Fides Media Living the Faith
By Jude Atupulazi
The Federal House of Representatives candidate of Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, for Dunukofia, Njikoka and Anaocha Constituency, Barr Val Ayika, says he has decided to endorse the presidential aspiration of Peter Obi who is in another party because of Obi’s proven track record. Obi is contesting on the platform of Labour Party (LP).
Speaking to Fides in Awka, Ayika who worked with Obi in 2011 as a state legislator, said he endorsed Obi for president in the 2023 General Elections because he had a firsthand knowledge of Obi’s style and approach to governance.
‘Pursuant to my experience from working with him, I can say without any fear of contradiction, that he is one of the best prudential managers of human and material resources in the Nigeria.
‘As an unimpeachable fact, Mr. Peter Obi made it a policy that no file stayed on his table more than 48 hours. His style of governance then as Anambra governor was everything prudential, people-oriented and all encompassing.
‘I may be wrong; yet I am entitled to my opinion which is that one of the biggest challenges of Nigeria today is high cost of governance. Premised on past performance and Mr. Obi’s content of character, there is no gain saying that his first areas of policy formulation and implementation will be cutting down the high cost of governance, as well as streamlining the over bloated structure and size.
‘Again, to say that Nigeria under Peter Obi’s leadership will develop faster economically and will be better secured, is just stating the obvious. The bottom line of my reason for endorsing Mr. Peter is that he and Datti, with the other intellectuals around them, with proven track records in their different fields of endeavour, like Mr. Valentin Ozigbo, will fill the unfortunate quality leadership vacuum that is the bane of Nigeria’s development,’ Ayika stated.
He said he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the same time Obi also left, and consulted with Obi, but he regretted not picking the party’s ticket owing to what he described as being out manoeuvred. Nevertheless, noting that he was not as desperate as his opponent for the ticket, he moved on to ZLP but had still retained his love for Obi, as well as desired him to be president.
‘It is also my considered opinion that the best way I can play my role in the New Nigeria of our dream in 2023 is to be on the ballot. Suffice it to say that I am in the contest for 2023, among others, to offer my people quality representation at the green chamber and to maximally contribute my quota in ensuring that Peter Obi will be our next president,’ Ayika stated.