Anambra people will vote for PPA–Ezeemo

Being the complete text of an interview granted by Mr. Godwin Ezeemo to The Sun reporter, Willy Eya

Mr Godwin Ezeemo is the Progressive People Alliance (PPA) candidate in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State. He is one of the candidates to watch when Anambra people file out to vote for Governor Peter Obi’s successor. As the election approaches, the philanthropist and accomplished entrepreneur is getting more confident that he would win the race to Awka Government House. In this interview, he speaks on a wide range of issues. Excerpts:

What informed your decision to move to the PPA?

I remember that I told you before that if the primary election in the All Progressives Congress (APC) had been conducted under a free and fair atmosphere that I would not have thought of joining another party. But right from inception, one could find out that the APC at all levels never wanted the primaries to hold.

For that reason, they took time to disqualify me, to entertain petition coming from all manner of places and eventually they disqualified me. But I came out with an answer to their disqualification and they now allowed me to go for the primaries and that was about 24 hours to the primaries. I had no time at all to campaign or talk to anybody. I was in Abuja on the Friday night preceding the primaries and that was when they gave me the clearance paper to participate in the primaries.

I left Abuja on Saturday and arrived Anambra and I had only Saturday and Monday to get myself ready. So what could I have done within the timeframe within which they cleared me! On the primaries proper, I want to tell you that it was a sham. Nothing happened. Hoodlums from Imo, Edo, Benue and Abia were imported to Anambra and they manned every ward and polling station. They came to Anambra with a specific instruction to deliver Senator Chris Ngige at all cost and they made this known to us. Some of them confessed that they were told that I am on ground but that some powers that be do not need me. So, based on that specific instruction, they did exactly what they did and they succeeded.

Some of the wards where the primaries were held actually, I won Ngige with a very big margin. But I can tell you that as soon as they get this into the collation centre, a written result would be brandished and the ones they brought back which is the actual result would be taken away from them. At the collation centre again, they refused all my agents to come in. Out of the 21 Local Governments, it was only two agents that were allowed into the collation centres. So based on all of these, it was clear to me and my supporters that it was not free, fair and credible. I had to make effort to get into the collation centre and sat down to observe. Through my agents, after they had declared Ngige as the winner with the fake result, I said I wanted to talk to them. What I wanted to say, they did not know but the chairman, Shekarau and Osita Izunaso said no, they do not want me to talk.

They said that if I was allowed to talk, I would spoil a lot of things. I made effort three times to talk and they refused and that was when I concluded that these people were too crude. They do not understand the whole idea of democracy and free speech and I had to walk away. That is my reason for joining my new party, the Progressive People Alliance (PPA).

But from inception, was joining the PPA your plan B?

Yes, I had a plan B because like I told you, right from the onset, the signs of what would happen were clear to me. The reception I was being given made it clear to me that I was not actually wanted in the APC. At that point, I had to start thinking, assuming things come to the worst, do I just have to bury my goal of rendering service to Anambra people. I have a vision to better the lives of Anambra people and I would not just allow few people to frustrate that dream. It was based on that urge to serve the people that I took that decision.

What were your reasons for choosing the PPA out of all the registered political parties in Nigeria?

I decided to join the PPA because it is a party that has a good stronghold in Anambra State. It has been used by a couple of aspirants to vie for various positions including the governorship seat of the state. The PPA has a structure in Anambra State and it is better than so many other parties in Anambra State. With the PPA, I can assure you that I will win the next election in Anambra.

So, how did you emerge the candidate of the PPA having joined them few days to the primaries?

It was through a well organized internal primaries witnessed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that I emerged the PPA candidate. I was the popular choice.

But realistically, how do you think the PPA will be able to win the forthcoming election in Anambra considering the strength of other parties?

I have made this point clear in various occasions. The stage where Anambra State is now in terms of political development and consciousness of the people has gone beyond the issue of party. Anambra people now have got to a stage where it is the credibility of the candidate that they are interested in. The party does not so much matter to them even though you still need the party to reach out to the people and win elections. In the past, it used to be the party but all that has changed. The people are more concerned about identifying with a candidate that has got what it takes to govern the state. This is because for the last 22 years, they have had people of different political parties and they know what they have got in terms of democracy dividends. Most candidates would always come with great promises but at the end of the day, nothing happens. So, the people have got to a stage that they now ask questions.

