By Jude Atupulazi
The Anambra State Coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Council of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Hon Dr Ifeanyi Ibezi, says he is not worried by the activities of the Government of Anambra State against the party ahead of next year’s General Elections. Ibezi, who stated this to newsmen moments after the inauguration of the state Presidential Campaign Council of NDC in Awka, Wednesday, said the party would sweep all elective positions in the state.
He said despite Soludo’s antics, NDC was fully focused on taking Anambra State.
He took a swipe at Soludo’s claim of bringing progressives together, saying, rather, that NDC would make Anambra a democratic state and would clear every polling unit.
‘We’re taking our structure from state to local government to wards and units. NDC has already won over 70% of the election. The mood of the nation proves it. Obi is the only Candidate that has the capacity to win the election and Nigerians want him,’ Ibezi said, noting that Nigerians were ready to reset the country.
Ibezi thanked all inaugurated Campaign Council members, reminding them that the task before them was enormous, even as he noted that Obi’s emergence had triggered the reintegration of the North and East, describing Obi as a man of grace whose grace had been transferred to all members.
He expressed satisfaction that their task had been made easier because of the goodwill enjoyed by Obi and urged all to be part of the history in the making and strive to garner between 1.5 and 2 million votes for Obi over the 500 thousands he got last time.
He said that Anambra NDC would launch what he called ”Operation show your NDC flag” in every household.
Earlier, the State Chairman of NDC, Hon Ikem Uzoezie, said the focus of NDC in Anambra was to convert it to an NDC state through everyone’s support, especially the foot soldiers.
‘We are not talking about if Peter will win because he’s already won. We want to deliver much more than he had before; between a million and two, over the about 500, 000 he had last time.
Uzoezie, a former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, said that many members were helping with their services for free because of their belief in the cause of achieving a New Nigeria.
He expressed confidence in the ability of Ibezi and team to deliver maximally.
‘Peter will come to Anambra and go but our job will continue,’ he said, disclosing that the state campaign structure would be expanded to accommodate more people.
Hon Afam Ogene, NDC Caucus Leader in the Federal House, while calling for the inclusion of more women and youths, said Obi’s intervention had saved the Igbo Race from political extinction.
‘If he didn’t contest in 2023 and now, no Igbo person would have ever had a say in the Nigerian political conversation. It would have been a perennial deal between the North and West,’ Ogene said, while promising that efforts would be made to mobilize members.
Hon Ifeanyi Peter Uzokwe, Reps member, Nnewi North and South, said the National Assembly had raped the Nigerian masses and he was ashamed to be part of them. He called on members to be ready to fight, to take what was theirs.
Meanwhile, among those inaugurated in the Presidential Campaign Council are: Chief Egwuoba Okika Innocent, Deputy State Coordinator; Ikem Uzoezie, State Chairman; and Barr. Paulinus Akabogu Izuchukwu, State Campaign Secretary.
The Council also has the three Senatorial Candidates of the party in the state such as: Chief Senator Victor Umeh, Central; Senator Tony Nwoye, North; and Chief Ebuka Onunkwo, South, as members.
The three senatorial districts have separate coordinators, just as the Campaign Council also has established directorates for media and publicity, finance, logistics, women and youth mobilisation, security, grassroots mobilisation, election monitoring and vote protection, new media, protocol, policy research and documentation, among others.
Dr Tony Onyima is the State Director of Media and Publicity, while Emeka Kissinger Osisi and Barr. Ogechukwu Ekweozor are to oversee youth and women mobilisation respectively.
The Council also has coordinators across the 21 Local Government Areas of Anambra State as part of efforts to extend the party’s mobilisation and campaign activities to the grassroots.
