Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has downplayed the chances of his rivals in the forthcoming November 8 governorship election.
He insisted that most of them are more interested in appointments than in actual governance.
Soludo, seeking a second term under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), made the remarks on Saturday during a political rally organized by the Anambra State Market Amalgamated Traders Association.
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The event was held at the Chuba Ikpeazu Sports Complex, Onitsha, where traders endorsed his re-election bid.
Addressing the gathering, the governor stated, “The journey to the November 8 election is still far. We are not going to take it for granted.
“Although we have no contestants, we are going into the election with all seriousness.
“Every other contestant is looking for an appointment, but instead of them to come and tell us what they are looking for, they are claiming to be contesting for the election.”
He also criticized opposition candidates, saying, “Our opponents don’t have a certificate. Gone are the days when charlatans rule Anambra; this is the state of the great Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chinua Achebe, Alex Ekwueme; no unknown character will be allowed to rule Anambra again.
“They should go and continue their land-grabbing business and stop contesting to be governor.”
Soludo assured traders of a new tax system where no one would be compelled to pay cash. He praised APGA’s victory in the August 16 by-elections, describing it as a reaffirmation of the party’s dominance in the state.
He added, “Last time, it was Labour Party everywhere, they were making noise.
“I call them the nomadic politicians; every election year, they enter into another party. But for us, we are APGA and we are saying APGA is Anambra and Anambra is APGA.”
The governor urged traders to maintain safe and clean markets and continue business operations as new development projects roll out across the state.