A couple of people I have met in the course of this political process were courageous to ask- what do you do. They wanted to know my background and who I am. They wanted to know where I was coming from and what I have in terms of ability to lead the people of Anambra State. They were clear that they were not interested in the so-called moneybags or people with dubious characters to lead Anambra State. It made me to know that the people are now interested to know more about the candidate who they would vote for. It is no more the issue of which party he belongs to. In the PPA, most of my supporters came from the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). I financed most of the candidates who won elections on the platform of the ACN. For the past six years, I have been financing the party. My supporters in that party, what they never had before, I gave it to them. So, it was not difficult for me to get a structure in the PPA because I already had a lot of supporters in ACN who moved to the APC and who are now with me in the PPA. We have already a strong structure to go into the coming election and win the race. You know that the so-called bigger political parties have so many internal problems they are contending with which you do not find in the PPA.

What strategy do you want to use in selling yourself to the people of Anambra State?

I have a couple of strategies. Some of them have been exploited already for the fact that I am a grassroots person. In APC, I was able to touch virtually all the members of the party but for the governorship election proper, I would touch every ward and community in Anambra State. I will tell them what they have not heard or known before. The message would be how to redeem them from the challenges they have faced all these years because of bad leadership.

What specifically do you want to do for the people of Anambra State if you win?

I have a manifesto but there are things that are very important.  I know very well that we are human beings. Every society needs quality education. Every society needs good health. Every society needs constant power supply. There is nothing that would work in Nigeria or even Anambra State until we achieve constant power generation and supply. Every society needs good transportation system. Every society needs good infrastructural facilities and so on. If all these are working in United Kingdom, why not in Nigeria? In effect, what I need to do is to use my wealth of experience and replicate it in Nigeria. Anambra has got immense problems but there are some of them that are more serious than others. Let me take the issue of security first. Security is the major problem that we have.

It has brought about brain drain and capital flight from the state. Everybody is going away from the state because of the problem of security. I would tackle security head on by working towards creating employment. The employment would be from both the government and the private sector. As a government, we would provide the required atmosphere and conducive environment that would attract investors and Anambra people in particular would come back. Once you get the atmosphere right, they would come back to their state to do what they are doing in other places. If Anambra people come home and start investing, there would be work here and there.

On education, the sector has decayed so much and we as a government would like to tackle it head on. My emphasis would not only be on getting certificates. I would lay emphasis on practical education. With your junior WAEC, you can learn a trade and you will be able to do well here. Most of the people that come from abroad that we call engineers here are not engineers but technicians and artisans. They did not go to the University but they have trained on the job and they are experts on it. When they come here, they call them engineers.

EZEEMO RECEIVES HERO’S WELCOME, EMBARKS ON WARDS TOUR

The frontline, the unbeatable, the youths’ choice, the people’s governor, Ezee-Gold, Ezeemo carry go! The epithets are simply too numerous, but by what ever sobriquet you choose to call him you wouldn’t be far from the truth, for each of these signifies how he has touched the lives of his supporters. Saturday 31 august, Ezeemo returned from Abuja to receive a tumultuous welcome from his teeming supporters in Anambra state. Venue was the Amansea border between Anambra and Enugu States.  Ezeemo who has been in Abuja for 48 hours added yet another feather to his already feather filled cap when he with his teem of lawyers and with the help of prayers from his teeming supporters was able to floor yet again, the obstacles placed on his journey towards occupying the government house in Awka.

The day before, palpable confusion was felt in the Ezeemo camp as news filtered in once again, that Ezeemo has been disqualified from contesting the governorship election under All Progressives Congress (APC). Reason being that the Nigerian constitution stipulates that no one with dual citizenship can contest for the post of president or state governor; example of Ben Murray Bruce was cited as a case in point, when he was disqualified from contesting for president, several years back. Unfortunately, members of the screening committee exercise didn’t have the legal luminaries Ezeemo has behind him.

The supporters where ecstatic when Ezeemo arrived from Akanu Ibiam International Airport. One of the members of the legal team, and a politician Nobis Elendu, told the gathered supporters how they had prepared their legal briefs ready to head to court if the disqualification was not revised immediately. To the glory of God, and to the joy of Anambrarians, the disqualification was immediately revised, and a letter to that effect given to them, which he read to the admiration of all the people.

