Ojukwu In Ibadan, Assures on New Lease of Life
ThisDay
2nd March 2003
Ikemba Nnewu, Chief Emeka Ojukwu, stormed Ibadan weekend on his presidential campaign tour promising Nigerians a new lease of life if voted into office.
Ojukwu, who is the presidential flag bearer of the All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA), said there was a political link between his party and the nation's progressives of which the western zone is a leading light.
He described APGA as offshoot of the United Progressive Grand Alliance which provided a unifying force between the NCNL and AG as well as other progressive forces in the country in 1964.
The Ikemba said his government would make truth its watchword, pointing out that it was for that reason APGA chose the cock as its symbol.
He said that the cock is a symbol of truth as it remained committed to announcing to mankind every morning unfailingly.
Ojukwu said his government would give priority to education, health and development of infrastructure.
The APGA flag bearer praised the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo for his contribution to the country's political development, saying that when the sage died in 1987, he made a statement which Nigerians would always remember.
Ojukwu said he observed then that Awolowo was the best president Nigeria never had, insisting that tribute still held till today.
Ojukwu, who addressed thousands of party members and supporters at Mapo hall campaign ground, visited the family and graveyard of Ibadan's most colourful politician, Late Adegoke Adelabu.
The Ikemba was accompanied by his running mate, Alhaji Ado Bayero as well as APGA chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, and other party chieftains.
The team was received in Ibadan at the toll gate on Lagos-Ibadan expressway by supporters and various Igbo cultural and development groups.
NAN reports that Ibadan was weekend a beehive of political activities as the National Action Council (NAC) also held its executive meeting, during which the NAC leader and presidential candidate, Dr Olapade Agoro, presented flags to the party's governorship flag bearers.
IGBO CONSENSUS CANDIDATE: Mob attacks Ohanaeze boss --Bid’ll not be aborted —Nwachukwu
Vanguard
1st March 2003
By KINGSLEY ANAROKE
Disagreement over the bid by the Igbo people to present a consensus candidate in the April 19 presidential election appears to have deepened as a mob, allegedly sponsored by a presidential candidate, sacked a meeting convened by Ohanaeze to resolve the matter.
The meeting, said to have been convened by an Ohanaeze committee in Enugu penultimate Wednesday to vote on the matter, was reportedly stormed by the mob and threatened the lives of those present, including Ohanaeze chairman, Justice Ezeobu (rtd), if the process was not aborted.
Ohanaeze, according to Sunday Vanguard sources, had referred the matter to the committee for resolution following the stalemate occasioned by irreconcilable differences among contenders for the Igbo consensus presidential ticket.
A particular candidate and his supporters, it was learnt, wanted the Igbo people to adopt a party to support during the April polls while others wanted the adoption of a candidate.
Senator Ike Nwachukwu, the National Democratic Party (NDP) presidential candidate, who is party to the discussion on the Igbo consensus bid, confirmed, weekend, that disagreement over the matter had deepened.
Nwachukwu blamed the situation on an aggrieved contender but said the Igbo people had not abandoned the quest. He also described himself as the best candidate for the consensus ticket.
Excerpts of the NDP presidential candidate’s chat with Sunday Vanguard:
Could you explain why you think the Ohanaeze Ndigbo could not reach a consensus on the presidential election despite all the meetings that have been held?
Well, it has not failed. Ohanaeze is still interested in picking a consensus candidate. From what I know, the committee set up for this deliberated and decided that they should vote among themselves and they did. But from what I heard, the voting did not go down well with one of us who believes that the Igbo nation owes him everything; he does not owe them anything. It was also learnt that some people stormed the house of the President of Ohanaeze, Justice Ezeobu, threatening his life if the voting was not aborted. So, the meeting could not then hold, it had to be postponed. So, they are still talking until a solution is found.
You talked about Justice Ezeobu’s life being threatened, how did that happen?
