* Why Anambra people’ll vote for me

By Clifford Ndujihe

THE African Action Congress, AAC, Governorship Candidate, Dr. Chidozie Nwankwo, has urged his fellow contestants to play by the rules and allow the will of Anambra electorate prevail in the November 6, 2021 governorship election.

Nwankwo, who expressed confidence that he would win the poll, urged all the candidates to support whoever wins the poll, if it was free and fair.

Advising voters not vote for those sponsored by godfathers because godfatherism had hurt Anambra grievously in the past, he said the election would be a departure from the past as people of the state were tired of politicians who come during every election to make empty promises.

In a zoom meeting with Senior journalists on Tuesday, he promised to bring integrity and his over 40 years’ experience as an employer of labour to bear in running the affairs of the state, if elected.

The businessman, industrialist and philanthropist said he would fight corruption and give merit a chance by appointing people with track records of integrity and competence into positions of authority.

Nwankwo who is Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Wichtech Groups, said he is in the race to salvage Anambra and push her to where she ought to be in terms of development.

He assured that he would ensure security of lives and property of residents of the state by collaborating with relevant stakeholders, including the elders, community leaders, religious leaders and market leaders, adding that such stakeholders were good avenues of getting services across to the people.

READ ALSO: How an APC win could reposition Anambra [Opinion]

“Security is a major challenge facing Anambra State and indeed the entire South East region but I can assure you that the problem is not insurmountable. If Anambra people elect me on November 6, I assure you I will be able to secure the state. First of all, I will engage in a lot of consultations of all major stakeholders in the state. It is obvious that most of the violence in Anambra that you see are being perpetrated by outsiders and some bad politicians.

“I will ensure tight security, development in agriculture, a robust road construction in cities and rural areas, massive development in education, enhanced development in healthcare plus sports development among others.

“I will also speed up the conduct of local council election and I am sure that as a person with enough exposure and experience, I will fulfil all my promises”, he said.

He promised to aggressively tackle youth unemployment in the state, assuring that his administration would run the state like a successful business organisation where employees are committed to work and produce results under a transparent and accountable process.

Nwankwo observed that one of the factors militating against good governance in the country was the culture of putting square pegs in round holes and regretted that most people see government quarters as a place to consume both the principal and profit without expecting results.

Asked his chances because he is contesting on the platform of a new party, he said the election is not about political parties but individuals, adding it is time to elect credible people with track record as leaders.

Asked who his godfather is, Nwankwo said: ”I don’t have any godfather apart from God in Heaven. Our state has been strangulated by godfathers. Godfathers stopped Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju from working and at a stage he could not pay salaries and schools in Anambra were closed for over one year. Godfathers also fought Chris Ngige and abducted him at a stage. Peter Obi did not have a godfather and he is the best governor we have got so far. Obi tried to be the godfather of Willie Obiano, who resisted him. Obiano is trying to be Chukwuma Soludo’s godfather.

”Godfathers take people to a shrine to swear and hang a hook on them to make them a stooge or puppet. The entire Anambra is fighting godfatherism.”