By Jude Atupulazi
A top aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for this year’s Governorship Election in Anambra State, Prof Obiora Okonkwo, says he’s in the race to change the trend in Anambra State and halt the cycle of hardship and unfulfilled potential.
Okonkwo, Chairman and CEO of United Nigeria Airlines, who made this known while having a session with media men in his country home in Ogidi, February 2, also said his one ambition in life was to make heaven and as such he was seeking to be Governor to glorify the face of God through a bigger platform like APC.
He said his decision to run for the Guber Seat followed extensive consultations with individuals, religious and traditional institutions and different political groups.
‘For me, choosing to run is like answering a call and my one ambition is to make heaven and everything I do is something that will lead me to heaven. Choosing to run is to look for a bigger platform to enhance my own activities, to add value to society, to enhance humanity and then, obviously, to glorify the face of God on earth.
‘Politics, for me, is a vocation, not a profession. So, I’m not looking for a means to survive. So this is for me, serious. I had very wide consultations with people that matter to me, both individuals, institutions, critical stakeholders, traditional and religious institutions, which you can attest I’m very close to,’ Okonkwo said, expressing satisfaction with the commitment of those people to his project.
He bemoaned the state of affairs in Anambra State, noting that the state had not achieved its full potential. ‘I acknowledge the difficulties, the hard times, but I’m not discouraged. I’m only looking at the potentials of the state that have not been tapped. That’s why I’m running,’ he stated.
On his seeming late entry into the Guber Race in APC, Okonkwo said he was a foundation member of the party right from its AC and ACN days, noting that this was a good time to rejoin the party, having been part of it before.
‘It’s just for me like coming back home. I contributed 80 to 90% towards producing the only elected officers in this party and that was in 2011 when (Chris) Ngige was elected senator in ACN and another House of Reps member from Idemili North and South, as well as another State Assembly member from Idemili North.
Ever since then, I don’t think there’s been any such feat achieved,’ he said, maintaining that he contributed heavily, thus, the feeling of coming back home.
The business mogul said 70% of party members who had been around since those days would attest to his contributions, insisting that they knew the value he was bringing to the party this time around.