From what I heard, one of us took people to his house and tried to intimidate him and other members. So, the meeting that could not form a quorum. But I know that they are still working on coming out with a report. We are waiting for the report. I would say that if the word - consensus - would be a problem, they should have a scale of preference. That is the most prefered, next most preferred. However, the bottom line is that Ohanaeze Ndigbo cannot install a president, neither can the Igbo alone install a president.
Is there any element of truth in the story that the presidency used some of the Igbo sons to dissuade members of Ohanaeze from reaching a consensus?
I won’t be surprised. I won’t be surprised at all, because of the way some people behaved, spoke negatively about their intention to fight the Igbo cause. So, I won’t be surprised at all.
Is NDP considering coalition with other parties and what do you intend to achieve with that? How will that add value to your party?
I would say what I know about our party. There have been discussions on possible coalition but that have not been cemented. But I believe we can begin to talk about coalition when the time is appropriate. There is still time to agree on the need for coalition. What is important to me now is our party. The people should know what our party stands for. The party stands for generational change, youth empowerment, women empowerment, economic development, job creation for our youths and ensuring that we uphold various ethnic and religious values in the country.
You said Ohanaeze is still working on presenting a consensus Igbo candidate, how come they are talking about Buhari/Okadigbo ticket as the fallback position?
I am not aware of anything of such other than what I read in the papers that Prof. Ben Obumselu’s committee veered away from some criteria set out for the exercise. The Buhari/Okadigbo issue has not come to Mkpuke meeting talkless of adopting them for the race. However, I believe I am a better candidate and our party can deliver efficiency and promises based on our vision.
Again, there is the rumour making the rounds that you have mended fences with Obasanjo, so you may not be earnestly keen in running for the office of the president?
Some people have said I am a surrogate of IBB, but I don’t take any offence when I hear that, but to insinuate that I am working for Obasanjo, that is the most insulting statement I have ever heard. Anybody who knows me for the past three and a half years, will know my position. I don’t like his style of governance. He has achieved nothing at all. The economy has not improved since 1999. To associate me with Obasanjo is the worst scandal. I am in the race to change that leadership focus, leadership that will regenerate confidence, give our youths jobs, give them faith, pay our workers’ salaries on time, celebrate womanhood, etc.
What’s your impression on the on-going National ID registration?
Well, to have a national identity card is a worthwhile project but the way it is done is ridiculous. How can you begin to register a Nigerian from the age of 18. You are saying in effect that those from age one to seventeen are not Nigerians. So, the registration must begin from birth, so that we can plan properly for the country.
Why Igbo 'll Vote Obasanjo, By Udenwa
Blames assassinations on entry of 'dubious politicians'
ThisDay
1st March 2003
By Simon Kolawole
The people of South east will vote for President Olusegun Obasanjo in the April 19 polls, according to the governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa.
The governor, in a chat with newspaper editors, said that "Obasanjo is the realistic choice" before the people of the geo-political zone despite the fact that some other parties are presenting Igbo flagbearers for the presidential election, including the running mate in the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
"The truth is that the people of the South east do not waste their votes," he said, dismissing the calculation that the Igbo may vote for the ANPP where they have the chance of winning the Vice President position with the candidature of Dr. Chuba Okadigbo. "Everyday people go around deceiving people that they are the Igbo candidate. Of course, it will be good if we have an Igboman who is popular in the rest of the country. If that were the situation, I will not hesitate to support such a person because I know he has a realistic chance of becoming president."
Udenwa noted that if it were possible for the Igbo votes alone to make an Igboman president, the campaign would have been more realistic, but that is not the reality on the ground for now.
"Even if all Igbo people vote for one person, will that make him president? The answer is no. So we need somebody who is generally acceptable to the rest of the country so that when we vote, it will count. If we can have such a scenario now, people like us will be in the vanguard of the campaign. We the Igbo need a candidate that is acceptable to the rest of the country," he said.
Insisting that he believes in the campaign for an Igboman to be president, he explained that the dream will not materialise now. "In the depth of my heart, I am all for it. But my head tells me, not now, but soon," he said, emphasising that the Igbo belong to the Peoples Democratic Part (PDP) and will thus vote for the party.
