For the second time in 48 hours, President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday assured the southeast of benefits from his government in view of the infrastructural arrangement being made.
He spoke at the Alex Ekwueme square in Awka, during the grand campaign for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Dr Tony Nwoye. The election will hold on Saturday.
The crowd was massive. Apart from leaders, there were 12 governors, 18 ministers and many senators in attendance.
The president said: ”l’m very impressed with the organisation and we are hopeful that the APC will bounce back and its candidate elected as governor on Saturday
”Ndigbo will benefit immensely on our plans on infrastructure and I know that my government and our party have not lost sight of the promises we made during our campaigns (in 2015).”
The late Dim Chukwuemka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s son Emeka (Jr) defected to the APC at the rally.
He was handed APC’s broom symbol by National Chairman Chief John Odigie- Oyegun, who declared that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) dead. Governor Wille Obiano is contesting for reelection on APGA’s ticket.
Oyegun said: “It is time for Ndigbo to move from the periphery to the centre, it is time to move from the shadows to the mainstream.”
Ojukwu said: “I’m here to support Mr President and Tony Nwoye as the next governor of Anambra state.”
Oyegun said Anambra people had promised to give the state to the President as a gift.
He said Anambra must be re-connected to the centre being the gate way to the southeast. He said APC’s victory had been signed and sealed.
Oyegun said Buhari had come to Anambra to make another history by defeating the incumbent in the state the way he did it at the national level in 2015.
Chairman of Tony Nwoye campaign committee and Bauchi state Governor Mohammed Abubakar, said Ndigbo were too important in the lives of Nigeria.
Others who spoke at the rally include Dr. Chris Ngige, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu Governor Rochas Okorocha, Senator Andy Uba, Chief Jim Nwobodo, Chief Agunwa Anaekwe and Senator Uche Ekwunife
APGA national chairman Chief f Victor Oye described Emeka Ojukwu (jnr) as a prodigal son whose defection would not affect Obiano’s reelection chance.