Enugu North Senate:
By Ero Nweze
(Nsukka)
A former Senior Special Assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Protocols and Security, Ambassador Ejike Eze, has predicted a landslide victory for the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2023 general election in Enugu State.
Amb Eze, a retired career diplomat and a senatorial candidate of APC in Enugu North Senatorial District for the 2023 general election, said this in a chat with newsmen in Nsukka on Saturday, stating that APC is determined to rattle and take power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
He said that his assertion was based on discontent currently being expressed by residents against the ruling party in Enugu State, stressing that APC is willing and ready to stop PDP’s political monopoly and restore the confidence of the people through holistic and people-oriented governance.
Amb Eze is from Igbo-eze South Local Government Area of the state, it is believed it is the turn of Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal constituency to produce the next senator for the district.
Asked about the raging popularity of LP, he said, “LP is not a threat. It is a party rashly put together by aggrieved PDP members. We in APC were prepared for service before we stepped out, that's the difference.
Apart from the social media fun LP is catching, it has no backbone, no structure or resources to execute any election. Our people are ready to embrace APC as an alternative platform that has the capacity to dislodge the PDP, having been in power in the state since 1999, with little or nothing to show for it”
“PDP has brought Enugu State to its knees, that informs why myself and other progressive minded people have thrown our hats into the ring to rescue our people from the hands of incompetent political merchants”.
“People are also not happy that PDP would adopt zoning formula for governorship slot in the state and jettison zoning in senatorial and other positions at the same time,” he said.
“People are not happy that PDP over the years has become a chain promise-breaker. Go to any community in Enugu North Senatorial Zone, what you see is misgovernance and anguish, impassable roads and absence of basic amenities”.
On his readiness to slug it out Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who is the Senatorial candidate of PDP and a sitting Governor, Amb Eze laughed heartily, as he declared that he will defeat Gov Ugwuanyi before midday February 25, 2023, as according to him, the Governor has squandered the goodwill of his people, our people had expected to see developments, empowerments and patronages that are commensurate with their 20years support, but the reverse is the case. These are the same people who will decide who to represent them in the Senate through the ballot box.
“Power belongs to the electorates when it comes to choosing who will lead or represent them in public elective positions.
“I have asked people why don’t we interrogate our leaders and our aspiring leaders so that before they leave office or get into new offices they would to tell us what they have done and what they will do for the people.
“Here in Enugu North Senatorial District electorates are now wiser, they know who is who; who have done what and who has not done what; and what anyone is capable of doing.
People will not just win election simply because they are former this or that, with the new Electoral Act votes will count accordingly,” he said.
Amb Eze assured that if elected he will ensure a functional constituency office, convening the quarterly town hall meeting to interface with the constituents so as to get their input and brief them on the national issues.
He also assured that he will do everything within his capacity to ensure that an Nsukka indigene is appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, (UNN). “This is one of the things I will use my position and influence to achieve for the district,” he said.
“We are already in talks with farming firms in Malaysia and Vietnam on the feasibility of revitalising Adani rice”.
“We have alot of ideas that the PDP and other parties' Candidates don't have. I shall strive to deploy these lofty ideas, liaise with relevant Government agencies and stakeholders to bring succour to the people of Enugu North Senatorial District”.