Senator Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, has congratulated the governor-elect of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, on his victory at the November 6 governorship election in the state.
Senator Ngige, a Chieftain of the All Progressives
Congress, APC, and leader of the party in Anambra state said he has no
doubt that the people of the state made an excellent choice by voting Soludo.
Ngige, a former Governor of Anambra State in a goodwill
message issued by his Media Office, Wednesday, congratulated the former
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for a resounding victory in the
poll, saying it was a victory well deserved.
According to him, “Ndi-Anambra have spoken with this
resounding victory. Having contested in 2010 with Soludo, who was then the PDP
candidate and myself in ACN; an election in which I was ‘awarded’ the second
position even though I won outright and Soludo third, I knew that with his
tenacity of purpose and drive, he would one day make it to the seat of the
Governor of Anambra State.
“It is a case in patience and endurance, an aspiration
nurtured to serve the people with all his strength, I seriously believe.
Ndi-Anambra I know, will hence, entertain no excuses. Much has been given,
hence the expectation is very high. Knowing Soludo as I do, however, I do not
doubt that our people have made an excellent choice by voting him.”
He also congratulated the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) for conducting a free, fair, and credible election, even with
the initial hiccups posed by the malfunctioning of the Biometric Voters’
Accreditation (BVAS) system in some places.
“A solid opportunity is here offered to INEC to brace up
to the challenges posed by the Anambra Election, which he labelled “a guinea
pig election.” especially with the debut of the BVAS technology for a more
credible, free, and fair elections in the future.
“At this auspicious juncture, the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari deserves a glowing
national tribute. I put on record, that Mr. President had on three different
occasions, assured through me, that the Anambra governorship election would be
free and fair.
“The last of such occasion being on October 14, 2021,
when I conveyed the fear and the consternation of the religious leaders, elder
statesmen and traditional rulers of Anambra State, more especially that of his
friend, the Archbishop of the Onitsha Metropolitan Province, His Grace, Dr.
Valerian Okeke to him in his office.
“Not only did the President ensure a level playing field
for all the political parties, but he also directed all the security agencies
to deploy into Anambra to protect and secure voters and electoral workers. A
promise kept!
“Worthy of commendation in this direction is the
professionalism exhibited by the security agencies – the army, police, DSS and
the Civil Defence during the exercise, in compliance with the wish of the
President for the good people of Anambra State.
“The election has come and gone and it is very free,
fair, and credible. Mr. President has indeed lived true to his assurances to
Ndi-Anambra and by this very fact, demonstrated once again, that he is no enemy
to Ndi-Igbo. What a better value to democracy, than a legacy of credible
elections, in which the will of the people reigns supreme. May we, therefore,
hail this true democrat!
Continuing, Ngige appealed to all those who contested the
exalted position with Professor Soludo to sheath their swords.
“Only one person would emerge a winner in this contest, more so, when the seat
of the Governor of Anambra State can only be occupied by one person at any
given time. I, therefore, urge the other candidates to be good losers and join
hands with the Governor-elect to give the state the best.
“As an elder statesman in the state, I have no choice
than to irrevocably stand with my dear Ndi-Anambra in their desire for
unfettered freedom to choose their leaders. It is a legacy we must bequeath to
the posterity of our people.
“Similarly, I urge Professor Soludo to be magnanimous in
victory. Time is here for him to reach out to everybody, including those who
aspired with him in his APGA, as well as others who contested on the platforms
of other political parties, notably, the PDP, APC, YPP, and ZLP, to join hands
to elevate and restore our state to its enviable position in Igbo land and Nigeria
in general.
“There is no doubt that our dear state, visibly veered
off the track of progress since the last three years, when the incumbent
Governor started suffering from a second term gubernatorial fatigue.
“On my part, I’m willing to assist him to consolidate the
gains made by the previous governors. I will make available to him, human and
material resources, to make another successful Governor in our dear State.
“Instructive also, is that our hands of fellowship to
Professor Soludo are reciprocal, him being a leading member of the Presidential
Economic Advisory Council(PEAC) that has been assisting the President’s
Economic Sustainability team, led by His Excellency, the Vice President in
getting our economy out of the doldrums with the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“ I want to also thank the Anambra electorate for coming
out despite all the fears of violence, killings, and kidnappings, weeks before
the election.
“In commending them, I also thank the “known and unknown
gunmen” for seeing reason with the elders that Ndi-Anambra is allowed to vote
for the leader of their choice.
“May God continue to bless Anambra State while we
collectively work to take it to a greater and more enviable height.”
0 Comments