By Ikenna Okafor
Hon. Obi Nwankwo, a leading aspirant in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in the race to elect the candidate that will fly the party’s flag in the 2023 Awka North and South Federal House of Representatives election, has said that the people of Awka North and South share the same political destiny, and so should regard themselves as bothers and sisters.
Hon. Nwankwo who spoke to the media after returning from Abuja, on Friday, 1st April, 2022, where he had gone to collect the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms said; “We are fully in this race to win it. I am overwhelmed by the massive support and messages of goodwill that our people have shown to me since my return from Abuja. Through phone calls, WhatsApp and text messages, personal visits and so on. I want to thank Ndi Awka North and South for this massive show of solidarity. Like I have always said, I do no take their support for granted. I promise that if they send me to Abuja, i will not disappoint them. Those that know me and my family, and those who have followed my activities in public life know that I am a man of my words. I do as I say”.
On his expectations from the political space and from all the aspirants in the different political parties, Hon. Nwankwo said: “We are all brothers and sisters and wish each other well. If you recall what I said when I visited the Amawbia home of our National Chairman, Ozonkpu Victor Ike Oye, to inform him and our other party leaders of my intention to contest, I said that I will support whoever clinches the party’s ticket. I also expect my brothers that are aspiring to pledge the same. As Awka North and South brothers and sisters, we should play mature, issue-based, and ideological politics without bitterness. It is God who crowns the King-Chinaemeze”.
Concluding, Hon. Nwankwo regretted that some followers of some of the aspirants have gone online carrying out campaign of calumny, making false and unfounded allegations against their principals’ opponents and advised against such. “It is only when people are not running on ideas that they resort to name calling. I believe that our party leaders are taking note of some of these undesirable activities by some of our party members. When you falsely de-market an opponent, you are indirectly de-marketing our party APGA. This is why I have from day one directed my media and campaign team to campaign strictly on the issues, supported by my record of good performance in public office, and my noble and progressive plans for Ndi Awka North and South”.