Ezeemo in his speech, thanked God for his mercies so far in the race, thanked the supporters for making out time, despite everything they had to do, to wait for him under the scorching midday sun. However, he admonished them not the rest on their oars as the fight was just beginning, the epic battle being slated for September 2, 2013. The women sang choruses extolling the virtues of Ezeemo, saying with him at the government house, their worries are certainly over. Ezeemo told them that for the first time since the creation of Anambra state, 22 years ago, he has come to tackle the problems of Anambra state, head-on, not on the periphery as other governors had been doing, or to circumvent issues and substance and face shadows. He told them that God has given them the power to choose who becomes their governor, and he urged them to use that power to empower him, so that he will achieve a better future for all. He lamented the present situation, were parents having suffered and sacrificed to train their children, still laboured to feed and maintain them, despite having graduated from institutions of higher learning.

After the brief welcome / reception at Amansea, the gathered supporters and Ezeemo embarked on a Road tour. From Amansea, the road tour snaked its way through the streets of Awka, the marching band and supporters signing and waving brooms, the trademark of APC. At Eke Awka roundabout, the traders left their shops and wares to cheer the campaign train, with Ezeemo acknowledging their cheers. There were stops at Ogidi, Abatete, Obosi and Umunze. At Ogidi, supporters braved the heavy downpour to await the peoples governor; at Abatete, thousands of supporters were on hand to receive the campaign team; at Obosi, cyclists and other motorists where waving posters of
Ezeemo to welcome the campaign train. At Nnobi, despite darkness and late hour, supporters still eagerly waited to hear directly from the horse’s mouth. At that venue, vehicle headlights were used to light up the field where the supporters waited.

At all these venues, Ezeemo had the same message: with your prayers, God has lifted me above my detractors, the era of slave trade is over, nobody can enslave Anambra by imposing a candidate on you; vote your conscience on Monday, nobody will molest you; the government house is not a personal property, vote wisely so that your children can also like me, aspire to rule Anambra state, someday.

The people promised to return Ezeemo on Monday with their votes 100%; overwhelm with the show of support they received at each of these venues, the State Woman leader, Princess Eboh, in a lighter mood, told the supporters to show a little magnanimity, and give the opposition 5%. Other speakers at the occasion included Barr. Chigbata and Mr. Bonny Okoye. The People sang, Ezeemo carry go! Ezeemo till the end!! Ezeemo I gabago! (You have triumphed).

EZEEMO HOLDS FIRST APC RALLY IN AWKA, APC SUPPORTERS: GIVE US EZEEMO OR PRIMARIES

The Anambra governorship race took a different dimension on Friday 23 August  when all the who is who in the Southeast All Progressives Congress (APC) gathered in Awka the Anambra state capital for the biggest rally so far organized in the southeast by the new party. The APC rally in Awka which was named an interactive session of APC stakeholders was sponsored by the Godwin Ezeemo Campaign Organization and had supporters coming from all the 326 electoral wards in Anambra state. The supporters who started arriving venue of the event as early as 10 am overfilled the Hall and even spilled into the grounds and the adjoining streets.

In a road show that started effectively from the Ezeemo campaign headquarters at Udoka Estate, Awka,  included a marching band, a well known DJ from Awka, students from Unizik and ANSU all adorned in white Tee shirts and white Peak caps with pictures of Ezeemo and APC logo. The students and supporters were waving brooms the trademark of APC as they moved around all the major streets of Awka singing and dancing. The highly politically aware city of Awka had never witnessed an APC rally in Awka before.

The APC unbeatable aspirant in the Anambra governorship election, Mr. Godwin Chukwunenye Ezeemo was highly visible in the parade as he acknowledged cheers from the teeming supporters of Awka residents  who said their messiah has finally arrived.  At the Marble Arch Hotel, venue of the APC rally in Awka, scores of speakers addressed the supporters, they all had one message: APC will not adopt any candidate, rather all candidates will test their popularity at the polls; while urging them to support Ezeemo for a better tomorrow for all.

The gathered supporters sang and chorused either Ezeemo or no APC in the southeast; and Ezeemo we will follow  to the end. In  his speech, the aspirant, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo (Achinagbaraoha Anambra State) thanked the supporters who came for the APC rally in Awka. He debunked the rumours making rounds that he had stepped down from the race. He stated, restated and emphasized that APC has not chosen any candidate either by anointing or consensus; while urging them to be steadfast, he promised them victory in the primaries slated for 1 and 2 September, 2013. He urged them to go back to their various wards to mobilize and educate the people on the upcoming primaries.

