By Okechukwu Okoye
The people of Dunukofia Local Government Area, Anambra state, Wednesday, assured the Governorship candidate of People's Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, that all their eligible voters would vote for him on November 6 poll.
Ozigbo and the entire PDP campaign train had stormed St Mary's High School Field, Ifitedunu, in continuation of its governorship campaign rallies across 21 LGAs in the southeastern state.
In a show of force, a mammoth crowd thronged the rally venue to welcome Mr Ozigbo and his campaign train with rejoicing, music, and dances.
In the campaign train we
re Ozigbo's running mate, Mrs Azuka Enemo; the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the PDP in the 2019 election, Mr Peter Obi; the governorship candidate of the party in the 2017 election in Anambra, Ambassador Osaeloka Obaze; Hon Obinna Chidoka, the lawmaker representing Idemili North and Idemili South Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, and several members of the Anambra PDP governorship campaign council.
While addressing the audience, Ozigbo thanked the people of Dunukofia for the warm reception and the assurance of their support.
Ozigbo, a multiple award-winning global CEO, also called on the people to match determination and effort with prayers to ensure a triumphant march to Agu Awka.
"We are grateful for your assurances. We also want you to match it with prayers. We want you to translate all these into victory for our party come November 6," Ozigbo said.
"Go out and galvanise support for us. Come out on Election Day to cast your vote; defend your vote. We're counting on your support and goodwill. We have an excellent manifesto which details our blueprint for the development of Anambra State.
"We will deliver on our promises. Play your part by voting for us, and we won't have any problem fulfilling ours," Ozigbo said to loud applause from the excited crowd.
Since he emerged as the PDP candidate for the Anambra governorship election, Mr Ozigbo has attracted the support of the PDP leaders at all levels.
On hand to receive Ozigbo was a former Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget in the state, Prof Stella Okunna; the Chairman of the party in the Dunukofia LGA, Hon Chigbo Dibiaezue; the Chairman of PDP Campaign Council in Dunukofia LGA, Hon Onochie Okagbue; as well as local government and ward executive members and other supporters of the party.
In his opening speech, Hon Okagbue pledged that Dunukofia has unanimously agreed to give a block vote to PDP and its candidate come November 6, 2021.
"Though we supported different aspirants before the primary election that produced the governorship candidate of the party, we are one family, and collectively, we pledge a block vote for the party and its governorship candidate," Okagbue assured.
"Come November 6, we will mobilise our people in their numbers to cast our votes. We'll be there to protect our votes, and our votes will surely count. PDP will sweep Dunukofia, and on March 17, 2022, we will assemble for Ozigbo's.
"Presently, there is a break in government in Anambra State. The citizens do not have the feel of governance in Anambra again. There is a wide gap between the political leaders and the people.
"Thus, Dunukofia has resolved to vote for a candidate that will bridge the gap, give power back to the people, and provide dividends of democracy. The candidate is Valentine Ozigbo, and the party is PDP," he added.
In his submission, the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, described Ozigbo and his running mate, Dame Azuka Enemo, as a team Anambra people cannot afford to lose.
"Frankly, only three political parties are contesting this election - they are APGA, APC and PDP. Anambra and Igbo people have rejected APC. The party, for the Igbo people, is associated with bad governance. So, it cannot be marketed in the state. For APGA, the party has not done well in Anambra in the last eight years. Our roads, schools, hospitals are in a sorry state. Since I left office as governor, the incumbent government has done nothing to improve on the foundation we laid," Obi stated.
"The state we left eight years ago without debt is currently in massive debt. The State my administration left with huge savings is now penniless. Therefore, PDP and its candidate, Ozigbo, remain the only viable option for Ndi-Anambra beyond March 17, 2021.
"Ozigbo has remained a man of excellence all through his life. If given the mandate by Ndi Anambra, he will continue from where I stopped in the delivery of good governance and democracy dividends," Obi said
In his brief remarks, Hon Dibiaezue said Dunukofia would vote massively for Ozigbo because of his track record of excellence and quality leadership.
According to him, "Valentine Ozigbo is a good man who had made Anambra State and Nigeria proud because of his records of excellence. We are confident that he will not deviate when it comes to the leadership of Anambra State. His manifesto is people and development-oriented, and we believe that he has good intentions for Ndi Anambra."
Other stalwarts of the party who spoke at the event are the PDP Governorship Campaign Council Director-General, Dr Alex Obiogbolu and Prof Stella Okunna, a prominent indigene of Dunukofia LGA.
"Valentine Ozigbo and his running mate, Azuka Enemo, is an excellent pair – a wonderful combination. There is no reason they will not deliver results when elected into offices," she said.
On Thursday, September 9, 2021, the PDP inaugurated a powerful 179-member National Campaign Council for the Anambra guber election, which Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State will lead.