.No zone will be cheated in PDP administration – Okowa
Delta Governor and Vice-Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and his Anambra counterpart, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, have challenged people of South East to unite towards reviving the region’s economy being battered by insecurity.
The governors made the call on Sunday at the 60th birth anniversary thanksgiving service of Archbishop of Awka Diocese of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev’d Alexander Ibezim, held at Cathedral Church of Saint Faith, Awka.
Okowa said that the South East was destroying its own economy with home-grown insecurity, including a sit-at-home ordered and enforced by non-state agents.
He called for deep soul-searching by all the actors, and urged them to unite and resolve the empasse.
He congratulated Governor Soludo for his efforts at tackling insecurity since assuming office and urged the people to support him to end the challenge which had impacted negatively on the economy of the State and region.
“I am glad that the people are supporting the governor because I can see a lot of changes and I believe it is well with our people because I know that the more we have sanity, the more the economy of the people of the South East will grow.
“We cannot afford to destroy our economy with our own hands, and may God not allow us destroy our own selves with our hands.” he stated.
Okowa said he was glad to honour the Archbishop’s invitation to the service, adding that with the security and economic crisis rocking the nation, it was difficult for people to feed.
“There is no doubt that in our nation, Nigeria, as it is today it is not easy to shepherd the people because the times are difficult and families are finding it difficult to eat.
“But, I know that the Archbishop is a very prayerful man and it is well with the people and the diocese.
“At a time like this, I always urge church leaders to continue to pray because the prayer of the righteous does more than the people think it does.
“As politicians, we also belong to the body of Christ and the more our people pray rather than despair, the more likely the nation will turn around because there is nothing God cannot do.
“And, we must allow God to lead us this time because mistakes have been made in the past but we do not want to make mistakes again.
“People are happy with you and they have come to celebrate with you but to me it is more work for you because it is time to pray more for the people and the country,” he said.
On his part, Soludo said it was a moment of rededication for the people of South East, adding that known and unknown gunmen had no place in Anambra.
“It is a moment of rededication for the South East to realise how Nigeria politics works because what we are looking for in Igbo land requires hardwork, dedication and building strategic alliances.
“I have said that for me, I will not celebrate until when we tackle insecurity to almost near zero, when all our schools work, when all our hospitals and roads are fixed then i will celebrate,” he declared.
He congratulated Archbishop Ibezim for 38 years of impactful life in the service of God, assuring that his administration would continue to work for the peace and development of the state.
“We will continue to work hard to rid Anambra off miscreants disturbing the peace of our state because known and unknown gunmen have no space in Anambra.
“I urge Christians to come together and work for the growth and development of the state and country through the spirit of Ecumenism.
“On behalf of the good people of Anambra, I welcome all of you from the nooks and crannies of Nigeria to Anambra State,” Soludo added.
Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, in a sermon, said no matter what the country was facing, God had promised solution if the people can seek Him through faith.
He urged Nigerians to keep believing God with faith for a solution to the nation’s challenges, adding that “contentions and trials will surely come but God who kept us until now will keep us throughout these trying times,”
He described the celebrant as a humble, articulate and persevering priest who had contributed immensely to the growth and spiritual development of the Awka Diocese and beyond.
Chairman of the occasion, Senator Ben Obi, described Archbishop Ibezim as an undisputed prayer warrior whose spiritual contributions to the Awka Diocese and Province of the Niger was unparalleled.
The celebrant, Archbishop Ibezim, thanked the Primate and invited guests for honouring him, assuring that he would continue to dedicate his life to the service of God and humanity.
Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Oluchukwu Ibezim, Senator Uche Ekwunife and Senator Victor Umeh among others, attended the thanksgiving service.
Also, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday said he was on the party’s presidential ticket because “it’s God’s will”.
He said the PDP rescue mission for Nigeria was a divine project, and assured that no geopolitical zone in the country would be cheated in a PDP-run Federal Government.
Okowa gave the assurance while addressing PDP stakeholders in Anambra at the Constituency Office of Senator Uche Ekwunife in Awka.
He said that the presidential election in February, 2023 would be won by the PDP “because of the things that I know and I see and whole lot of things going on”.
“Looking at what I am seeing this afternoon, I am worried because both APGA and Labour Party are in trouble.
“I must thank the men and the women here for standing strong for the PDP. The party in Anambra will come out alive and will remain strong .
“I can assure you that actions are being taken to ensure that we do the right thing in Anambra State. Nobody will right off Anambra when you have people like these in the party.
“I know that there is a Presidential candidate from Anambra but I know that Anambra and Ndigbo will play a major role in the next political dispensation as no zone will be left out and no zone will be cheated because we have equal opportunities for all.
“In the last seven years the South East had not gotten its fair share in this country and we cannot afford to continue in that route.
“When we went to Osun State they never gave us a chance but when the result came we had a very wonderful result.
“By God’s grace we will win that election by a landslide because if God had not endorsed it, He would not have allowed me to be on the ticket,” he said.
He commended the Anambra party stakeholders for standing strong for the party, saying “I must thank all of you for standing strong because in politics it takes a man who has knowledge and wisdom to know the direction to take their people to.
“A lot of people are being deceived and when we speak about the need to unite Nigeria people think that we are mistaken.
“I have political wisdom that God gave to me because I understood politics very well and it is not possible to have an accidental President.
“When people talk about Muslim-Muslim ticket am being careful because I don’t want to get involved in religious politics.
“But Nigeria is better off standing united as we are and it behoves on all Nigerians to be on board to dig us out of the pit that the APC has put the country.
“It is for us to stay committed stay strong to that structure that God has given us to enable us take back power from the ruling party.
“The insecurity and economic challenges facing Nigeria today requires a united people to resolve it.
“Nigeria must work for all with everybody participating in the working and sharing of the dividends and we must work as a team to rescue and redeem Nigeria.
“My principal and I understand all the issues and I can assure you that we have all it takes to bring a fair deal for our people and other parts of the country.
In his welcome remarks, Senator Ben Obi lauded Governor Okowa for always identifying with the PDP in Anambra and for always helping them to resolve issues in the party.
He pledged that the party would reciprocate Okowa’s kind gesture by supporting the Presidential ambition of Atiku Abubakar and Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.
Senator Representing Anambra Central, Senator Uche Ekwunife said the party is formidable in Anambra despite losing out from the last governorship election in the state and assured of the support and goodwill of the people of Anambra to the Atiku-Okowa project.
