By Akanimo Sampson
A governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Dr Godwin Maduka, says states in Nigeria can no longer survive by relying on the federal monthly allocations to run their affairs.
Maduka who is seeking nomination to contest the November 6 governorship election in the state said so during his official handover of 25 Sienna buses donated to the state wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the party secretariat in Awka.
The American-based (Las Vegas) medical doctor said the economic reality in the country has made obvious that only persons with innovative thinking and connection to attract investments from within and outside the world should be entrusted to pilot affairs of states as overnors.
He said he was the right candidate for the job, and urged the PDP state and local government officials to support him to win the party’s ticket during the primary.
“I have all it takes to win the contest for the party in the main election”, the governorship aspirant said.
While describing himself as a staunch party member who had never bore the membership card of any other party in Nigeria other than the PDP saying “adopt me as I have adopted you”, Maduka adds, “we cannot build a prosperous state by going cap in hand to Abuja, we need to explore the world and I have all it takes to go to any country attract investments for our people.
“We need new Anambra, new politics where people who have good track records should be allowed to lead their people, it is not about what can I do but about what I have done. I am not coming for power, money or fame, I already have it, I just want to replicate what I have done in America and Umuchukwu my town in Anambra.’’
He explained that the vehicles were demonstration of his love for PDP and support towards ensuring that it ran the electioneering smoothly, adding that it would be for PDP secretaries in the 21 council areas of Anambra.
Maduka who said that the remaining four vehicles would be for the state executives, assured of more logistics support to the party.
Responding, PDP State Chairman, Ndubuisi Nwobu, who received keys of the vehicles thanked Maduka for his gesture while urging the beneficiaries not to convert them to private use.
Nwobu promised that PDP will conduct a free, fair and credible primary election that would produce a candidate that would reflect the collective choice of the people.
The party has however, revealed that it screened a total of 16 aspirants for the Anambra governorship election. Nwobu revealed this during the presentation of vehicles by Maduks at the party’ssecretariat.
“We are waiting for the screening committee to present their report very soon. The screening was very thorough, and besides what they filed as their qualifications, they were asked to bring the originals of their credentials for sighting.
“We hope that soon the result would be out, and we will know those cleared, but I hope that they will all make it.”
He revealed all aspirants of the party who were screened as Dr Godwin Maduka, Mrs Genevieve Ekwochi, Tony Nwoye, Godwin Ezeemo, Chuma Nzeribe and Valentine Ozigno.
Others are Dr Obiora Okonkwo, Mrs Chidi Onyemelukwe, Sen. Uche Ekwunife, Hon Chris Azubogu, Sen. Ugochukwu Uba, Dr Winston Udeh, Barr Emeka Etiaba, Ubaka Okeke, Chief Johnny Maduafokwa and Ifedi Okwenna.
