With the next general elections in sight and the debate on zoning taking centre stage, the Anambra State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has adopted a motion, calling on the Minister for Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige to contest for presidency in 2023.
The resolution was made at the party’s 2021 End of the Year get-together at St. Mary’s Catholic Church field , Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on December 31, 2021.
The party gathering comprising members of the State Executive and Working Committees, Local Government and Ward Executives as well as top stakeholders of the party adopted Senator Ngige as the most credible South Easterner, whose antecedents and reach across the nation, stand shoulder high for the presidential contest in 2023.
Top stakeholders at the event included the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Agunwa Anaekwe, former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Gozie Agbakoba, Nelson Onubogu, State Party Secretary, Chukwuma Agufugo and legal Adviser, Emma Chikelu.
Others were the State Publicity Secretary, Okelo Madukife, Kene Chukwuemeka, Emeka Anaebonam, Maxwell Okoye, Ejike Njeze, Ebere Obiakor, Uzoma Igbonwa, Paul Okoye, Amobi Nwokeafor and the traditional ruler of the host community, Igwe Collins Chukwumesili who graced the occasion.
The motion was moved by the former member, representing Orumba North Constituency in the State House of Assembly from 2003 to 2007, Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo Okom and seconded by the member representing Anambra State at the Federal Character Commission, Dr. Uche Ibeabuchi .
According to Okom , “Sen Chris Ngige has served Anambra people meritoriously.
He served under an unimaginable difficult and oppressive circumstances but left a record that is yet to be broken by his successors. He has shown character , consistency and an uncommon belief that Nigeria can work for all Nigerians with square pegs in square holes.
“At the Labour Ministry where the President entrusted him with the fate of the nation’s workforce, after a successful stint at the seventh Senate, where he was the only opposition legislator from the old Eastern Region, Ngige despite age-long teething challenges, inherited by the Buhari administration, has achieved stable industrial milieu.
“He has been the pivot for the aggregation of the problems and challenges facing our people, and making formidable representation before the presidency . And he does so, quietly, without airs . He has shown character. He has shown integrity and has shown friendship to every part of Nigeria. He is unarguably the South East’s best chance for a shot at the presidency. Duty therefore calls on us to urge him to rise to the occasion. ”
Consolidating the motions, a former member of the old Anambra State House of Assembly in the Second Republic and later Deputy Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly between 2003-2007, Rt. Hon. Ozo Ughamadu said Ngige epitomised the aspiration of the people of South East for equity in Nigeria’s federation.
“ Besides, he has a tested capacity for delivery. He will be fair to every part of Nigeria. He has an exceptional capacity to look inwards and find solutions where others lose faith . He believes strongly that Nigeria can work and has demonstrated so by sending all his three children to Nigerian public schools where they graduated as doctors. We therefore mandate him to contest for the presidency of Nigeria in 2023, pleading with our brothers from other zones to support us. ”
In his reaction, Senator Chris Ngige who dwelt extensively on topical state and national issues, noted that he was not unmindful of the challenge thrown at him by his party members, adding that he is qualified to contest the election.
He however appealed to them to give him up to Easter 2022 to respond to their demand, adding that he has to consult his family members , political associates and other stakeholders before then.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the infrastructural development in the South East , saying “what my people who love appointment may have lost, Buhari has more than adequately compensated with infrastructures he is building in the East , to buoy our economy and lift our people.”
“One lane of the Enugu – Onitsha Express Road is almost complete . I hope some of us plied it. The same with Enugu- Port Harcourt. I hope some of us who came in from abroad will also be able to get close to the Second Niger Bridge and see the legacy that Buhari is leaving behind and stop the pernicious propaganda oozing from the diaspora.
“ I hope some of us also flew into the Akanu-Ibiam International Airport, Enugu , once described as the worst in Africa, to witness what our administration has done there too. The Eastern railway corridor is also on course and all our major cities of Awka, Onitsha, Aba, Umuahia, Enugu and others will be connected.
“ There is nothing we have asked the President to do for our people, Ndigbo that he turned down. The name , Okechukwu , which our leaders and traditional rulers gave him in 2015 is not in vain. I therefore urge us to show fate , counsel our youths for certainly , the best lies ahead,” Ngige said .
He added that the year 2022, holds a lot for the party faithfuls and non-party members in the State as more agricultural programmes would be rolled out before the rains set in .
“ We want to capture more people in the massive agricultural development , so that we can create more jobs . Within the year also , two new skills centres by the Ministry of Labour will be commissioned in the State for youths to tap into various enriching opportunities in the blue collar jobs.”
Charging party members to remain steadfast in grassroots mobilization so as to ready the party structures for future elections , Ngige said the Anambra State Governor Elect, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo confided in him that he would conduct credible local government elections.
“ So I enjoin our party members to start getting ready because besides the 2023 general elections, we are going to strongly contest in the grassroots elections and win positions,” Ngige added.
He further urged them to also mobilise for the state congress and disregard the antics of the enemies within, bent on thwarting the will of the people.
“ Please disregard those who are said to be compiling names for the congresses. They won’t succeed. In liaison with the National Secretariat of the APC , we will make sure that only you and no other will determine who occupies which position.
The highlights of the event peaked with the distribution of thousands of bags of rice and tomato to party members in all electoral wards in the state.
