I owe my victory to Gov Obi – Obiano

The Anambra State governor-elect, Chief Willie Obiano, has said that he owed  his victory in the just-concluded election in the state  to the hard work of Governor Peter Obi.

Governor Obi literarily ramrodded him through the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) nomination and got him run on the plank of his performance.

This was not lost on Obiano who gushed with enthusiasm over the weekend, while acknowledging that the commitment of the outgoing governor in bringing about development in the state was largely instrumental to  his victory.

Obiano, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) at the polls, said this while reacting to his victory, which was announced by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in Awka on Sunday.

He said that Obi's 'good work actually led us to victory and I must commend him for his exemplary show of support.'

The governor-elect also commended the people of the state, the chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, other party stalwarts and the security agencies for commitment to their duties during the conduct of the election.

He also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for ensuring credible polls in the state and assured him of his unflinching support.

Meanwhile, President  Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated the governor-elect for  his victory following the conclusion by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the governorship elections in the state.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, noted that as Obiano prepares to assume office in March next year, Jonathan has urged him to dedicate himself to building on the laudable achievements of his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi.

It said the president also urged him to commit himself fully to the further socio-economic development of all parts of Anambra State and the protection of the interests of all citizens of the state irrespective of their party affiliation or political loyalty.

Jonathan also called on him to ensure that his incoming administration carried all stakeholders along in its bid to move Anambra forward and to promote greater peace, unity and harmony within the state.

The President  further assured Obiano that the Federal Government under his leadership would continue to work with the Anambra State government and all other state governments to achieve better living conditions for all Nigerians.

The statement added that having also noted complaints about the conduct of the governorship elections in Anambra State, the president called on all aggrieved persons to 'keep their bids for redress within the bounds of legality, decorum and acceptable political conduct in conformity with the principles of democracy and the rule of law.'

INEC declared Obiano the winner of the election following the completion of the supplementary election in the state held on Saturday in areas where it did not hold on November 16, 2013.

APGA celebrated with a  huge party at the riverside town of Aguleri, Anambra State, even as the camp of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Chris Ngige,  readys for a fight ahead.

APC had described the election of Willie Obiano as an imposition against the wishes of the Anambra people declaring, that the struggle to restore the right of the people to choose their leadership had just begun.

However, the National Chairman of APGA,  Chief Victor Umeh, thanked the people of Anambra State, Governor Peter Obi and particularly President Goodluck Jonathan, who he said, used their faith in democracy to ensure that the popular vote prevailed in the election that took more than two weeks to decide.

He dedicated the victory to the late Biafran leader, Chief Emeka Ojukwu, saying, 'the light which our late leader put on while he was alive is now shining gloriously with this victory.'

With the victory of APGA in Anambra State, Umeh said he was now well positioned to hand over the leadership of APGA to anther trusted hand.