From: Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka and Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the November 18 Anambra governorship election, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, has picked the first daughter of  former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, Lady Chidi Alexandra Onyemelukwe, as his running mate.

Unveiling Lady Onyemelukwe, on Wednesday, to the media and party members at the party secretariat, Udoka Housing Estate Awka, Obaze said she was selected from a shortlist of very eminently qualified PDP faithful.

He described Lady Onyemelukwe as one coming with rich personal accomplishment, impeccable credentials and high pedigree adding that she is a promoter of excellent and qualitative education and one with great passion for the advancement of women affairs and for female gender mainstreaming in governance.

In Obaze’s words, “As Deputy Governor, Chidi will be my partner in turning Anambra State around and returning her to the trajectory, where the state is not just working, but will be an example that other states must seek to emulate.

“Her selection is a strong public pronouncement of my commitment to gender mainstreaming, women empowerment and a 60-40 targeted ratio in political appointments. I look forward to our collaboration and shared responsibilities in delivering good governance and dividends of democracy to our people in Anambra state.”

In her acceptance speech, Lady Onyemelukwe, who was at the brief ceremony with her husband, Dr. Okey Onyemelukwe, said that now was the time for Anambra State to bring out her first 11 and urged the people to rally round Obaze who she described as a humble and intelligent man, to ensure that PDP become victorious in the poll.

Related News

She said, “Anambra state has a plethora of professionals excelling in really all fields of human endeavour, scattered all around Nigeria and all over the globe, helping to build and strengthen other economies. Ask them to come home, and they would justifiably tell you that the land here is not conducive for them; ask them then, to come home and help make that land conducive, in terms of participating in leadership, and one look at perhaps just the conducts of the primaries, and the rethorics of abuse, stone hurling on print and social media and you have no one left in the room to give you an answer.

“Well, the trajectory has to change. The Augean stables need to be cleaned out. Simply put, I believe that it is time that the cream of the crop, who maybe some would say have nothing to lose, but who have a lot to offer step out of their comfort zones, step up to the plate and put hearts, minds and intellect together, God being our helper to build an Anambra state that we can all be proud of.”

Earlier, the Secretary of the State PDP Caretaker Committee, Iyom Josephine Anenih, who represented the Chairman, Prof. ABC Nwosu, said the choice of Lady Onyemelukwe was an excellent one and urged the people to work hard to return PDP to power.

She stressed that the Anambra governorship election was a litmus test for Nigeria “because Nigerians what PDP back, and from Anambra governorship election we would take victory to the national in 2019.”

The Deputy Governorship candidate, Lady Onyemelukwe is a graduate of Law from the University of Wales in the United Kingdom and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990. She also bagged her Masters Degree in International Law and Diplomacy and Masters of Business Administration from the University of Lagos and Duquesne University, Pittsburg in the United States, respectively. In academia, she had a brief stint as an Adjunct Professor of Finance in Florida, USA. Currently, as a private citizen, her focus has been in Real Estate, Law Practice and International Business.

She has run a foundation that is critically focused on development of human capital via education.  Lady Chidi also had the opportunity and privilege in the past to serve Nigeria as the Chairman, Board of Directors, Federal Housing Authority and also as Special Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).