Asked if it was not better for the Igbo to pick the Number Two position (vice president) in the ANPP instead of Number Three (Senate president) in PDP, Udenwa said: "We have been No. 2 before. That is no longer attractive to us. We want the No. 1 position and we shall get it."
Commenting on the wave of assassinations in the state, the governor said Imo State had always been peaceful, but the entry of people with "dubious characters" into politics "has introduced this dangerous dimension into the state". He appointed accusing fingers at politicians who see politics as a do-or-die game and are bent on having their way.
He spoke on the murder of Chief Ogbonnaya Uche, the ANPP senatorial candidate for Orlu Zone who was killed last month. According to him, the slain politician was "a friend and a brother".
"The ANPP is accusing the state government of killing him, but the facts on the ground are quite to the contrary. He was somebody who was like a brother to me. He resigned from my cabinet to contest for the PDP senatorial ticket. When he lost, he decamped to the ANPP, when he was still living in official quarters. That was the kind of relationship we had," he said, while also accusing the ANPP of concealing the truth of the matter. Udenwa noted that the ANPP in the state had been rocked by crisis in the last few weeks, which culminated in the burning of a party chieftain's house which led to the death of his two children. He also referred to the outburst of the wife of ANPP chairman in Imo State, who said some ANPP members had been making threatening calls to her husband
Obi of Onitsha Heads Panel on Fuel Crisis
ThisDay
1st March 2003
From Josephine Lohor in Abuja
The Federal Government has approved the appointment of a 7-man administrative panel of inquiry headed by His Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the current nationwide fuel shortage.
This is coming a day after President Olusegun Obasanjo had assured Nigerians that the fuel queues across the country would disappear this weekend.
The Minister for Information and National Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, had Wednesday, at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja blamed the fuel crisis on "some people who thought they could make some subterranean moves just to discredit us that we had resolved the problems".
The panel, whose term of reference include ascertaining the extent of the shortage and identifying any person(s) whether public official(s) or otherwise responsible for the shortage and recommending appropriate sanctions, has Mr. A O. Adeyomo as Secretary.
The Presidency, in a release made available to THISDAY Friday and signed by the Secretary to the Federal Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot J. Ekaette, stated that the panel of inquiry would be inaugurated by him on Tuesday, March 2003 at 11.00 a.m.in the SGF's Conference Room, 11th floor, Federal Secretariat, Abuja.
Other members of the panel are Alhaji Gidado Hamma, President of the Road Transport Union; Mr. Peter Ajayi, Mallam Sidi H. ali, Mrs. A. Bajhson, Mrs. Mary Obot and Mr. A. O.Adeyemo.
The panel is also expected to recommend steps to be taken by government aimed at preventing a recurrence of fuel shortage in the future amd make recommendations on any other issue(s) incidental to the terms of reference.
Meanwhile, the Petroleum and Natural Gas senior staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), while reacting to the allegation of sabotage by the Federal Government, said only a complete deregulation of the down stream petroleum sector would solve the fuel crisis.
We'll Nab Assassins In Imo, Says Udenwa
Guardian
1st March 2003
In two weeks, Imo State lost two of its best to the assassins' bullets in an instructive manner.
First was Chief Ogbonnaya C. Uche a.k.a.OGB who was a member of the state Executive Council and later ANPP Senatorial candidate for Orlu. Then only last Saturday, the Principal Secretary to Governor Achike Udenwa, Theodore Agwatu, was gunned down.
It may not be enough to label Imo a violent state but its record of real peace and security over the years has been dented.
And when Governor Udenwa spoke with journalists last week, he was sure of the perpetrators design but reassured on efforts to get the culprits and prevent reoccurrence. He was emphatic that PDP remains the party to beat in Imo.
THE recent killings in Imo State tend to portend a sour turning point. What's going on? What measures are being taken to get the killers and also prevent further occurrence?
We have just finished an emergency Security Council meeting where we discussed the situation. Investigations are going on and there is assurance that this band of killers will be fished out. We also discussed measures to beef up our security internally.
