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The governorship aspiration of former Central Bank Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, received a major boost recently when a former national assembly member, Hon Dr Ifeanyi Ibezi, threw his weight behind Soludo, reports Jude Atupulazi.
Soludo is a leading guber aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for the November 6 election.
The occasion was the hosting of Soludo by Ibezi and members of his Reality Movement, as well as key stakeholders of APGA in Idemili North Area in Abatete.
In his remarks, Chief Tony Onyima, former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Anambra State, said Ibezi had taken the right step by hosting Soludo and described it as a major political decision in the search for the next political leadership for Anambra State.
Recounting the political journey of the host, Hon Ibezi, Onyima commended him for his diligence, hard work and resilience, which, he said, had distinguished him as a political force in Idemili
He said the state did not need one who would be learning on the job, but somebody who would hit the ground running and said Soludo fitted the bill.
‘The good news is that solution seems to be on the way. The candidature of Prof Chukwuma Soludo will go down in history as having elicited enthusiasm across social class and political spectrum. The energy and drive is unprecedented that today we have 24 support groups rooting for him to be given the APGA ticket,’ Onyima said.
The Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Governor of Anambra State, Hon. (Sir) Ifeatu Obi Okoye, who spoke on the occasion, said Soludo’s candidacy had brought back Idemili North and South as one united family and appealed to the people to give Soludo all the necessary support, both in the primary and gubernatorial elections.
Hon. Charles Odede, a two term Federal House of Representatives member in the 6th and 7th Assembly, who recently defected to APGA with his supporters because of Soludo, said he had put in place what he called a multi-party support group to campaign vigorously for Soludo, assuring that the zone would deliver victory for him in the November Election.
Hon Chinedu Obidigwe, another national assembly member, also praised Soludo for his patience, maturity and sacrifices he made for APGA and said Soludo would consolidate on the strides Obiano had recorded in infrastructural development of the state.
The chief host, Hon Ifeanyi Ibezi, former member, Federal House of Representatives for Idemili North and South, welcomed Soludo and assured him of total support from the zone.
He said his political campaign team, the Reality Movement, and others, would be mobilized to work assiduously for Soludo, comparing Soludo’s election as the next governor of Anambra State to a tsunami.
‘All of us will work tirelessly for your victory and we will deliver,’ Hon Ibezi said, assuring Soludo that the Idemili political structure was with the Reality Movement Family; even as he assured that those he called political apostles would be raised for Soludo’s electioneering campaign.
Responding, Soludo thanked his host, dignitaries and supporters, for the warm reception, noting that Idemili North and South were crucial to his gubernatorial ambition. He said the reception and endorsement the people of the zone gave him was of great significance to his ambition.
‘APGA has remained a formidable party and has provided the platform for the Igbo identity in the country,’ he said.
He commended Obiano for his achievements and for bequeathing an enduring legacy by building about 17 bridges connecting villages and towns. He also mentioned other infrastructure like the airport, International Conference Centre and Awka City Stadium.
Soludo said his vision was to create wealth and consolidate on the work of Obiano, while promising to bring his wealth of experience to bear in the development of the state, as well as making Anambra an Industrial hub of Nigeria.