Another highlight of the APC rally in Awka was the recognition and special welcome given to supporters of Annie Okonkwo, and members from All Nigeria  People Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) (the other two parties in the merger with ACN that metamorphosed into APC) who all promised to work doubly hard to ensure Ezeemo becomes the next governor of Anambra State.

A supporter who came for the APC rally in Awka from Aguleri, but did not want his name in print said that the problem that APC faces is the selfish ambition of the short man to control everything and everybody. He wondered why somebody who goes by the slogan tested and trusted will want to get a governorship ticket through the backdoor. He questioned : doesn’t tested and trusted mean that you are 100% sure the people will vote for you; and if that is the case, why shy away from primary election? Primaries should be held so that Anambrarians will have the opportunity of sifting the wheat from the chaff.

At the end of it all, a ten point communiqué was jointly issued by all the stakeholders in Anambra APC, and it is reproduced below.

1.     We frowned at the rumour being spread in the various media that APC has selected gubernatorial candidate for the 16^th November 2013 Election in Anambra State without going through the Party Primaries. We saw this as a calculated attempt to mislead the teeming supporters of our Aspirant - Mr. Godwin Ezeemo.

2.     Our Aspirant Mr. Godwin Ezeemo was falsely reported to have stepped down. This is not true, as that never emanated from the National leadership of APC. Also the APC Executive meeting that took place in ABUJA and its communiqué never presented this.

3.     Our Aspirant Mr. Godwin Ezeemo: being a true democrat, a gentleman of repute and highly disciplined person has refused to join issues with the mischief makers but resorted to communicating the true position of the Party Leadership to the public. The Party Leadership has not anointed any Aspirant.

4.     The truth of the matter is that only Chief Annie Okonkwo stepped down, that does not mean that an Aspirant has been anointed; the stepping down of one Aspirant does not mean the anointing of one since they are now three Aspirants remaining.

5.     We call on the National Leadership of APC to ensure that due process is followed as Anambra State Election is the litmus test of the success or failure of the Party in the forth coming 2015 General Election.

6.     If the leadership of the Party has fixed 1^st and 2^nd September 2013 for conducting the Primaries, why then are mischief makers in the Party circulating rumours that an anointed candidate has emerged?

7.     We believe that APC being a new baby that is highly democratic in nature, should stamp out this falsehood completely.

8.     Our Aspirant Mr. Godwin Chukwunenye Ezeemo is in the Race and seriously concerned in the general well being of Anambra people.

9.     We thank the Leadership of the Party for their proactive step in fixing the date for Primaries, and also request them to ensure that the Primaries is not hijacked in any form.

10.                        Finally, we thank all APC family and Anambrarians for their support for our Aspirant – Mr. Godwin C. Ezeemo.

EZEEMO MEETS TRADITIONAL RULERS FROM OLD AGUATA UNION (OAU)

An ecounter with Traditional Rulers from Old Aguata Union (OAU)

EZEEMO STEPPED DOWN STORY: A HOAX

In a highly attended meeting of the fledging mega opposition party All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, two political aspirants in the November 16 Anambra gubernatorial elections connived to disenfranchise the highly favoured dark horse in the election Mr. Godwin Ezeemo of his yet to be given mandate.

Senators Annie Okonkwo and Chris Ngige having seen the handwriting on the wall ganged up with others of similar dispositions to announce that APC primaries will no longer hold in Anambra State as Annie Okonkwo and Godwin Ezeemo has both stepped down leaving only Dr. Chris Ngige as the sole candidate for the November elections.

Based on this subterfuge, Senator Annie Okonkwo was compensated with the position of campaign manager for the Chris Ngige Campaign Organization. However, this story lacks substance. First, what now happens to the other contenders from CPC,   ANPP  and factions of APGA that together made up the newly formed APC? Second, if Senator Okonkwo was compensated with the position of Campaign manager, what is Ezeemo’s Compensation?

Rumours making rounds in the social media are saying that Senator Annie Okonkwo raised the hand of Ngige, saying that he will happily work to achieve Ngige’s return to the Awka government House. However, such gestures are his brand of politicking. The same Annie Okonkwo had earlier in June this year at the launch of APC at Emmaus House Awka introduced Ezeemo as the party’s candidate for the November election. At the occasion, he gave the thousands of gathered supporters the impression that he was contented with position of National Deputy Chairman South of the party.

