From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
Anambra state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared total support for its presidential candidate Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his vice presidential candidate Sen. Ibrahim Kashim Shattima in next year’s elections.
The State party Chairman , Chief Basil Ejidike in a press conference at the party’s secretariat Awka, said that that Tinubu and Shettima will win the election due to their track records and that of APC across Nigeria and particularly in Southeast zone.
“APC in Anambra state is in full support of our presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his vice presidential candidate Sen. Shattima. We are working to ensure that our candidates in all positions wins in the next election. We are committed and determined in delivering APC presidential candidate, Tinubu and his Vice with the support of Sen Andy Uba the leader of the party in the state and other stakeholders of the party in the state.
“Let me use this opportunity to call on Ndigbo to fully come out to support the present administration. We have never be known to be highly involved in opposition side, we are known to always be in the mainstream and it is only when you are in the mainstream that power will be definitely come to you.
“The proposed commissioning of second Niger bridge before the general election is a clear testimony of what APC administration has done for the southeast. We all know that the second Niger bridge is not only for the Igbo people, also serves every Nigerians but we are the greatest beneficiaries.
“Let me also call on the incoming administration of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate Shettima to please because we are convinced that by the grace of God and collective efforts of all of us that APC will return nationally after the election in 2023. We are calling on them to deviate from what has been the norm not recognizing the efforts of individual.
“We are calling on Tinubu to consider hard work to consider individual contribution and commitment to the party, to consider loyalty to the party when it comes to the issue of political appointments in the future. A situation where ‘Monkey dey work, Baboon dey chop’ of course should be allowed in the c,King dispensation because I’m sure by the special grace of God we will excel in the next presidential election” Ejidike affirmed.
He commended the party for appointing Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo state as Southeast Presidential Campaign Coordinator, Sen Margery Okadigbo (Mama APC) as Presidential Coordinator in Anambra state and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state as Youths Mobilizer of the presidential campaign, saying that the appointments were round peg in a round hole.
Ejidike however tackled the Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige over his alleged indecisive comment on the support of the part’s presidential candidate in next year’s election.
He said that Ngige’s comment on national television last week was his personal opinion and doesn’t represent state party’s decision.
“Senator Chris Ngige appeared in Channels Television last week where he was unable to categorically express support for the presidential candidate of our party, APC in forthcoming general election. As a matter of fact, for those of us in APC Anambra state says that this interview was solely personal and has nothing to do with APC in the state. He was not there to represent the APC and never said he was there talking on behalf of APC, so whatever thing he expressed was entirely his own personal view.
“And of course on the issue of elections and performances, I want to state that the records of every individuals in the state and beyond is in the public domain for everybody to see, I’m talking about the presidential election in 2019 and governorship election in the state in 2021” stated.
The Party Chairman who was flanked by the state working committee of the party also reinstated that the APC Anambra state will support and committed in delivering of its presidential candidate in next election, saying Tinubu and Shettima will be returned as President and Vice 2023 general election.