A coalition of civil society organizations has advised the Senator representing Anambra Central, Senator Uche Ekwunife to stop heating up the polity (by her indulgence in hate campaign) and have expressed fear over what it described, as a desperate inordinate ambition to clinch the PDP Anambra 2021 gubernatorial ticket by all means, either by hook or by crook.
The group under the aegis of “Civil Society Committee for Anambra Election Security (COSCAES), raised the concern in its multi-paragraph article, affirming that such action poses dangerous signals that can scuttle the transparency and credibility of the June 26 PDP primary, as well as engender a violent electoral process.
The group which spoke through its Coordinator, Comrade Kennedy Iyere demands the retraction or withdrawal of Senator Ekwunife’s media attacks on the person of Valentine Ozoigbo, following his open endorsement by the former Governor of Anambra state, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife (Okwadike). The group affirms that Okwadike has the right to choose and endorse a preferred candidate of his own choice. They further advised Senator Ekwunife to adopt a new style of democratic campaign, in the spirit of sportsmanship, adding that election is not an act of war but a process of peaceful contest.
The group frowned at Senator Ekwunife’s media public contradiction of the former Governor and highly respected elder stateman, describing her action, as a reckless display of moral aberration. The group classified her claims in the purported media publication, as infantile and suggest it should be disregarded by the general public.
Here are some of the quotes extracted from the open letter issued by the group to Senator Uche Ekwunife:
“Your most recent contradictory media reports on the person of Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife (Okwadike), following his open endorsement of a fellow aspirant, is not only uncivil and undemocratic but unpatriotic, and cliquish"".
"Okwadike is an institution, whose influence extends beyond your village, Igbo-Ukwu, being the first democratically elected Governor of Ananmbra State. Therefore, your attempt to cage a man of Okwadike’s status, is nothing else but a deliberate act of moral aberration”
.
"The video in circulation shows where the heart of Okwadike lies, it is not what you can change but a hard reality you must inevitably embrace. Okwadike is aware of the fact that the aspirant he endorsed, is far ahead of you in the ongoing gubernatorial race and stands the best chance of winning the election among the contestants within the PDP”
"Several prominent political influencers in Anambra State had at different times called on Okwadike to advise you to step down from the gubernatorial contest".
"You may have been assisted by some few corrupt top PDP stakeholders in manipulating the outcome of the recently conducted delegate primary but still, there are also other credible top stakeholders in PDP whose interest lies more on the party’s victory in the main election, than deriving selfish financial benefits from a desperate Uche Ekwunife”
The details of the article is in the attachment below
June 20, 2021
ANAMBRA 2021: OPEN LETTER TO SENATOR UCHE EKWUNIFE
Senator Uche Ekwunife, your inordinate ambition to clinch the PDP Anambra 2021 gubernatorial ticket by all means, either by hook or by crook, sends a very dangerous signal to those of us, who are investing a great deal of our financial resources, expertise, energy and time in promoting peace and stimulating political stability in Nigeria.
Your reckless desperation is undeniably opulent, thus engendering acts of gangsterism and radicalization, particularly among your youth supporters, who in their ignorance or naivety, shall be engaged, as thugs and elements of political intimidation.
As an expert in conflict prevention, I have seen lots of common sense in calling you to order at this point, the failure of which will further complicate the existing worrisome insecurity in Anambra State and the entire south-eastern region.
Your most recent media report on His Excellency, Chukwuemeka Ezeife (Okwadike Ndigbo), following his open endorsement of another gubernatorial aspirant is not only uncivil and undemocratic but also very childish, unpatriotic, and cliquish. Okwadike has the right to choose and endorse whoever he pleases to align with. He does not need your consent or authorization to do so.
At this point, you must stop this “do or die” approach to politics. It is most disappointing of a woman, who currently serves, as a Senator of the Federal Republic.
Okwadike is an institution, whose influence extends beyond your village, Igbo-Ukwu. As the first democratically elected Governor of Ananmbra State, he is a father to all indigenes of Anambra State. Therefore, your attempt to cage a man of Okwadike’s status, is nothing else but a deliberate act of moral aberration. In your media attacks on the aspirant Okwadika endorsed, one of your strong arguments is that the former governor calls you his “daughter”, but he is certainly not your biological father. He is your father in general terms, as much as he is a father to other aspirants.
