Less than five days to the governorship election in Anambra state on Saturday, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Andy Uba, the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Chukwuma Soludo and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, have debated on their plans for the state and why either of them should be elected to govern the state.
The governorship debate, organised by Arise TV on Monday in Anambra, was supported by Enough-is-Enough and broadcast live by the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) Radio and TV, Ogene FM and social media platforms between 12 (Noon) and 3pm, anchored by veteran journalists, Reuben Abati and Ngozi Alaegbu.
During the debate, the candidates tried to show how they understand the plight of Anambra people and proffered solutions to issues of the day, including unemployment, security, economy, education, health, infrastructure and poverty.
Speaking at the debate, while fielding a question on Education, APGA candidate, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, accused the candidate of the APC, Andy Ubah, of forging his Secondary School Certificate, saying he has no school certificate.
He said he will use his experience on economic issues to develop Anambra state as he is not coming to enrich himself with public funds, adding that he is already a wealthy man.
He said: “I am in excellent health in this stage of my life. I want to use the remaining part of my years on earth to serve Anambra people. I don’t need a penny of Anambra’s money. God has blessed me abundantly. I will devote every minute of my life in serving Anambra people. If I am sworn in today, the revolution will start because I will start work immediately after I am sworn in.
“If I am elected, I will mobilize the creative energy of Anambra people: home and in Diaspora. This is about leadership. I am the only man who has done it before. I mobilized this country to achieve those things people thought were impossible before. The Financial Times of London described Soludo in laudable terms because of my achievements in CBN governance. I adopted a school and gave over 1, 000 kids life. That, which I have done as a teacher, the teachers of this state will obviously get pride of place in my government.”
On his part, the candidate of the APC, Andy Uba, said that he will conduct local government election within six months of his election as governor.
Ubah, who earlier replied Soludo in a heated argument, that he possesses a certificate and finished secondary school in 1974, said that Soludo achieved nothing as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), adding that he was the one who made the popular banker attain the position.
He said: “If elected as Anambra governor, I will build a coalition. I will conduct the Anambra state local government election in six months. I don’t need to be a professor to know what is good for the state. So, if I am given the opportunity to lead this state, I will develop it with my experience. I have been with the federal government for 16 years: 8 years with President Obasanjo and 8 years in the Senate. So, I will be the best governor because of my connection in and outside the state.
“APC is the government at the centre. APGA has not helped us. Nkea bu nke anyi (“this is our own”- APGA’s slogan) has not helped us. Nkea bu nke anyi is dead. There is nothing there for us. So, let us join the moving train by connecting with the government at the centre so that we can attract development. By God’s grace, APC will win and we will take Anambra to the next level.
Also speaking, the candidate of the PDP, Valentine Ozigbo, said that he is the only credible candidate and will deliver Anambra people from bondage, alleging that both Soludo and Ubah were foisted on Anambra by godfathers and will be doing the bidding of their godfathers if elected.
He said: “What this job requires is not just youthful experience, but the versatility, from power, oil and gas, agro business, hospitality and development. I am coming with all of the above. No one knows it all. If I don’t know, I will accept that I don’t know. If you claim that you know it all, then you are not fit for the job, because nobody knows it all.
“Ndi Anambra, the youths, women and traders of Anambra, I can tell you what we don’t need at this point. We don’t need anybody who does not stand here to represent himself. We don’t need anybody who is part of the dysfunctional past and part of our problems. We don’t need retired and tired personality. We need somebody with the right content of character, who has the capacity, who is in the right party. I am the right person.
“PDP is the right party among the three here. If you conduct a poll among Igbo people today, you will hear people commending the PDP. It doesn’t matter the past, PDP is the party to watch. You need somebody who emerged through the right process. I emerged through divine mandate. I am not an imposition by the federal or state, unlike my opponents here. I have shared my manifesto here and I am telling you that Anambra ga achawapu (Anambra will develop). I want to take Anambra from where it has been, from where Peter Obi left it, to where it is supposed to be.”
Watch the exchange below;