Obaze escapes Obiano's trap in ally with Annie Okonkwo and Emeakayi as Ekwueme , Markafi , Obi rallies support for Obaze

www.odogwublog.com reports that former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme , the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Markafi  and the former governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi yesterday rallied support for the PDP’s Governorship candidate in Anambra 2017 elections , Mr Oseloka Henry Obaze.

Just as they gave quit notice to the All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA, led government of Anambra State insisting that it is a colossal failure.

Odogwublog.com observed that aside Dr Obiogbulu Alex announcing itself as the rightful candidate , Prince Ken Emeakayi led hundreds of PDP members headed for Onitsha to another rally at Dr Alex Ekwueme square in Awka while Senator Annie Okonkwo as well staged another rally at Emmaus House Awka even as APGA staged another rally at Omagba community Onitsha, all targeted at disrupting Obaze’s flag off rally.

Ekwueme who made this public at All Saints Anglican Church, Onitsha during the flag off of the PDP campaign for the November 18, 2017 governorship election noted that Anambra has always been a PDP state and by November 18 2017, the PDP will take over its pride of place at the Agu-Awka government House.

He described the PDP standard bearer and his deputy as the best pair the state needed at this time.

As well, the National Chairman of the party, Senator Ahmed Markafi  said that PDP had all it takes to take the state to the promised land and called on party faithful to get down to work and draw more people to the party saying that PDP is back to stay, not only in the east but in the west, north and south.

Earlier in his speech, the former governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi lamented the decay in infrastructural development in the state saying that Obiano has created a vacuum in development.

While describing Obiano's administration as a failure, Obi said that he is supporting Obiano not because he is an enemy but because he has not done well.

"I said it when we presented Obiano as the governorship candidate for APGA that if he doesn't do well, I will lead the campaign to remove him.

" That is what I am doing now. I am not quarrelling with Obiano but I am quarrelling with the governor simply because he has not done well. I trust Obaze will do well because he has been in governance and is conversant with the terrain. He is an honest man who will work rather sit and drink, Obi stated.

The PDP candidate in his speech said that he has come to get it right for the north zone using only one term.

He said the present government has failed to put the state in the right direction saying, "Education in the state since Obi left government has gone down the radar

We will dedicate 26 percent of our budget to education with 10% to parochial  and privately owned schools."

Obaze continued his appeal to members of the party who are aggrieved to forgive and join forces with him to ensure victory for the party.

Obaze spoke during the flag Off of His 2017 Campaign at All Saints Cathedral Field Onitsha, tagged ‘’We Must Seize the Moment’’.

Obaze said: ‘’This is a family gathering.  PDP is a big family and the umbrella is huge enough to cover and accommodate us all.  I salute all those who have shown understanding.  I salute all those who have come to give their support despite past difference.  I beg those who are still holding out, those who still feel aggrieved and those who left our party to return to our hold.

‘’I extend my hands of fellowship and partnership to my fellow aspirants; it is time to rally to our common cause and work as a united family.  We encourage those outside, for whom other parties no longer represent their aspirations to join us in rebuilding Anambra and in rebuilding Nigeria.

‘’Our party has been out of power in Anambra State for over twelve years.  This is therefore a moment of reckoning.  We are at the cusp where we must seize the moment and win our state back and thus put her back on the national grid. Doing so will give us the voice, the reason and the impetus to serve our people well. Today, we seek to return Anambra back to the stage of prosperity; in keeping with our party manifesto we must return power to the people.

The PDP Guber candidate said further: ‘’Anambra State is in utter disrepair.  Anambra State is broken. We must fix it.

‘’Anambra people are suffering. Despite the hype and propaganda, our people are no longer enjoying the true dividends of democracy. The Government of Governor Willie Obiano has failed them in more ways than one.  Anambra deserves better. We must therefore change the leadership and political narrative.

‘’Since governance is all about the delivery of basic services, we Anambra is not doing very well.  Poor leadership, fiscal recklessness and lack of transparency and focus remain key challenges for the incumbent government.  

‘’However, we know we have not done so well economically, not because the natural resources do not exist, not because the talents are not there, but because “narrow political considerations have progressively and consistently trumped rational economic thinking and policy in governance”  Such a defeatist mindset must change.

‘’Changing the leadership and governance narrative in Anambra is simple.  We must borrow and implement international best practices related to governance.  For now the Obiano Government talk the talk but do not walk the walk.  What this means is that Ndi Anambra continue to suffer; we suffer from poor infrastructure, unsanitary environment,  high taxes and levies, youth unemployment, falling educational standards, etc. Our housing deficit and challenges are not any lighter.

Obaze concluded: ‘’I have committed myself and my administration to a single four-year term in office - 2018-2022.  It will be four years of intensive and productive hard work.  Our focus will be primarily on human development capital anchored on education.  We will thus commit 26% of our budget to education, with 10% going to parochial and privately owned schools.  We will in that context offer free education from kindergarten to JS3.  We will also tackle youth unemployment through vocational training and certification.

‘’If we have spent over N455 billion in appropriated funds, in four years, frittered away over N75 billion in savings, and borrowed over N60 billion in foreign and domestic loans, yet do not have commensurate infrastructure for those expenses, then the system is broken.  If we have dropped from number one ranking in national examinations to sixth and seventh positions respectively, then the system needs to be fixed’’.  

                          

Also speaking, the Chairman on the Occasion and State President of Ohaneze Ndiigbo, Anambra Chapter, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, commended Anambra based journalists for being patriotic in their responsibilities, and cautioned against peddling hate speech.