The video in circulation shows where the heart of Okwadike lies, it is not what you can change but a hard reality you must inevitably embrace. Okwadike is aware of the fact that the aspirant he endorsed is far ahead of you in the ongoing gubernatorial race and stands the best chance of winning the election among the contestants within the PDP.
Inarguably, you are very much afraid of a free and fair primary election because you know that without manipulations, you will perform poorly. This is the point you need to humble yourself for once and lend your ears to Okwadike, he has some open secrets to share with you. He is aware you stand no chance of being elected a Governor by the people of Anambra State. Several prominent political influencers in Anambra State had at different times called on Okwadike to advise you to step down from the gubernatorial contest. Many key stakeholders in your party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), both at the national and state levels are also aware of the fact that the people of Anambra State are not willing to elect Uche Ekwunife, as Governor. But they could choose to play along with you just to exploit financial gains to your own detriment and that of the party.
You may have been assisted by some few corrupt top PDP stakeholders in manipulating the outcome of the recently conducted delegate primary but still, it is certain that you will lose out in the actual primary election, scheduled to hold on the 26th June, 2021. This is because there are still other credible top stakeholders in PDP whose interest lies more on the party’s victory in the main election in November than deriving selfish financial benefits from a desperate Uche Ekwunife.
Also, the PDP delegates themselves are not ignorant of the fact that the good people of Anambra do not want you as their Governor for reasons that are obvious.
I am one of the greatest advocates of greater participation of women in politics but certainly not in the uncivil way and reckless manner you have conducted yourself. Please adjust yourself and adopt a new approach which portrays the spirit of sportsmanship. This is supposedly a civil contest and not an electoral war!
Just for the records, I spoke with Okwadike yesterday and he regretfully confirmed to me that you are circulating FAKE NEWS about him around the media, alleging that he denied endorsement of Valentine Ozigbo. He is not happy with you and I will, on that note, advise that you give him a call and tender to him your unreserved apologies. I hope you also know that his wife, Her Excellency, Mrs Grace Ezeife, has not forgiven you for what you did to her. Please, in the interest of peace, it will be advisable for you to make peace with the Ezeifes.
My next letter will be addressed to other PDP leaders who know me well but due to their unpatriotic involvement with matters concerning the delegate primary held last week. They can attest to the fact that I have done more than enough for Nigeria, as a patriotic citizen. In 2014/2015, I created and funded the country’s single largest electoral peace project, ahead of the 2015 general elections, tagged “Save Nigeria-2015 Campaign”, which was implemented at the cost of $6 Million.
I have championed and advocated more for “2023 South-East Presidency” than anybody else in Nigeria and as living witnesses to this reality, I have several Igbo leaders, including Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife (Okwadike), Prof George Obiozor, Senator Ben Obi, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, Prof ABC Nwosu, Senator Margery Okadigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, Chief Ralph Nwosu, Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, Prof Madubuke, Ize Fidelis Ozichukwu, Prof Osita Nebo, Prof Pat Utomi, Prof Kingsley Moghalu, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Chief Gary Igariwey, Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze, Dr Nnanna Igwe and many others, both home and in diaspora. I created the “Global Movement for Igbo President 2023”, please Google it and see what I have done for the South East. Therefore, I am not someone whose voice can be ignored.
I am a high-profile social entrepreneur, peace activist and a cosmopolitan and highly celebrated donor fundraiser, who indeed needs no further introduction because I am very well known across and beyond Nigeria.
I run the largest youth enterprise non-governmental organization in Africa, known as Youths Off The Street Initiative (YOTSI), an NGO which has generated large volumes of donor funds around the globe, in support of social impact projects in Nigeria, specifically focused on taking youths off the streets (saving youths from a life of crime) and nurturing them to become responsible citizens and positive contributors towards Nigeria’s political and socio-economic development.
Senator Uche Ekwunife, I implore you, give peace a chance in Anambra PDP and in Anambra State! Please this is not a media attack on your person but a brotherly admonition. This is the right time to speak up against any threats that can further jeopardize our already evasive peace, security and political stability. Election is no war, there was a life before it and there will still be life after it. Lets not destroy the future for ourselves.
Regards,
COMRADE KENNEDY IYERE
(Comrade and Voice of the Masses)
Coordinator, Civil Society Committee for Anambra Election Security (COSCAES)
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