No fewer than 60 support groups, comprising 120,000 members under the aegis of ‘All Soludo Support Groups’, have endorsed the reelection bid of the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
The groups, during a solidarity rally at the International Convention Centre, Awka, on Thursday, also presented N30 million to the governor to support his re-election campaign.
Addressing the supporters, the coordinator of the ‘All Soludo Support Group’, Chinedu Nwoye, flanked by other conveners, pledged to support the governor in fulfilling his manifesto and vision for the state.
Nwoye said the group expressed their satisfaction with the achievements of the administration of Soludo, saying that they did not make a mistake by supporting the governor’s first term in office.
Speaking at the event, Soludo expressed gratitude for the support his administration is receiving from the people, stating that never in the history of the state has a governor enjoyed such massive backing.
Soludo added that he was humbled by the outpouring of support from the people, adding that he was overwhelmed by the gesture.
He revealed that there is a consensus among community leaders, party stakeholders, youths, and students alike, urging him to run for a second term.
“The feedback I am getting across the 21 local government areas of the state is that when the people get good service, it translates into political capital.
“I was told that the hypothesis we are still testing is working so well that prospective candidates who had intended to contest in other parties have decided to pull out of the race.
“I also learned that the serious ones have decided to respect themselves because they have discovered that there is no vacancy”, he noted.
Speaking further, the governor stated that for the first time in Anambra’s history, there would be a governorship election of consensus.
“Even the year we had 21/21, we didn’t have this kind of consensus – be it civil societies, traditional institutions, community governance, women, youths.
“We must continue with this revolution going on in all parts of the state simultaneously. In one of the parties, there was a joke that some of the aspirants said they are not contesting to be governor, but they are contesting to be noticed for appointment. They should not worry, we will help to get them noticed.
“Labour Party didn’t exist, it was our members that went to give them popularity, but now our members are back. In the APC, no one is contesting because progressives are working together.
“If anybody contests there, it is for show, they are working for us. In Anambra, all the public health centres are free. We prioritise education and health because human capital is Anambra’s greatest wealth, we are putting money in the pockets of people sustainably. The three new cities we are building are aimed at turning Anambra from a departure lounge to a destination point.
“Our 8,115 teachers came from about 18 states of Nigeria, it was not about ‘man know man’. This is because we understand that the quality of teaching is in the quality of the teachers. Our free healthcare and free delivery are working very well, and we understand that women now come from other states to benefit from the free delivery. My vision of governing Anambra is one state, one people, one agenda. What drives us is prioritising our needs, who needs it the most and not who knows the government.
“We are not taking the support of Ndi Anambra for granted, we will continue to work hard every day to earn your confidence that when we are done, even the blind can testify. It is a partnership for progress and not politics as usual, everything you give to us, we will show you where it is spent, and you will see the value. The APGA primary is on Saturday. when you go, you will be praying for me. Our campaigns will begin June 11. I can assure you that even during campaigns, we will be working everyday. Most of the rallies will be to come and commission projects,” the governor added.
