By Ikeugonna Eleke
A gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra state, Chief Ugochukwu Okeke, says the party will use the forthcoming governorship election to show that the party owns the state.
Okeke challenged party stakeholders to seize the governorship election slated for November 6, 2021 to prove their claims that the state belonged to them.
He said the party’s claims that the state was their birthright would only amount to rhetoric when in reality the party had over the years been denied that right.
Addressing journalists shortly after a familiarization tour of four local government areas in the state, Okeke lamented the abysmal performance of the party in the last governorship election which saw the party coming a distant third.
He blamed the ugly development on money bag politics and godfatherism, which, he said, had characterized elections in the state, insisting that the party would only wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) when members determined to change the narratives.
He said it would amount to mere rhetoric, claims that Anambra was a PDP state when in reality it was not. ‘In our last election in state, PDP came a distant third. We didn’t even come second.
‘It’s unheard of in a state that claims to be PDP state. If we must prove that claim, we must think outside the box and strive for excellence by doing things the right way this time,’ he said.
Okeke who had been a PDP chieftain for over a decade, said his decision to remain in the party was informed by the passion and confidence he had for the party.
He added, ‘You can only change the error from inside. PDP is a great party. There’s a desire in me to bring the best in the party. But unfortunately, we’ve continued to do the same thing same way and expect a different result. It’s wrong.
‘Politics is not only about money. It’s about integrity and interest, it’s about focus and accomplishment, doing things that will affect lives positively. The need to bring change is a collective one, and the only way to make it happen is by remaining where you are.
‘Jumping ship can’t and will never solve any problem. Instead the problem persists as you move around. The best is to confront it head-on because you’ve seen the problems.’
