BY SUNNY DAVID
Set to present common candidate
Christians from the Pentecostal stock in Anambra state have begun plans to take over Anambra state government through the forthcoming governorship election, our correspondent can authoritatively report.
A source told our correspondent that Pentecostals in the state have begun subtle protest over the dominance of the Catholic and Anglican churches in leadership positions, despite the large number of Pentecostal churches in the state and her numerous members.
Since the creation of Anambra state, church leaders from Catholic and Anglicans have dominated its politics, to the point that Bishops of both churches nominate anyone who must make it to the position of leadership.
The Catholic Church has, however, dominated the scene, and has always chosen the governor of the state, while the Anglican church plays the second fiddle by providing its member for the position of deputy governor.
Our correspondent gathered that some Anglican Bishops were unhappy with the choice of one of its member, and brother to the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim as running mate to Prof. Chukwuma Soludo who is a Catholic and the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The angry Bishops a source said are already rooting for the emergence of Senator Andy Uba, who is an Anglican.
But the Pentecostals in the state have also joined the protest, and our correspondent gathered that they plan to use the Anambra chapter of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), an umbrella body of all Pentecostal Churches to stage a take over.
A top member of PFN in Anambra state who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity said the group plans to galvanize all Pentecostal Christians for a common vote for a candidate that will represent its interest.
The source said, “We are not happy.
Everytime, it is Catholics as governors in Anambra, and an Anglican must be the deputy. Nobody considers the fate of Pentecostals. So, we are galvanizing our members to vote for one of us this time.
“September 24, 2021 is going to be Pentecostal day, and we are planning to hold a very big rally at Ekwueme Square in Awka. All Pentecostals will be around, and I’m sure that is the day our leaders will make a pronouncement about the candidate we are adopting. Enough of this Catholic and Anglican domination.
“Already, all pastors have been mandated to start making serious announcement in their churches about ownership of voters card. On that day at the rally, all members will also be required to come with their voters card,” the source said.
Meanwhile, investigation by our correspondent has shown that the leaders of PFN in Anambra State have settled for a candidate.
Dr. Chidozie Nwankwo, a candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), who is a Pentecostal, and also a preacher is said to have been favoured.
Dr. Nwankwo, who is the Chairman of Wichtech Group will be running with former Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon Chinwe Nwaebili as his running mate.
- He is popularly known as Overdose, and had contested the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but lost to Senator Andy Uba and is also known to be very rich, and sits atop several leading companies in Nigeria and overseas.
