An intelligentsia group comprising over 200 Professors, going by the name of Anambra Consultative Forum, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), has thrown its weight in support of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, the former Governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi.
A press statement made available to newsmen signed by the trio of Prof. E. O. Ezeani, Prof. F. O. Orabueze, and Prof. P. U. Okpoko, President, Secretary and Co-convener respectively, states that Obi’s vice presidential candidacy is the best for the country at a time like this.
They said that having dissected the problems of the country, they found the choice of Obi as apposite. While granting dissenting voices the right to their opinions, they said in other climes, people like Obi would have been begged by search parties to come out and salvage the country.
Justifying their position, they said: “What should be uppermost in our minds now is how to salvage this ailing economy and save Nigeria from total collapse. This demands for a personality with proven competence, remarkable legacies, zeal, pedigree, unwavering commitment and strong desire to serve, which Mr. Peter Obi has in abundance. He is not an idealist, but a pragmatist. He does not only do the talk; he also walks the talk. He also has imposing credentials, borne out of many years of personal development and diligence, to his credit.
“His legacies in Anambra State as former Governor speak volume about his personality. Using an integrated development model and United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Mr. Peter Obi transformed the state tremendously, making it the number one state in the federation in all spheres.”
Recalling Obi’s glorious days in Anambra, the group went on: “He developed a plan of action, eliminated all areas of waste, paid salaries and pension allowances expeditiously, moved the school system to an enviable height, revitalised and upgraded mission hospitals to cutting-edge ones, built roads in all nooks and crannies of the state, improved agricultural production, invested in progressive corporate businesses, incurred no debts and above all, saved a huge chunk of money in local and international currencies, which he handed over to his successor.
“In actual fact, Anambra State under his watch was rated one of the best economies in Africa, in terms of the development indices and income per capita. Anambra State has the best road networks in the country as at today. This explains why the state did not experience any hardship, but paid salaries regularly and met their other financial obligations when Nigeria was in recession, and when many state governors went cap in hand to the federal government for bail out.”
Insisting that the choice of Obi means eliminating leakages and wastes, nipping of corruption in the bud, creation of jobs, provision of infrastructure, among other benefits, the group called on the Igbo nation and Nigeria at large to rally round him and support his choice.
The statement concluded: “ACF is a non-partisan association of Professors of Anambra extraction who work in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. It is a professional body whose intent is to interact and promote development, initiate policy changes through research, advice and consultancy and partner with government and people of Anambra (within Nigeria and in diaspora) to move Anambra State to an enviable level.”