National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),
Chief Victor Umeh, at the weekend succumbed to pressures by his party members,
especially stakeholders of Anambra Central Senatorial District, for him to
represent the zone at the Senate in 2015.
This
declaration will pit the APGA national chairman against former governor of
Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige the incumbent senator representing the
senatorial district.
Bowing to
the pressures last Saturday in Awka during a birthday party organised by the
APGA Solidarity Movement (APGA-SM) to mark his 52nd birthday anniversary, where
his people of Anaocha Local Government Area moved a motion mandating him to
run for the election, Umeh said he was accepting the invitation because of his
conviction that there was still much work to be done and for the love his
people extended to him.
Umeh said:
“Stakeholders in Awka South and Awka North Federal Constituency were the first.
They brought me to Finotel Hotel and threatened to kill me if I don’t run.
Anambra Central Senatorial Zone, the seven local government chairmen and their
councillors met and said if I don’t accept, they will kill me and today, the
leader of council in Anaocha local government moved a motion here, supported
by youth leaders, all youth leaders in the state and all stakeholders and said
I must represent you.
“My brothers
and sisters, before I say something in that regard, let me tell you, Igbo
nation, we need a very strong sense of purpose and mission. Our leaders must do
everything to rescue our people.
I served Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, who
lit the light very ebulliently, for five years as chairman and I know his
visions for Igbos and that vision has not been accomplished. He is today
waiting for us to continue the journey; that vision must be accomplished. We
must get to the Promised Land.
“I went to
the national conference two and half weeks ago, I saw what other Nigerians
think about Igbo people and we did not wait to tell them we must be counted.
Our people must be given their rights. I was there for two weeks but you saw
what I did. When they demanded five per cent for the reconstruction of
North-East, I told them ‘Point of Order’. Igbo property was destroyed during
the war, there was no reconstruction. That reconstruction must start from
Eastern Region. They thought it would stop there and adjourned. We came back on
Monday and they amended it, and said the reconstruction must take place everywhere
in the country where insurgency caused destruction.
“Because of
the need to provide effective representation for our people, I want to stand
here with all humility before the deputy governor representing the governor
and before all of you to say that because of the support I have seen given to
me and the show of love extended to me I, Chief Sir Victor C. Umeh, Ohamadike
Ndigbo, relying on the support from all of you; and having carefully examined
the motion and the support and solidarity extended to me, and in recognition of
the needs of our zone, declare that I will vie for Senate and that APGA must
win Anambra Central Senatorial Zone in 2015.”