APC campaign strategy and Dr. Ngige’s matchless profiles By Polycarp Onwubiko

It is exhilarating that the election campaign by some political aspirants in Anambra state has not only been issue-based but focused on raising the standard of living of the people to a higher level.

The contestants have tried as much as possible to shift from the previous style of trading abuses and creating bad blood, to a template that has enabled the masses to assess the candidates objectively irrespective of party affiliation. Indeed, the masses have been able to know to some extent the workings of government and the way the elected office holders have been striving to meet their yearnings and aspirations since the essence of government is to address the overall weal and welfare of the people.

It is against this background that the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate for the Anambra central senatorial district, Senator Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, OON (Onwa) has been inundated with groundswell of popular approbation in hi election campaign in all the communities in the central senatorial zone. He was elected a senator in   2011 in spite of an unprecedented animosity, antagonist posturing and awesome force of the APGA controlled government in Anambra State which had unconscionably squandered incredible amount of public fund to deny him the votes of the people who loved him beyond words. Due to the godly nature of the Dr. Chris Ngige which made him to fight and erated in Anambra State from the claims of the political fathers and political merchants who had bravely manipulated the public funds of the state since its creation in 1992, he represented all of Anambra State well in the Senate with Competence and consummate dedication. He was responsible for all the Millennium development Goals (MDGs) and constituency projects for Anambra North, Anambra South and Anambra Central Senatorial districts, the first tune such collective representation was ever done in Anambra State.

In his campaign appeal for re-election to the 8^th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria  DR. Chris Ngige has justified his bid for second missionary journey as it were to the immeasurable gift of a plethora of Constituency  projects in all the communities in the central senatorial districts namely electricity transformer sub-stations-educational scholarships water supply through bore hole powered by solar energy classroom blocks , bus shatters health facilities, shall acquisition and empowerment projects. In addition to striving to meet the deep yearning and aspirants of the Central Senatorial in Anambra State he is acknowledgement and acclaimed for his robust initiation of sound bills, motions to debates in critical issues on the floor of the house and topical issues on the floor of the hallowed chambers of the Senate His sound education as medical specialist and social engineering are of immense benefits to the duties of a legislator namely:  oversight function committee work  and legislative work where bills, motions and  to money land  that govern the country are made. In fact, he makes Anambra couple around quite unlike some of this colleagues in the entire national assembly.

During the campaign tour, the striking feature in all the communities is the uninformed group of students who are the beneficiaries of Ngige Scholarship foundation. He Starter the pet project by paying half of the tuition fees for all the students in the two secondary schools in his home town, Alor, Idemmili south local government area. The tumultuous welcome, groundswell approbation and frenzied activities that trail his election campaign dwarfed his rivals in the central senatorial district. The people demonstrate their appreciation of his high profile contributions to the socio-economic growth and development of the central senatorial district even as a governor for only 32 months; wherein he left a worthy legacy upon which his successors in office have built upon in order to uplift the overall wellbeing of Ndi Anambra.

        As a dedicated law maker with passion and matchless patriotism, Dr. Chris Ngige has discharged his legislative duties and facilitated so much developmental projects such that Anambra central senatorial zone has apparently remained an envy of the other senatorial zones. It is unbelievable that the distinguished, amiable and populist-oriented senator would strive to attract the following constituency projects for his senatorial zone viz: power projects – 151 No. 500KVA and 42 No. 300KVA Transformers distributed to all the 109 wards in the 57 communities in the zone; educational projects – at least 10 No. 3 – classroom blocks in various primary and secondary schools; dormitory blocks and skill acquisition centres; health projects – 8 No. primary health-care centres with medical equipments and diagnostic facilities located in various communities; urban development projects – solar lighting in virtually all the towns and cities of the zone; as well as 15 sheltered bus-stops.

In addition to the above-named infrastructural facilities, he assisted several youths to secure employment in many Federal agencies; assisted others to enhance their employability by securing for them training opportunities like those in the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria and ITF; etc. Besides, he empowered both the under-employed and unemployed in various other ways. Dr. Chris Ngige passionately believes that education is a key to all-round and sustainable growth development and should be accessed by both the children of the rich and the poor folks. To actualize the dream, the Nigige Scholarship Foundation which ballooned in 2004 to cater for 3,200 beneficiaries across the 57 communities – secondary and tertiary institutions, necessitated the second stage of the for 2015 to accommodate more qualified candidates especially those whose parents felt that the 2014 scholarship was a political gimmick as canvassed by the politically biased presidents-general of town unions and detractors. In terms of legislative vibrancy, the Senator sponsored 11 bills and 30 motions and secured in these 44 months, the most prominent bills on homosexuality prohibition bill (Nigeria health bill 2014), robbery and firearms (special provisions) LFN amendment bill.

The reality on ground is that the people of the central senatorial zone have demonstrated their preparedness to re-elect Senator Dr. Chris Ngige to return to the senate to continue to deploy his high profile creative and sound intellectual resourcefulness in modifying various archaic laws and formulate civilized laws that will fundamentally revolutionize their lives and enhance more inclusive constituency projects for the people. Due to his high profile and analytical mindset, he understands very well the politics of the Nigeria Legislature and will on this score strive to represent the people appropriately and productively too. The fact remains that when he goes back by God’s grace, he will become a ‘ranking senator’ as it were, and will be given principal positions even the exalted position of senate president since the Nigerian masses have displayed proven signs to elect General Muhammadu Buhari as the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Mr Onwubiko is an author and public affairs analyst, Awka Anambra state.