We may convene a broad meeting involving all the political parties. We want to ensure that there is no violence in the coming election. So, we are trying to talk with all other political parties including my own party, the PDP. This is a very peaceful state where we would not be expecting any violence throughout the election but what is happening now is to take a preventive measure to ensure that everything goes on well.
Do you think the police are capable of handling the security situation? What assurance are you giving....
Well, I think you must first appreciate the fact that the Commissioner of Police here is directly under the I.G. Mr. Tafa Balogun. When the first one happened I talked with the I.G. personally and I also talked to Mr. President on the issue. Also, we locally here do monitor the activities of the police asking them that they be thorough in their investigation. But unfortunately we found that police also have their own handicap.
This happened so sudden and that is why I have also been in talks with the presidency and the I.G. Even this morning I spoke with Vice President and spoke with I.G. again, and they, on their part, having seen what happened two weeks ago and what has happneed now, I think that they need some time to investigate the matter, though I would not be speaking for them.
On our part we need to allow them do their job. It is a very sensitive issue and we don't have to intrude because you could even be a suspect. So we are monitoring them, asking how they are doing. But you cannot be telling them go this side, go that side otherwise one might be trying to divert the cause of justice.
What do you think of the coming election?
I think the coming election would not be jeopardised. I think what we are seeing now in terms of crime could be connected with the coming election because we've seen that some characters are now in the politics competing for whatever position and may be this is more of the reasons why the people are feeling insecure. I believe it is a problem we can check. And that is why we are putting some intelligence measures on the ground.
The police and the SSS are already doing their work and I believe within a short time they will track down whoever is responsible.
Do you feel embarrassed by this situation?
No, I don't think it's proper. Shedding innocent blood is bad. It is sinful. I don't think there is anybody who will not feel embarrassed in this situation. We still have to talk to them and we will use every opportunity to continue to appeal to them to remain calm. By the grace of God we might come up with an answer. May be whosoever is doing it, may be part of his plan is thinking that we are going to fight back and stop our campaign. We are not going to do that. We will continue with our campaign.
How is the campaign going on and what is the response of the people?
Oh, we are very strong. Even if you put all other parties together they know that they can't stand the PDP, they know that. Go round for yourself and you will see what they look like...
There is so much positive reception, a lot of goodwill and we are very much encouraged about the response of the people to our campaign. I can assure you that if we hold election today, other parties may not get anything. And I think they know that, they appreciate it.
Are you comfortable with the debt being owed workers?
Nobody will ever feel comfortable... and to me, I'm still not ashamed of it because I can explain myself. But I should feel very sad about it, I know what it is to owe workers' salary. Remember I am coming from a working class, so, I feel very bad about it. And we are appealing to them and we have been making very frantic efforts on our own side to reduce the amount we are owing them. Who knows, may be before the election we might be able to wipe it out. I pray we do.
Can't there be a permanent solution to the problem of owing workers?
What do you call permanent solution? The problem is that we dare to be honest. We are not very realistic. You see, the issue of salary must be understood. When you belong to an organisation and your organisation is going to pay your salary from what you produce, and you are not producing enough... The issue is that at the national level, we are not producing enough. We depend so much on oil in this country. What amount of productivity are we generating locally?
We should be determined to solve the problem and to increase our productivity, to ensure that the public sector grows instead of everybody going around perpetrating violence. There is too much violence in our land, we must resist it. Our economy must be private-sector-driven. Go and check all over the developed countries, which of these big economies of the world is public-sector-driven? In fact, in these countries, government has nothing to do with investment. They don't involve themselves in the investment, but we Nigerians are still leaving that 'every penny must come from the government'. Many of us have the impression that government money does not finish but there must be somewhere we have this money stored and government just goes there to get money, majority of us are still leaving under this impression. We need to know that we must work very hard, we must work very hard to generate this money and also we must begin to cut our appetite. You can imagine how much rice we import into the country? Can we not grow rice here? In fact, we are the highest importers of rice from Thailand which sustains the economy of Thailand and affects our own, whereas we have land, we have good vegetation, we have all what it takes, we can get enough rice to eat and export.
