About 181 town unions in Anambra State have endorsed the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the November 6 election, Chief Chukwuma Umeoji.

The endorsement came at a meeting with leaders of the unions under the auspices of the Coalition of Town Union Leaders (COTUL) in Awka, the state capital, at the weekend.

The union leaders posited that they have adopted Umeoji’s governorship candidacy, while declaring him as their sole candidate for the November 6 governorship poll in Anambra state.

The President of the group, Chief Olisa Ezeadi, who led 180 other leaders, president-generals and representatives of town unions in the state, said that “only a candidate like Umeoji who is a known grass root politician, accessible and temperate in his dealing with ordinary everyday people, can deliver on the mandate of the people of Anambra at a time like this in the history of the state.”

According to the union leaders, the good intentions of APGA for Anambra state can only be delivered by “a candidate with a mass appeal and not just anybody thrown up by the manipulations of a few persons.”

In his keynote address at the summit, Chief Ezeadi said, “Chief Chukwuma Umeoji’s empirical projections and commitment to elevating the living standard of rural dwellers and by extension, every Anambra resident, through well-thought-out policy actions have endeared him to the town unions in Imo state.

“We are certain that Umeoji would not be a ‘City Governor’ who will just concentrate his development efforts in the state capital and major cities in Anambra at the expense of the vast rural communities in the state.”

He added: “Every indigene of this great state must intentionally commit to the effort to reinvent our politics. At this point in our history, the governorship position in Anambra state cannot be for the highest bidder which is why Chief Chukwuma Umeoji represents our firm resolve to de-emphasise money politics in Anambra state so that the average resident of Anambra can at least get a breath of fresh air.”

The Coalition’s President further revealed that a work plan has already been circulated to all the town union leaders across the 181 town unions in Anambra and “our mandate is simple: to mobilise massive grassroots support for Chief Chukwuma Umeoji governorship bid across all the autonomous communities – both recognised and unrecognised autonomous communities – and we shall leave no stone unturned.”

The union leaders resolved to reconvene at a later date to evaluate, document and articulate their progress report. •Courtesy Nigerian Tribune: (Amended headline)

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