Just in: Ekweremadu drops Enugu guber ambition, congratulates Mbah

Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has terminated his ambition to become the Governor of Enugu State in 2023, thus ending days of speculations on hid next political move after he withdrew from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primary election in the State.

There have reports of the federal lawmaker making moves to join the All Progressives Congress, APC, in order to actualize his ambiton.

But on Thursday, Ekweremady issued a personal statement where he congratulated the winner of the PDP guber primary, Mr Peter Mbah.

He announced that he had quit the governorship race and that it was time to unite.

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The full statement below:

TIME TO UNITE

Ndi Enugu,

In the last two years, we set out to run for the governorship of Enugu State. Our mission was to change the narrative in the governance of our state and possibly inspire other states in the delivery of impressive governance. Our hope was that this would lead to a total recalibration of governance in Nigeria with Enugu State as a starting point and model.

Within the period, we set up a platform with a grassroots base. We named it Oganiru Ndi Enugu. It was duly registered. We received 77 support groups, which showed uncommon support to our mission.

To show our seriousness, we developed and presented our manifesto entitled “My Agenda for Enugu State: A Pathway to a New Enugu State”.

We were prepared to deliver good governance that would see to the prompt payment of salaries and retirement benefits to our senior citizens. We pledged to build not just roads, but also super highways that would connect our borders with other states and a ring road that would connect our local government areas.

We were set to deliver water and electricity to our cities and communities as well as impeccable environmental cleanliness.

We said that we would change the face of tourism with annual festival that would attract the world as well as institutions and facilities that would host conferences and events.

We promised new Special Cities that would deliver modern agriculture, healthcare, entertainment, ICT, automobile, and sports.

We were determined to provide jobs to our people to keep them from the temptation to commit crime and enhance their wellbeing as well as secure their future and the future of their children. Our solution was to build at least two industries in each of our local governments in four years. Our economy would have changed forever.