Anambra still practises godfatherism -Okonkwo

The Governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, on Wednesday evening, vowed to end the habit of godfatherism, if elected governor of Anambra state, come November 6, 2021 Governorship election in the state.

Okonkwo, made the promised during a Town Hall meeting with the Nnamdi Azikiwe University community, on the state of the Nation, held at University auditorium in Awka.

He said; his mission into contesting the Governorship election under ZLP, was to further the fight against godfatherism that is currently in practice in the state.

According to him, I left my former party, the People Demogratic Party (PDP), because of the godfatherism sydrome, after I have spend so much resources for the party to picks me as it flagbear but I was denied by some persons that believed, they are the owners of the party in the state and the country at large. And the ticket was given to Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, whom the believed will be of yes sir to them.

“I can tell you, the press that the godfatherism spread across other political parties like; APGA, who the incumbent governor, Willie Obiano, imposed former CBN governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, as the party candidate that has led to thousands of supporters including the deputy governor, Nkem Okeke, defecting to others political parties to save their relevance.

The APC is also in the messed of godfatherism, because the party did not conduct it election primary proper, yet a candidate was announced to fly the party ticket for the election, forcing co-contesters to run for the number one seat in other political parties.

“I am assuring you from my consultation so far that, the people of Anambra state will not vote APGA, PDP and APC because of their similarities of poor governance.

Okonkwo said he will be governor for everybody not only for his  friends and families as obtainable now in the state. “I discovered that the leadership in the state is for friends and upper class and leaving the poor in pains,” he added.

He asked the University Leadership and students to join him to fight godfatherism in the state which he said threatens the democratic rights of Ndi-Anambra.

He lists Rapid Rural Development, Economic Growths with Jobs, Revitalization of Education-Human Capital Development, Youth Manpower Development and Employment, Planned Urbanisation and Urban Renewal, Peace and Security, Improved Access to Basic (Preventive and Curative) Heath Services, Diaspora Engagement, Rebuilding our Ethical Infrastructure and Social Welfare, Poverty Eradication as his a 10- point agenda for the state, if elected as the next governor.