How much do we spend on ordinary fruit juicy? We import hundreds of containers. I believe we can solve a lot of our problems but we must be ready to make some necessary sacrifice, to all bend down and work, probably having some sort of self denial. You and I must begin to make self-denial, we need to cut down on our import and that is when our economy will also take shape and before our salaries can be steady. Look at our budget, go to the auditing report and you see where we have about 70 to 80% of recurrent and 20% on capital and at the end of the day, you will even find out that we will not achieve that 20% capital. So the actual performance you won't achieve it. How can the economy grow? Because it is always the capital expenditure that adds to the growth of the economy. How will it grow? I think we must be ready to make the necessary strategies to redeem this situation.
But do we have the political will to ban rice importation?
That is the question, whether we have the political will. We need to have the political will and at the same time the average Nigerian including you and me should understand that government is not doing it to punish you but to save the economy. We cannot continue to import at the rate we are still importing. Look at our exchange rate, we messed it up. So, I do agree with you but then who is the person to make such a sacrifice? We must all be willing to make that sacrifice. I am sure if we try to cut down our appetite of imported items, and give more attention to our locally produced goods, we will improve on profit. So we must make that sacrifice and I tell you this is the time and not tomorrow.
Do you think you have performed well to seek a second mandate from the people?
I am proud enough to go out and campaign for my people to give me a fresh mandate because I believe within the available resources we have been faithful to our people and even the economy. I am of the view that what is obtainable today is better than 1999.
I still see a lot of problem especially in the area of unemployment. On infrastructure, we should go to the rural areas and we will discover that there are many areas that have never seen pipe born water... but all are now happy. I must confess because many who have not seen electricity before now have it.
We keep commissioning projects. Today, we have seen many who have come out to appreciate what we are doing.
There are certain places in this state we could not easily have plied because of bad road and today some of these roads have been put in place. We must also confess that expectations are different from the realities but that does not mean that we have not gone somewhere. Some people would by now have expected that all roads would have been repaired but if we are honest with ourselves, we will know that it is not possible and that is why we want to return to complete what we have already started. But we still have people who are very self-centred asking why must it not be me, why have you not reached me? The government has not done anything. I don't claim that and I can never claim that all the problems in Imo state have been solved. In four years, it is impossible. I am not a magician. But one thing is that we have a focus. If you go around the Owerri town, you will see for yourself that much work has been done. There are some schools that had dilapidated buildings or had none at all, and they have been renovated. We still have some months to go, and that is why we believe that when we return we will be able to continue what we started.
If my predecessors had handled it that way, we would have been able to do more. Look at our roads, I can boast that within the years I have done more roads than the past military administrators. This is not a hidden thing, it is something on ground, you don't need to tell anybody, it is something on the ground and that is why I believe that if we continue this work, after which another person continues and even after, there would still be a lot of problems left behind. If those who were in power before I came in had done as much as I have done, I would not have had much problem. So, the work we have done here, we still want to do more. How I wish we have had resources because one of the things that slowed us down in the past 1 1/2 years is the amount of the resources that are coming in and it has also slowed down the rate at which we intended to work.
20 Years After, Mrs. Obasanjo Commissions FM Station In Imo
Guardian
1st March 2003
FROM CHARLES OGUAGBUAJA, OWERRI
AFTER 20 years of waiting the people of Imo State are to enjoy the services of 10 digital Frequency Modulation (FM) station. The wife of the president, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo yesterday commissioned the station amid fanfare.
The FM 100 MHZ project was thrown to the trash bin by the military in 1983.
Speaking at the colourful event Mrs. Obasanjo chronicled the history of the project christened Heartland FM 100.5 MHZ. She noted that in the last 44 months, the Federal Government's dream to provide 32 FM digital stations in various parts of the country was gradually being realised.
She said with the commissioning in Azaraegbelu, Owerri North council, the number had risen to the five in the series.
