By Gladys Ekwu
Youths across Anambra State have doled out a whooping sum of N22M as a way of supporting the gubernatorial race of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
The gesture was to show their solidarity to the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, in his aspiration to become the next governor of the state.
The youths under the auspices of Anambra Youths National Solidarity, made the donation during a youth’s mega rally they organized in honour of Professor Soludo at the Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Center Awka.
The rally had in attendance, members of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Commissioners, Traditional rulers, Transition Committee Chairmen of various Council Areas, among others.
The youth group, made up of the U-AYA, U -AWA, U ASA, and youths from various Church denominations, came out enmass to lend their voice in demanding for emergence of Professor Soludo as Governor Willie Obiano’s successor.
Governor Willie Obiano who was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Chief Primus Odili, commended the youths for their overwhelming love towards the progress of the State.
Chief Obiano reassured Ndi Anambra that his government is doing everything possible to ensure that their lives and property are protected.
The Governor used the occasion to switch on the phone lines purchased by the leadership of U-AYA and U-AWA youth groups, to be used as hotlines to call when any breach in security is noticed in any part of the State.
Addressing the gathering, the Convener of the event and member representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency, Chief Chinedu Obidigwe, who went down memory lane on the security situation in the State before APGA government took over, also recalled that civil servants suffered untold hardship because of non payment of salaries, adding that APGA Government has done so much for Ndi Anambra, hence the need to elect someone that will continue from where Governor Obiano will stop.
He also used the occasion to present twenty six Sienna buses to youth groups from every Local Government Area, in accordance with the amount of money donated during their fund raising for Professor Soludo’s nomination form.
Responding, Professor Soludo, after calling for observance of one minute silence for the fallen heroes of the civil war, expressed appreciation to the youth groups and said he has accepted to run for Anambra Governorship position because of the love Anambra Youths have for him.
While highlighting various achievements of APGA led government since the era of former Governor Peter Obi, Professor Soludo said the Willie Obiano led government has reduced the poverty rate in Anambra from fifty three to fourteen point seven eight percent and promised not only to give more youths seats in his cabinet if elected, but also to make sure that at least one thousand youths are gainfully employed.
Later in an interview, the Managing Director, Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency, Chief Jude Emecheta, said the demonstration of the youths represents the minds of Ndi Anambra.
In their separate speeches, the Transition Committee Chairman of Anambra East Council Area, Barrister Obi Nweke, and his Nnewi South counterpart, Engineer Chieloka Okoye, who is the National Secretary of U-AYA, said they are supporting Professor Soludo as they did during the campaign of Governor Obiano in 2013, and optimistic that Governor Obiano will finish strong, while his successor will consolidate on his legacies.
Also, some Student’s Union Governments from some Schools used the medium to express their readiness to join in the fight against insecurity in the State.
