Don’t Fear Kidnappers, Come Home to Vote, Ngige Urges Igbos The All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate in the November 16 Governorship election in Anambra State, Dr, Chris Ngige, has unfolded his blueprint for the development of the State to Anambra business community in Lagos, saying his return to the Government House would enable him complete the work he began in 2003. Speaking at a fundraising dinner in Lagos, Ngige said his manifesto contained the remainder of the programmes he began in the state in his 33 month governorship of the state, pointing out that his eight-year blue print to develop the state was jettisoned abruptly with most of the strategic projects left undone. Noting that Anambra citizens are afraid to come home for fear of being killed or kidnapped , the APC candidate told his audience: “Our people now engage a retinue of policemen and soldiers to accompany them when visiting home. This never happened when I was there. I want to bring back those glorious days. You must begin to visit your homes. This is the primary function of any government. Any government that fails to secure life and property has failed”. Pledging to utilize the abundant human and financial resources of the State to make it a liveable place for everyone, Senator Ngige declared: “When they ask what I forgot at the Government House, I tell them I forgot my work plan for Anambra State. I will dust the blueprint when I get back there to rebuild Anambra State. “Security has to be restored in Anambra State as well as unfettered freedom of movement, equity and fairness,” the APC Candidate said, adding that with his team of dedicated people he would complete the implementation of all that was left undone in his blueprint. Debunking the notion that APC was a Yoruba party, Senator Ngige said: “The All Progressives Congress is not Party for any tribe. It is not a Yoruba Party and Yorubas can never own it. It is not Hausa party; the Hausas can never own it. It is not Igbo Party. Igbos can never own it. It is a Nigerian Party for the progress of Nigeria. I say this because of the propaganda being peddled by the APGA government in Anambra State only. “It is not about me. It is about our children and the future of the State. We have the human and financial resources to make Anambra State a place everyone would like to go to. Statistics don’t lie. While I was there, Anambra was the richest state in the country, today we are the 20th in poverty ranking in the country. We must look at people based on who they are and their ability to deliver. The party they belong to is secondary.” Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), in his remarks at the occasion which also had in attendance, the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, called on the people of Anambra to vote enmasse for Dr. Ngige, saying he was the most experienced of all the candidates being fielded by political parties for the position. Governor Fashola asserted that out of all those who have offered themselves for the governorship of the state, Ngige was the most experienced man for that job, adding that experience is key to the business of governance. The Governor told the gathering of prominent Igbo businessmen and women at the Lagos House, Marina venue of the event: “Experience is very key in this business. So, if you support him things will happen quickly because he has held that office before and that is experience. He has Federal Civil Service structure experience; he served as a director in the Federal Civil Service. The driver of Government is the Public Service. That is experience. “No government will survive or succeed without Parliamentary support. Dr. Ngige is now a Senator so he has also had the experience of the other side so he knows what it means, especially serving as an opposition Senator, to reach across the axles to do things and to get the government going.” On the insinuation that the All Progressives Congress was alien to the Igbo of the South-East, Governor Fashola said the important thing was not the name of the party but what the party stood for and has in stock in terms of development programmes for the people adding that the APC stands for rapid development and for change. “Our candidate has alluded to the fact that some are saying this is not your party. My question first is to ask you, are you happy with the APGA government in the State now? My own take is that even shoes when they get worn out they are changed. Our candidate has made his point clear by saying he brings to you a message of goodwill that calls for development that calls for change and for me, that is the message from our Party, the APC,” he said. In his opening remarks before presenting the candidate, National Leader of the Party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, described Dr. Ngige as “a good man, very committed to the welfare of the people and committed to the progressive calling”, adding that during his first coming, there were serious challenges which he was able to handle in addition to the many achievements of his administration. Noting that Anambra is more or less a Civil Service state, Asiwaju Tinubu declared: “If you take away the salaries from people, the ordinary housewives and traders in the market will not make money. Without salaries, they could not sustain families and if they could not sustain families that would create greater challenges such as insecurity. The fact that he tackled it and solved it was a sign of a committed individual with good vision”. Urging the people to vote for Dr. Ngige, Asiwaju Tinubu pleaded: “I appeal to you to accept Ngige as an actualiser who could change Anambra. If you give us Anambra and you give us Imo in the Progressives, you will see the entire East will change. Go round the Southwest you will see performances. All you need is a catalyst, a good example that will be now widespread”. The dinner attended by Anambra businessmen and women, professionals, Nollywood stars and leaders of various Igbo socio-cultural groups in Lagos including the president of Aka Ikengha, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike offered a platform for close interaction between the APC candidate and the dignitaries who pledged their support for change and development in the state through Dr. Chris Ngige.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Oct 2013 08:49:03 +0000
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