Accompanied by the wife of the Minister of Works and Housing, Mrs. Kehinde Marka Ali, wives of former Minister of Works and Housing, Mrs. Josephine Anenih, Mrs. Franca Abebe and wives of some governors, Mrs. Obasanjo told her audience "I am proud to set the record here.
"To reach out to Nigeria, this is an unfettered freedom of choice on informing and educating the people".
Speaking earlier, Governor Achike Udenwa regretted that the state lost the project some 20 years ago, noting that the actualisation was the one of the gains of democracy.
His words: "We know who took it away. We know who is bringing it back.
He also lamented the recent incessant killings in the state and promised that the state security apparatus would fish out those behind them.
Information Minister Prof. Jerry Gana said that democracy would not be regarded as complete without a virile information system that the station will help to sustain.
The occasion was attended by the Minister of Information Prof. Jerry Ana director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Mr. Eddie Iroh, Imo State Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Godwin Osu and Eze Thomas Obiefule. Others were Pro-Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Fabian Osuji, Vice Chancellor, Imo State University, Owerri, Prof. Anthony Anwukah and the State National Orientation Agency (NOA) Director, Dr. Johnson Oleru.
I Want To quit Now, Says Mbadinuju
Guardian
1st March 2003
BY GODWIN IJEDIOGOR
IF Anambra State Governor Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju had his way, he would soon proceed on a three-month leave preparatory to resuming duties in ambassadorial capacity in Germany.
The governor in an interview with The Guardian, said he was prepared to make the sacrifice if that would stop the crisis that is currently tearing his state apart.
That may, however, not be possible immediately as President Olusegun Obasanjo has indicated the unlikehood of foreign countries receiving new representatives from the country during and immediately after such crucial elections as will take place in Nigeria in April.
In the interview held at Awka, the state capital, last Sunday, the embattled governor, who was recently persuaded to stand down from the party's governorship primaries for the coming polls, for a diplomatic job expressed the hope that the agreement reached with the party hierarchy and the president in that regard would be kept by all parties concerned.
Still believing that the last has not been heard of the party's gubernatorial ticket in the state, Mbadinuju decried a situation where money bags from the state have become kingmakers in a political game plan, the script of which, he said, is written in Abuja.
While admitting that he felt betrayed by some of his erstwhile political associates, Odera, as he is popularly called, however, said: "There is no need to weep over spilt milk or when the head is off."
"I feel happy that I have been governor of Anambra State. Nobody had ever been governor of the state for up to two years before. So, I should thank God that I lasted for four years. I had no contract with God to be governor of Anambra State," he philosophised.
The outgoing governor urged the people of the state to eschew recrimination and infighting. "We should see one another as brothers and sisters. Even if anybody made a mistake, let him be corrected. We should speak the truth in love, so that those who would take over from us would improve upon our records."
Explaining the reason for the dissolution of the state executive council a fortnight ago, Mbadinuju said it was to enable the politicians among them go to the "field of campaign".
"This is not the time for a good politician to be in the office, campaign for election is for tested politicians. We probably would choose less politicians to man the office," he said.
He indicated that by the end of his tenure, the state government would have repaid virtually all the loans taken by the past and present administrations.
"Any government coming into power in Anambra State after me would have little or no loans to repay and life would be better for the people of the state," he stressed.
Mbadinuju decried the present state of insecurity in the state following the dislodgment of the Anambra State Vigilante Services (AVS) otherwise known as Bakassi Boys late last year, saying it was a clear evidence of the effectiveness of the arrangement his administration had put in place.
"Who would not remember my administration for security," he asked rhetorically.
Lamenting that he had been treated unfairly, Mbadinuju wondered: "If they could do what they did to a governor like me, then I don't know the fate of the lesser mortals."
