Ahead of the November 8, 2025 Anambra State governorship election, an aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) Obiora Okonkwo has promised to “return power to the people of the State. This is as he said he would engender community-driven development” if elected.
The aspirant who is a professor, stated this on Wednesday while speaking with reporters in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area.
According to him, Anambra has witnessed “poor governance and retrogression” under the current administration. Okonkwo, therefore, took a swipe at the current governor Charles Soludo for his non-performance.
He noted that Soludo has not done anything spectacular to deserve a second term.
Okonkwo who is the founder of United Nigeria Air, blamed the current governor for the insecurity in the State. He said insecurity and steady outflow of business from the State is affecting the economic wellbeing of the people. This, he said is because the harsh environment was crippling Anambra despite the resourcefulness and entrepreneurial spirit of the people.
Okonkwo, therefore, urged governments to always project themselves strategically to benefit from the federal government’s tax reforms. This, he said is by encouraging productivity and an increase in business activities.
He said, “Anambra is not faring well in terms of kilometers of road constructed. Using public funds to build a fun city and naming it after yourself is not doing well but sheer egoism. No serious leader names projects after himself while still in office.
“Government must be able to relate well with a cross section of the society, including investors, the entrepreneurs, and the middle or low class. That is the way to understand their challenges.”
Okonkwo, therefore, promised that if elected, he would create an enabling environment that would harness input from traditional institutions, town union leadership, and the business class for all-inclusive development.
The aspirant pointed out that this was the best time for the APC to take over power in Anambra State. He stated that this is predicated on the “abysmal performance” of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)-led government.
Okonkwo, therefore, stated that consensus-building and unity within the APC were needed.
Dismissing zoning the governorship position in the State. He described zoning as the internal arrangement of APGA.
Okonkwo cautioned that zoning should not be an issue when the people were in dire need of competent leaders.
The aspirant stated that he was in the race for the love of Anambra. He, however, pointed out that he was not desperate to be governor of the State.
“Zoning came into being in 2010 when a former governor wanted to go for second tenure. He met the people from the North and promised to handover to them as he was the only one that would do one term at that time.
“Even, when APGA produced a candidate, the current governor and other persons from the South contested for the ticket from other parties.
“Zoning is not an issue now. Anambra is in a fix. The economy is destroyed. Businesses are shutting down. And insecurity is ravaging us. We need a sensitive government,” he said.
source: NAN
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