Statement coming from the Ezeemo Campaign organization  says that Mr. Godwin Ezeemo will never step  down for anybody, even if he was offered the moon; describing the rumours as the handiwork of mischief makers who had excess time on their hands. The statement went on to say that Ezeemo believes in internal democracy and has therefore promised the good people of Anambra State to be in the race as long as the Anambra people wish. He is therefore using this opportunity to assure his teeming supporters nationwide and Anambrarians that the rumours making rounds are nothing but a conspiracy to deprive the good people of Anambra State their favoured candidate for the governorship elections scheduled for November 16.

Reactions from the streets of Awka indicate that the new APC is certainly heading for a premature death if primaries were not conducted. At the Okada stand at Arroma Junction, cyclists were wondering why Ngige was afraid to test his popularity with Anambrarians at the primaries.  Johnson a cyclist from the same Idemili North L.G with  Dr. Ngige wondered where the Tested and Trusted slogan of Dr. Ngige was, if he wanted to avoid primaries. He said that it is true that they people always hail Ngige as he passes on the streets, but that does not mean they like him  nor will they vote for him. He cautioned APC to beware of imposing candidates on the people as the people will definitely react by casting their votes for the opposition. Meanwhile a press briefing is being awaited from Ezeemo Campaign Headquarters at Udoka Estate, Awka.

Anambra 2014: Vanguard for Good Governance Endorses Ezeemo

In the run up to the Anambra 2014 gubernatorial elections, frontline gubernatorial aspirant Mr. Godwin Chukwunenye Ezeemo has received yet another feather to his political cap as the Vanguard for Good Governance in Anambra State has officially endorsed him as their preferred candidate for the forth coming elections.

The association which is an umbrella association for all professionals and technocrats from Anambra State made this announcement through their president Chief Okey Ibenegbu. Chief Ibenegbu said the members of the body were pained by the fact that since the inception of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, Anambra State has not received dividends of democracy because those who were in control had other interests apart from the masses.

The association advised Anambrarians to make a clean break from the sordid past and embrace a new era of quality development and transformation which is what is needed to take Anambra state to the next level, and this is what a government headed by Ezeemo will provide.

In a media parley with journalists, chief Ibenegbu spoke on several issues bordering on the upcoming election in Anambra State. Below are excerpts.

The Vanguard for Good Governance in Anambra State is an umbrella body for professional and technocrats from Anambra State, it is formed to correct the errors those who has been in control since the inception of democracy has caused Anambra State and to chart a way forward for our State. Another reason for our existence is to correct the erroneous impression that Anambra State is peopled with semi-illiterates and traders; rather the state has the highest number of lawyers and doctors in the entire country.

Mr. Ezeemo was chosen because after extensive consultations with Anambrarians, we discovered that Ezeemo totally exemplifies what the masses desire. The masses desire a positive change; are tired of recycled leadership; do not want a politician tainted with politics of godfatherism, thuggery, brigandage, election rigging and manipulation; or even money politics. Rather they want somebody who will provide fresh breath to the state.

Ezeemo has several desirable qualities, first, he has been abroad, therefore, not part of the present problems bedevilling Anambra politics; his scholarship schemes, youth development and empowerment programmes, and widows’ endowment programmes has provided for thousands of Anambrarians and lifted them out from poverty. His Charity Ezeemo Foundation takes care of destitute, handicapped and motherless babies in several homes and centres all over the country. This Foundation has been in operation for over 10 years now; it is not something that was formed because he wanted his presence to be felt because of the elections; unlike some philanthropists who over night deceive people into believing they care, while their main interest borders on the elections. He also built a two-storey building for the NUJ in Anambra State. The list is certainly endless. Above all, he is making his money abroad, and using it to benefit his brothers and sisters here in Nigeria, not like other politicians who are robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Ezeemo has a very good chance of becoming the next occupant of the Awka Government House, because Anambrarians are tired of living in the past or going backwards while other states are moving forward. They want somebody who is not part of the old brigade that has held the state hostage; they want someone who has demonstrated kindness from his own sweat and not one of those who has been defrauding the country of billions of naira while they bring few notes to the state in the name of development. They want somebody whose election will not further polarize the state because he belongs to a clique or that camp. These are what would be in the minds of Anambrarians as they cast their votes, and the only person that answers the above puzzles is Godwin Ezeemo.

Anambra State has the capacity to be like states such as Lagos or Kano, but we have not been blessed with good leadership. Any day we get somebody who genuinely cares for the welfare of the people, the state would be turned around; we believe in 2014, when Godwin Ezeemo emerges as the governor, he will put the state on the path to progress.