By Baron Ike
Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has vowed not to dump his party, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), saying he will never do such a thing.
He also said he has started wooing all those who ran for the recent governorship election with him as the development of his state takes precedence over personal interests.
But one person Obiano does not want to bother about his exit from the APGA is the son of late leader of APGA, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu- Ojukwu, Emeka Jnr. who has eventually joined the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Obiano made these comments in Abuja on Friday when he paid a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.
After the visit, Obiano interacted with State House Correspondents, and gave further reasons why he won governorship election in a landslide by winning all the 21 local government areas in Anambra.
Q. Why are you at the Villa today?
A. I came to see the president and to thank him for keeping to his words that the election in Anambra will be free and fair and that is exactly how it went. I’m very happy to come to report to him personally on the success of the election.
Q. Did you expect to win such a contentious election?
A. Well, I thank God, it is the Lord’s doing. To win 21 over 21 is not an easy task, it just showed the faith the people had in me and that is exactly why it happened and I thank Ndi Anambra for the confidence reposed in me and reassure them that this will encourage me to work harder.
Q. How do you intend to unite the people?
A. Well, we have extended olive branch to my colleagues, my friends that contested with me and as you can see they have all congratulated me and we will hold hands and match on. You see, our private ambitions can never be greater than the interest of Anambra State. I believe we are working on well.
Q. What are the new assurances you got from Mr. President?
A. Well, Mr. President was excited that the votes of Ndi Anambra counted and that is a legacy he wants to leave behind, that he conducts free and fair elections without any interference from the federal.
Q. Will your relationship with Peter Obi be smooth now?
A. I don’t have a problem with anybody. I’m doing well, I don’t have a problem with anybody.
Q. How are you going to strengthen your party?
A. My party is very strong in the south east and that you will see very soon in the coming elections and from there we will match on.
Q.There are insinuations you are planning to dump APGA for APC?
A. No. Never. That is totally unfounded. I will never leave APGA, I’m the leader and the BoT chairman of APGA and again by God’s grace the governor and governor-elect.
Q. Are you going to woo back Ojukwu’s son who left your party recently?
A. He is of no consequence I’m sorry to say.