With free, fair election, PDP is finished, says Shekarau

Posted by admin Elections 2011 Monday, March 7th, 2011

Ebonyi State Governor, Martin Elechi yesterday shunned the presidential campaign train of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), led by the party Chairman, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu as the team was turned back at the gate of the Government House.

The team including the presidential candidate, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau was denied entry by security operatives, claiming they had no instructions pertaining the party leaders’ courtesy visit.
However, the incident did not stop the ANPP leaders from staging their campaign at the Peoples Club, along the Abakaliki-Enugu Road, after being denied the use of the township stadium over an excuse that the party did not come on time to make payment.

However, on leaving the Government House, the party leaders headed to the palace of Eze-Ogo, Dr. Agom Eze, the chairman of Ebonyi Traditional Council where Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau told the Eze that the party had come to the state to spread the good news that ANPP was a party of restoration that would restore the nation’s lost glory.
He explained that the party meant every bit of its word, noting that it was in the same manner that he campaign in Kano in 2003 where the members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were referring to him as a common teacher and by the grace of God he won the election and took over the mantle of leadership in the state for two consecutive terms.

According to him, just as he won as governor in Kano, ANPP would win the presidency in April elections and “by the time I will be coming back to Ebonyi, it will be on a state visit as the president of Nigeria,” Shekarau said.
He described the flag-off of the ANPP presidential campaign in Ebonyi as a home coming event for him because he was in Ebonyi in 1974 as a census officer deployed to Abakaliki fresh from his youth service then.

It was while at the Eze’s palace that words got to the campaign team that the Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu was waiting to receive them.
At the deputy governor’s office, Dr. Onu told Ogbu, who was his chief of staff as the then governor of old Abia State, that ANPP had decided to flag-off its campaign in Ebonyi for strategic reason and that with the awareness of the people now ANPP would win in the state and at the national level.
He explained that the party was a party of peace and lover of harmony, adding that the report of the ANPP coming to foment trouble in the state was misplaced.
The deputy governor thanked the team for coming around. He said it beholves on all to maintain peace at all times, adding that the state government was also committed to it.

In his speech, Shekarau told the party members that he accepted the challenge of flying the flag of ANPP to have the opportunity to addresse the problems that were agitating the minds of Nigerians.
He said there was need for Nigerians to be purged of the PDP mal-administration, adding that the ANPP would provide an alternative to the present leadership under the PDP which had lost the trust of the people
“Security has fallen to its lowest ebb, unemployment has become very alarming, ANPP is ready and able to ensure the restoration of the trust of the people and to provide solution to these daunting security and developmental challenges facing the country,” he stated.

The Kano State governor told the youths that for 12 years PDP had shown its lack of vision to provide for the them, saying; “it is time for a change to be effected.”
Shekarau assured that the ANPP government would implement plans and programmes that would guarantee employment and poverty alleviation, adding that ANPP had as its cardinal principle a resolve to ensure justice, equity and fair play in the affairs of the country.
On the April elections, the ANPP presidential standard bearer urged Nigerians to ensure that they all participate and vote for the right leaders who could change Nigeria for better.

He advised them not to vote and leave the voting centres but that they should monitor and guide their votes to avoid rigging and falsification of elections results,
“If there is free and fair election, PDP is finished. They will have no business running the affairs of the country.”
Shekarau said if ANPP was elected into office, it would make sure that the programmes for the emancipation of the country were implemented to the letter.
In his remark, National Chairman of the ANPP, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu said Nigeria was waiting for the party to take over government and change the mess the PDP government had created in the country.

Onu said: “PDP has nothing to offer, they have been tested for 12 years. ANPP is now united for the betterment of Nigeria. We have to come together and ensure that that ANPP take over Nigeria.
“A lot of people who were in the party have returned and they are ready to work for the success of the party.”

-Sunwp_posts