Ojukwu raises alarm on moves to rig April polls
Vanguard
28th February 2003
By Princewill Ekwujuru
LAGOS — CHIEF Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), presidential standard-bearer has warned of moves by a cabal to rig the forthcoming general elections. The former Biafran leader spoke yesterday in Lagos at a rally where he presented the governorship candidates of the party. Chief Ojukwu also renewed the call for a national conference as a panacea to redress the injustices and inequalities in the polity. He, however, said his party was up to the task of stopping those intent on thwarting the will of the people. At the campaign held at the Trade Fair Complex, he called on the electorate to vote the present crop of leaders out of office. "We shall stop them collectively, God forbid they are given another chance," Chief Ojukwu said.
"Looking at their plans," he continued, "they have already lost faith in the electoral process and are afraid that the electorate would vote them out, in this course they are perfecting strategies to rig the elections,"he warned.
Ojukwu promised that APGA would drive away the cabals that have held the country hostage, calling them the most dangerous and notorious dictators. He pointed out that all the instruments of coercion had been destroyed with the registration of APGA.
He asked the electorate to vote APGA in order to achieve the elusive dreams of Nigerians. "I tell you, vote for the cock, the cock does not tell lies, the cock crows to signal the birth of a new dawn. One day of sacrifice will guarantee you a minimum of four years comfort," Chief Ojukwu assured the audience. Drawing attention to the tradition of politicians making empty promises, the APGA candidate advised the electorate to be cautious and avoid those who give false promises but turn out to do nothing. He especially criticised the Obasanjo administration for failing to alleviate the suffering of the masses. "I once again present myself as your servant to do what you want and as you want it done," he pledged.
Those who attended the rally included the party’s National Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, running mate to the presidential candidate, Alhaji Sani Bayero, National Treasurer, Chief Victor Umeh and National Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi
MASSOB denies attack on governors
Daily Independent
28th February 2003
By Vincent Obia
Leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has denied that members of the movement were involved in last Tuesday’s gun attack on the convoys of Governors Sam Egwu of Ebonyi State and Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State,
Uwazuruike spoke on telephone against the backdrop of allegations that MASSOB members, bent on stopping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s South East presidential rally in Owerri, carried out the attack.
Absolving members of MASSOB, Uwazuruike said they couldn’t have been involved since they were not interested in the Nigerian political process.
“MASSOB was not involved in the attack. It could not have been involved and will not be involved in such attack because the rally, which the governors were attending, is neither our interest nor our problem.
“We are not involved in the elections, we are not involved in the national identity card registration exercise. We are not involved in anything in the current political process because we are not Nigerians. We are Biafrans, and we shall declare our sovereignty at the appropriate time,” Uwazuruike said.
Members of MASSOB were alleged to be the gunmen who attacked the convoys of the two governors on the Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway as they were going to the PDP zonal presidential rally in Owerri. The gun battle reportedly lasted for about 30 minutes, but there were no casualties.
Daily Independent
28th February 2003
By Eze Ekuma-Ibe
The presidential candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu says his mission in the presidential race is to bring healing to Nigeria.
“In Nigeria, there are some jokers I’m told that are contesting the presidency. I just want to let you know that I come not to run but to heal. I set out right from the beginning to heal Nigeria. I refused to join any coup d’etat.
“To heal Nigeria, I made sure I never killed my superior officers. To heal Nigeria, I went far with Nigeria to Aburi and persuaded the whole of Nigeria to sign an agreement everybody knew that if they had stuck to that agreement, Nigeria would have been a peaceful place today,” he said.
Speaking at his campaign rally at the International Trade Fair Complex, Badagry Road, Lagos yesterday, Ojukwu said his administration would bring succour to the people of Nigeria, adding: “Nigeria must be healed in a way that you will all be accommodated in Nigeria. Nigeria will be healed in a way wherever you are you feel proudly that you are in your own country. The final promise I make to you is that as long as I’m alive, if anybody wants to take your own, I’m here to fight.”
Ojukwu restated his commitment to a national conference, saying that his government if voted into office, would convene a national conference. He challenged all other contestants in the presidential race to state their own position on the issue of the national conference.
“We all said we wanted it but have you noticed that in the past two months, people don’t mention it anymore as they get themselves into the mess of corruption which is Nigeria,” Ojukwu said.