By Jude Atupulazi
As the November 8 Governorship Election in Anambra State gears up, the membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State has swelled, with the defection of former Labour Party members to its fold.
Leading the former Labour Party members on a courtesy visit to the state Chairman of Anambra APC, Sir Basil Ejidike, in his office in Awka, May 28, Chief Fabian Ozoigbo, a former chieftain of Labour Party, said President, Bola Tinubu had laid a solid foundation for the socio-economic transformation of Nigeria, noting that prudence demanded that all should support him to realize his Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the social and economic life of Nigeria was in battered condition before the arrival of Tinubu, and therefore, urged Nigerians to be patient to see the fruits of what he described as the transformation tree mature satisfactorily.
Chief Ozoigbo also expressed confidence that the candidate of the APC for the November 8 Guber Election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, was a good material for the election, as, according to him, Ukachukwu had manifested concern and compassionate leadership in the private sector as an entrepreneur and employer of labour, describing it as a sure sign of Ukachukwu’s capability to lead Anambra to greater heights.
He eulogized Ukachukwu’s virtues of generosity, magnanimity, humanitarianism, which, he said, inspired him to float a charity organization, ”The Ikukuoma Foundation”, through which he sponsored the education of thousands of students who have graduated from various universities and achieved socio-economic self-actualization. Ozoigbo said those students had become assets to Nigeria, adding that those were attributes of a qualitative and humane leader.
Chief Ozoigbo recalled how Ukachukwu contested election to the Chairmanship of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and during his regime, the inhabitants of the FCT were happy, he said Ukachukwu would replicate that as Anambra State Governor.
In response, the State Chairman of Anambra APC, Hon. Sir Basil Ejidike, welcomed the members of the Labour Party, to APC, and commended them for constructive assessment of the political trajectory of Nigeria, assuring them that APC was a big party that would accommodate them and create opportunities for all of them to achieve socio-economic self-actualization.
He urged them to realize that it was highly imperative that the party should permeate to all nooks and crannies of the state, and charged them to try and sell the manifesto of President Tinubu, and that of Anambra’s candidate for the election to the people and ensure victory for APC in the election.
In his contribution, Comrade Eloka Ndupu, the Coordinator of Obidient Movement of the Labour Party, Ogbaru Local Government Area, said their resolve to join the APC was to cooperate with Prince Ukachukwu to connect Anambra State to the centre and be major players at the federal level, as well as becoming fully integrated in the mainstream of Nigeria’s politics.
Comrade Ndupu pledged to do everything legitimate within his popularity, to ensure that APC achieved victory in his area of jurisdiction, assuring that the mandate of the State Chairman, Sir Ejidike, to take the campaign for APC’s victory to the grassroots, was a task that must be done.
Other members of Labour Party that came on the solidarity visit to APC were Mr. Matthias Amechi (Ihiala LGA); Charles Kaine (Ogbaru LGA); Okechukwu Onuma (Onitsha North LGA); and many others.
A party stalwart of APC, Mr. Jude Ejidike, commended the members of the Labour Party for their wisdom in joining the APC to contribute in connecting Anambra to the Federal Capital and enjoy the paternalism of the Federal Government.
Among the political pressure groups that have indicated solidarity to APC are, Elite for Good Governance, led by Dr. Emma Nwanna and Engr. Emma Ofadi; Sister to Sister Women’s Empowerment, led by Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Obedi and Mrs. Helen Okeke; Ikukuoma Campaign Ambassadors, led by Monday Joseph Uwaja and Emma Nzeako; Accord Party, led by Princess Chinasa Uche, and many others.
