Chief Chaka Nweze, an All Progressive Congress Stalwart in Ebonyi has urged the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to make Governor David Umahi, the head of its Anambra 2021 gubernatorial election campaign committee.
Nweze, the Pioneer Secretary of the party in the state made the call while speaking with newsmen, noting that the Anambra election affords the south east zone an opportunity of effectively connecting to the central government of the country.
The former Executive and later Caretaker Chairman of Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state, said that Umahi’s influence in the south east has greatly repositioned the party in the zone and the Anambra gubernatorial polls would be an icing on the cake.
“Umahi has the ears of President Muhammadu Buhari who has openly declared the governor as his son, as the party needs all the national connections it needs to win the much sought poll.
“In this era, where defection from other parties to the APC has become a norm and the party’s wind blowing across the country, Umahi has the magic wand to effectively steer Senator Andy Uba, the party’s candidate for the polls, to the government House Awka.
“APC is gradually like a Tsunami, sweeping through the south east with state such as Ebonyi, Imo in its grasp, Abia will soon join while notching Anambra would complete the sweep,” he said.
Nweze, who was the Former Vice Chairman of the state’s branch of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) said that Umahi’s strides in Ebonyi especially in infrastructure, has projected him to the national sphere where major policy decisions are taken.
“Umahi is the chairman of the south east governors forum and under his leadership, issues concerning the zone have been effectively projected to the centre for due attention.
“Umahi also has the mental capacity to legally deploy all available financial resources to navigate through the intricacies of electoral matters.
“This will intimately culminate into election victory for Uba as south easterners are awed with his developmental masterstroke.
“He is a product of business sector and with Anambra people being predominantly business-inclined, his leadership of the APC campaign committee will snow-ball into a berth at the government House Awka,.
He noted that with the anticipated reforms in the nation’s electoral system, all hands must be deck with a highly effectively campaign leadership to ensure that the party emerges victorious at the polls.
“As the nation awaits the outcome of the amended electoral act for the 2023 general elections, it would be difficult to upturn election results through the courts.
“The party needs Umahi’s acumen to steer the ship especially now, that the greatest benefit to the Igbo people by the present government: the second Niger Bridge is sited in the state.
Nweze noted that ultimately, the party’s electoral victory in Anambra will greatly increase the zone’s opportunity of laying a deserving claim to the 2023 presidency.
“The APC will soon be in charge of all the states in the zone and re-integration with the central government offers the greatest opportunity of negotiating with other zones to support the Igbo presidency quest.
“It will ultimately douse the tension of secession generated by the seeming marginalization of the zone and also re-orientate all secessionist groups to toe the line of actualizing the presidency goal.
He however noted that efforts should commence immediately to make Umahi look towards this direction as his only obsession is the infrastructural development of the state and the zone.
“Relevant party stakeholders should intensify persuasion on Umahi to create time to lead this onerous task because he is tested and trusted to perform it creditably.