The Guardian - DESPITE court order barring their recognition as candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] in the April elections, the party leadership yesterday handed its flags to Governors Sullivan Chime of Enugu state and his Abia State counterpart, Theodore Orji to run in the elections.
The development came as President Goodluck Jonathan promised to actualize the construction of the second Niger Bridge before the end of 2015 if elected into office, explaining also that government was desirous of tackling problems facing the southeast as an important part of the country.
Two separate courts have barred the party and INEC from accepting Chime and Orji as candidates of the party, a development that led to their names being removed from the list of approved candidates in the election. But in what looked like a disregard to the orders, Acting National Chairman of the party, Haliru Bello in Enugu yesterday at the flag off of the presidential campaign rally of Goodluck/Sambo handed them the flags of the party, charging them to go and win their respective states for the party. Others who received flags were governors Ikedi Ohakim and Martin Elechi of Imo and Ebonyi states respectively. At the well attended rally held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, President Jonathan promised that the Federal Government would continue to provide infrastructures that would boost the economy of the South East geopolitical zone and improve the living condition of her people whom he described as the most enterprising in the country.
He declared the commitment of the government to tackle the problem of ransom kidnapping, which he noted has seriously impeded economic activities in the zone, adding that the government would not tolerate any threat to peaceful coexistence of Nigerians anywhere in the country. He also outlined a number of projects, which his government had initiated to improve economic activities in the zone and the wellbeing of Ndigbo.
These, he said, included the release of N500 billion to enable people get loan through the Bank of Industry for which N200 billion has already been accessed by Nigerian businessmen and women. He explained that the intervention was to eliminate the problems hitherto experienced by Nigerians in obtaining credit facilities from commercial banks. The president said that for business to thrive there was need for steady power supply which informed the decision of the government to commit resources to power generation, adding that this was why the government had decided to restore the old Coal Power Plant in Enugu. "Already the contract for the survey has been done and we have awarded the contract and I believe that in three months or so the result will come out. So all those who need power to do their businesses will have enough," he said. To further boost economic activities in the zone, the president said that the government had to approve the upgrading of the Enugu Airport to and International Airport "so that the people of the zone will no longer go to Lagos before doing their business",
On the problem of gully erosion ravaging some communities in the South East, Jonathan said he had held several meetings with governors of the zone with a view to finding lasting solution to the problem, disclosing that about 15 contracts had so far been awarded at a cost of about N11.5 billion as part of efforts to check the menace. On the entertainment industry, the president commended the invaluable roles being played by the people of South East in Nollywood and home movies industry saying 80 percent of Nigerian actors, actresses, producers and marketers are from the zone. He assured that the federal government would soon provide a lifeline to enable the people in that sector have access to funds to develop the industry Jonathan who was accompanied by his wife, Dame Patience, Vice President Namadi Sambo and leaders of PDP, however, thanked Ndigbo for their support to his government and his re-election bid, assuring that he would continue to ensure that the interest of the zone was protected. While welcoming the president and his entourage to the rally held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Governor Chime said the people of the South East were strongly committed towards the return of the president. He said that the president was in Enugu to confer with his people and not to campaign as the massive turn out was an indication that he enjoyed tremendous support of Ndigbo. Also speaking, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State informed the president of his adoption by the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA for the presidency, saying the party would not contest the presidential election as the leadership has resolved to support a man who would ensure that Ndigbo have a sense of belonging in the country. He urged all Igbo to support Jonathan in the forthcoming election.
Source: Chime, Orji Get PDP 's Flag To Contest April Polls (http://ngrguardiannews.com/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=38354:chime-orji-get-pdp-s-flag-to-contest-april-polls-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)