By Anayo Okoli
ABIA State PDP parallel governorship candidate for April 2011 elections, Chief Ikechi Emenike, yesterday explained that he did not have the capacity to withdraw from the race because his was a mission inspired by God.

He, however, said the contest was not a do-or-die affair, saying he would accept whoever God chose to govern Abia State.

Emenike, who is in court challenging the dissolution of Abia PDP executive committee and its replacement with the Emma Nwaka-led caretaker committee, which was later ratified by a congress held about three months ago, said he was not open to any negotiation or  surrender.

He  spoke in Umuahia while addressing Abia stakeholders from Abia North and Central senatorial zones.

According to him, even if his supporters agree to negotiate with Governor Theodore Orji’s group, he would not accept because “ when the history of the state will be written, it will be recorded for me that there was a man who stood up and said the truth.”

Emenike also used the opportunity to present his election manifesto to the stakeholders, who were later allowed to raise questions which he responded  to.

He said: “I don’t even have the capacity to withdraw from the race. It is an inspired mission. What will I tell the youths who have been with me in the last five years. Emenike has not given up. I have made my choice.

“I am a member of PDP, I will run as the governor of the state on the PDP platform. I can’t be negotiated and I am not available to be begged. Whoever God says will be governor, let him be.

“For me, it is not a do-or-die affair. I have a bottom ine. My bottomline is that anything not of God I am not part of it.  I will not get involved in it. I am not going to government to make money or to build any house.”

“If God says the incumbent governor should continue, let him continue. But my own is that God has told me that he has delivered me, that he will give it to me.”

Assuring his supporters that he fulfilled all the requirements as a PDP member and was eminently qualified to contest as Abia State governor and had also followed  and fulfilled all the requirements regarding purchase of forms and submission, Emenike urged them to vote for PDP on the election day, irrespective of whose photograph they see on the ballot paper.

“We are not fighting with anybody, we are not negotiating with anybody. Go out to vote for PDP whether it is Emenike’s picture that is there or not but by the grace of God we will take over,” he said.

He promised that the aged in the state above 75 years who are not pensioners will be receiving monthly stipends while assuring pensioners, many of whom were there that  he would ensure that they are paid regularly.