegetables to Europe.
“I urge you to organise yourselves in different cooperatives to benefit from the agricultural loans and seedlings my administration has mapped out for farmers in the state,” the governor said.
The wife of the governor, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano said the present administration run all inclusive government, involving youths in decision making.
Mrs Obiano revealed that Obiano government had employed every graduate of physically challenged and offered scholarship to indigent people in the state.
“We have reformed insane people in the state and have provided prosthetic limbs to people and as well employed all the physically challenged persons,” Mrs Obiano added.
The governor promised to sustain the tempo of N20 million community projects and urged those who had completed the first phase of the project to quickly apply for the second phase.
He charged the people to desist from any temptation that would make the election a do or die affairs.
“We have two things at stake, to vote for continuity to lift Anambra high or return to the days of darkness and lawlessness,” the governor stressed.
The National Chairman of the party, Mr Victor Oye revealed that Obiano’s administration had ensured prompt payment of salaries and allowances, as well as payment of pension and gratuities to pensioners in the state.
The wife of the former leader of APGA and the former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Amb Bianca Ojukwu expressed confidence that the re-election of the governor would further solidify his achievements and continue in transforming the state to limelight.
She regretted that some who were founding fathers of APGA had dissociated themselves from the legacy instituted by late Odumegu Ojukwu, assuring to continue with the brotherly love initiated by Ojukwu.
In his words, the Chairman, Obiano re election Committee, Sir Victor Umeh noted that “today is operation show muscle. APGA has transformed Anambra State and successively the story has remained progressively the same since 2006 from Obi to Obiano. We are by this crowd putting other parties on notice.”
Umeh charged Nigerians to respect the choice of Anambra people, which according to him is APGA.
He urged the people to troop out enmass to exercise their franchise come November 18th election, advising them to ensure their vote would be counted.
The National Secretary of APGA and former Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku commended Governor Obiano for his numerous achievements in the state and the country at large.
Maku said “if possible to borrow governor, I will borrow Governor Obiano to my state. Anambra people should ensure re-election of the governor; otherwise they will suffer like other states that are still owing six months salaries.”
Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Charles Soludo said APGA has no opposition as the two other opposing parties are dead on arrival.
He explained that one of his reasons for supporting Obiano was his promise to observe the zoning arrangements.
The former first female governor in Anambra, Lady Virgy Etiaba called on the people to secure their vote to ensure accountability.
Former APGA governorship candidate in 2015 in Abia State, Chief Alex Otti said Anambra people are lucky to have Obiano as their governor, saying Anambra had left other states behind in terms of infrastructure and other developments.
He said “if Obiano is not elected come November 18th, Anambra will go back to Egypt.”
Highlight of the event was the presentation of party flag to Governor Obiano for his re-election.