Battle for Anambra: 17 candidates debate
17 of the 37 candidates on Wednesday night presented their plans to govern the state with KOWA candidate, Rev. Rufus Ezeokonkwo disclosing that he would fight insecurity in the state using prayers.
The debate was organised by Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Anambra State Chapter with theme: “Moving Anambra Forward: The Task That Must Be Done” held at Professor Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka. From L-R: •Obaze:PDP candidate; •Obiano: APGA candidate & •Nwoye: APC candidate
The governorship candidates who participated in the well attended debate were, Dr. Stephen Obiora Mbah of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP; Chief Yul Edochie, Democratic People’s Congress, DPC; Ogbuevi Nonso Ozoemena, Youths Democratic Party, YDP; Mrs. Praise Okechukwu of the Mega Peoples Progressive Party, MPPP; Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo, A.D.P; Emmanuel Nwibe, DA; Dame Uju Ozoka, AA among others. First civilian governor of the state, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife was the chairman of the debate session which was restricted to issues pertaining to the state.
The candidates who differed in their manifestos, however, totally agreed on local government autonomy and security which they said should be paramount in governance. UPP candidate, Osita Chidoka flags off campaign September 30 Dr. Mbah of the PRP promised he would pursue the issue of security through creation of jobs for the teeming youth population.
He said he would equip the local vigilante for them to work in tandem with police and equip the courts under his jurisdiction to ensure speedy dispensation of justice. He also explained his government will have zero tolerance for corruption and live up to the name of his party, whose mission he said, is to redeem the people from the clutches of leaders who could not take care of them, just as he promised that he would within nine months of his inauguration conduct local government election in the State and ensure that council chairmen who embezzled public funds in the present and past administrations face prosecution.
Candidate of the Green Party of Nigeria, GPN, Mr. Onuoha Onyeacholam said that if voted into power, that he would create three million jobs and that the state would be turned to green to make sure that there is huge amount of food production through subsistence and mechanized agriculture. Edochie of DPC said, “I will assist industrialists in the State to expand so as to help in job creation as part of the measures to fight insecurity, just as I will leave my comfort zone as an a Nollywood actor to use my experience to develop Anambra State.
My administration for your information will have zero tolerance for corruption.” Rev. Rufus Ezeokonkwo of KOWA Party said his mode of fighting insecurity will be through prayers, “prayer will be the foundation of my government, and Anambra people must come first in my administration and there would be no favoritism in any way.” The leadership of the IPAC, including Prince Bartho Igwedibia, Chairman; Ikechukwu Nweke, Secretary and Isaac Onuka, member, among others, thanked the candidates who participated in the debate and wished them well. Vanguard
