Ekwunife Urges Umeh to Accept Defeat ...Rejects APC

BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA

The senator-elect for Anambra Central senatorial district and incumbent member representing Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia federal constituency, Hon. (Mrs) Uche Ekwunife has urged the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for Anambra Central senatorial zone, Chief Sir Victor Umeh to imbibe the spirit of Sportsmanship by accepting defeat in just concluded national assembly elections in Anambra.

Hon. Ekwunife who stated this yesterday in Awka during a media chat, said she won that election on account of her robust and issue based campaigns as well her past records as a lawmaker. She noted that while she was busy campaigning vigorously others resorted to campaign of calumny.

Ekwunife assured that she would continue to push for that which would benefit the poor masses while advising the losers to throw-in the towel and support her emergence.

Commenting on issue of PDP being a minority party, she described her party as sweet minority noting that winning  45 seats was by no way a mean feat. According to her, PDP was  still a party to reckoned with noting that her party had more spread than any political party in Nigeria.

Her words, ' I served my people well. I am not surprised that they voted massively for me.  You need to see how they used to welcome me everywhere I go. We all met at different functions and each time I am called upon to talk a lot people will be hailing me. In fact, If that election is to be conducted 100 times; I will still win 100 times. I am far better than Umeh.

APGA should stop fielding mediocre as a candidate. As a member of federal house of representatives I  offer my people quality representation. They should stop spoiling my name; Victor Umeh and his party (APGA) should leave me alone, ' she pleaded.

Reacting to the allegation that she moved around with military men coercing people into voting her party on election day, she described the allegation as false and baseless saying that on that day she spent the whole of 28 March on her ward adding that she made proper use of her agents . 'I am not a military personnel,  I don't have the powers to order them around. The soldiers were busy doing their job.  You people should tell Victor Umeh to accept defeat and stop peddling rumours of election rigging . He should be ashamed of himself; after saying he delivered me and two governors, how come he couldn't deliver himself,
?. Victor should just go home and rest. Going to court will not do him any good; I  wonder the wards results he is going to court with if not the same results I have with me here. There was no way Victor Umeh would've won that election because people hated him so much. Even APGA members went against him. They all clamoured for my victory. He stepped on many toes and the people waited for the election to pay him back in his own coin,' she said.

She however, called on Anambra state government to stop issuing threat messages to the people of the State adding that if such ugly trend remained unchecked it would rob the State of having  capable hands as representatives and thereby making the government less accountable to the people. She however called on her party supporters  to go all out and express their franchise  .

When asked if she intended join All Progressives Congress ( APC), she emphatically said she would be sworn -in as PDP senator even as she said, 'Even though they came to me persuading me to join them I blatantly refuse to join them. I am very much happy with my party, ' she concluded.
[16:13, 4/9/2015] Abuchi Fides: Ndigbo Have Schemed Themselves Out of Nigeria's Power Equation - Group

BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA

A socio-cultural group under the auspices of Igbo Progressives Mandate have blamed the recent political misfortune of the people of southeast geopolitical zone on her leaders noting that their political howler and shortsightedness led to Ndigbo being schemed out of Nigeria's power equation.

In a communique issued at end of its inaugural meeting in Awka  by Chief Uchenna Kyrian Ufearoh (Convener); All Progressives Congress Abia state governorship aspirant, Barr. Nath. Ngozi Ikeocha and Abia state PDM chairman, Barr. Uche Ogbonnaya, the group said the result of the recent held presidential election had exposed the shortcomings of their hitherto political leaders and the stark reality was that choice and juicy positions in the incoming federal government had eluded them.

'Leading party's chairmanship position, senate President or speaker of Representatives, majority leadership of either chamber of the national assembly ; nor meaningful committees Headship and juicy ministerial slots. Ndigbo have not only schemed themselves out in Nigeria's power equation; but are also facing all manner of threats including  right to cohabit with other ethnic groups of comparable size . What is our locus standi in the emerging political configurations in Nigeria today? We have always been made to believe that Nigeria stands on a tripod of Igbo , Hausa and Yoruba. Are we still part of the tripod? ,' the group queried.

The meeting which derived its import and urgency from the theme "Igbos at Crossroads: The way forward" had people from all walks of life in attendance notable among who were the former secretary to the Anambra State government, Prince Victor Ossy Ezenwa; Chief Patrick Orjiakor ( Former state chairman of the defunct ANPP) and Chief Mathias Ameke ( State Chairman PPA).

The group went further to congratulate Nigeria’s
President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari who emerged
victorious in the just concluded
presidential election

The group while congratulating Buhari, commended
President Goodluck Jonathan for
conceding defeat and the
Independent National Electoral
Commission, (INEC), for
conducting a peaceful election.

They also commended the electorate for the way and manner they comported themselves during and after  the exercise.