ELECTION: Ngige begins campaign today

THE  governorship candidate of the All progressive Congress, APC, Senator Chris Ngige, will formally flag off his campaign to return to the Government House in Awka, AnambraState in the commercial city of Onitsha today.

According to a statement signed for the Ngige Campaign Office, Mr Okelo Madukaife, the flag off would be attended by all the 11 APC governors just as over 30 APC senators had ‘’confirmed their attendance.’’ Madukaife who quoted the Director General of the Campaign Office, Chief George Moghalu as stating that ‘’Ngige is the leading candidate in the race and the only one whose candidature is undisputed among the four parties in reckoning for the  polls.

Moghalu who spoke ‘’in reference to the event said, it is yet another opportunity to demonstrate to the people of Anambra State, Nigerians and to the world at large the followership that Senator Ngige and our party enjoy in Anambra State, as a prelude to the landslide victory the party is working towards on November 16, 2013.”

Ngige had in preparation for today’s event unveiled his 12-point manifesto and, a compendium on his stewardship in the Senate in an occasion at Awka where he also presented his running mate, Hon Ralph Udenze Okeke, a- two-time member of the House of Representatives, from Anambra West Local 

Government Area of Anambra North Senatorial District hich he unveiled during media dinner in Awka, include security of lives and property in which he intends to engage experienced hands and apply modern gadgets to reduce and control crime; free education at the primary and secondary school levels, as well as reduction of school fees in the state -owned university by 50 per cent and providing adequate funds to ensure re-accreditation of courses de-accredited by the National Universities Commission, NUC, in the institution.

Senator Ngige said his education programme will also award scholarship and bursary to Anambra students in tertiary institutions.

The manifesto also provides for free antenatal services for all pregnant women, free primary health care for children up to five years old and adequate staff welfare for health practitioners.

In the transport sector, Ngige promised to build an Airport in Anambra North by December, 2014, create inland water ways and mono rail transport system, as well  as quality roads and transformation of Awka.

Other points of special interest to the APC candidate are agriculture, water supply, electricity, housing and environment, conduct of local government election in 2014, lifting of embargo on employment, promotion of workers and payment of minimum wage to all categories of workers.

The APC candidate had earlier submitted the name of Dr. Mike Aghadinuno from Anambra East local government area as his running mate, but had to drop him for what he described as strategic reasons.

Ifeanyi introduces free transportation scheme

Labour Party (LP) Candidate, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, has started a free transportation scheme in the state in recognition of the need to ease commuters’ transportation difficulties

Making the disclosure in Nnewi at the weekend, Mr. Ifeanyi Ezeh, who is the deputy director-general, Youth Mobilization of Ifeanyi Ubah Campaign Organisation (IUCO) in Anambra South senatorial zone, said in a statement by Emmanuel Chijioke Ibeleme (deputy director,  Media) that the scheme began last Monday with 15 van-trucks to cover the various routes in Anambra.

“The local governments and the senatorial zones are covered.

People are being conveyed free.  Workers, students, everybody is happy to be enjoying this programme,” he said.  With the leadership of the National Association of Transport Owners (NATO) involved, some of the routes listed are, Nnewi – Igboukwu – Ekwulobia – Okoh – Ajali – Ufuma – Umunze; Nnewi – Adazi – Agulu – Nise – Awka; Nnewi to Onitsha; Awkuzu Junction – Nteje – Aguleri – Umuleri – Igbariam; Onitsha to Okija; Okija – Ihiala – Amorka, a boundary area between Anambra and Imo States.

Other routes include Amorka – Iseke – Ukpor – Amichi – Nnewi; Nnewi – Nnobi – Agulu, the home town of Governor Peter Obi; Nnewi – Nkpor – Onitsha Metropolis; and Umuchu – Uga – Ezinifite – Nnewi.

SOURCE: VANGUARD