Odili hails Nnamani's achievements, seeks blessing for presidency
OCTOBER 11, 2006

Speaking when he received his Rivers State counterpart, Dr. Peter Odili, at his Lodge, Governor Nnamani said they all shared the heritage of Dr. Azikiwe, Okpara, Akanu Ibiam and other founding fathers of the old Eastern Region who contributed immensely towards the building of Nigeria.

“We share a common heritage, the heritage of Azikiwe, Okpara, Akanu Ibiam, Eyo Ita, Imoke, Akpabio, the heritage of a vibrant people that have stood tall side by side with others in building the great nation state”, Governor Nnamani said.

He said further: “I see your visit today as a continuity of that quest, continuity of that dialogue, as an expression of man’s determination to achieve and soar.”

The governor, who wished his visitor well in his presidential aspiration, however pointed out that as members of one party, the PDP, with common value and ideals, he would continue to respect the party’s structure and abide by its guidelines and decisions in respect of future elections.

Governor Nnamani said: “We belong to a political collective, a political tendency within the PDP, a tendency that has become synonymous with the party structure… As far as that collective and that tendency continue to emerge and emerge successfully, God will continue to guide us so that our journey shall continue to remain a true symbol, a veritable symbol of our men and women that God has given the opportunity to successfully see a true transition and anchor a leadership that will signal generation to generation, region to region, zone to zone.”

Earlier in his speech, Governor Odili described his host as a pacesetter who had successfully delivered democracy dividends to his people through exemplary and focused leadership.

According to Governor Odili, “Governor Nnamani is a man who has successfully married professionalism and intellectualism with fundamental politics, mobilizing the people, giving them focus and direction and delivering the dividends of democracy to the state.”

He commended Governor Nnamani for his dynamism and commitment to the common good and to the government of the President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the ongoing reform process as well as the promotion of sustainable development in Enugu State.

“Your dynamism, your commitment to the common good, your commitment to the government of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, your support for the reform process and your promotion of durable and lasting and sustainable development for your people in Enugu are commendable” Dr. Odili said. He also said, “The fate of a people is a function of the quality of leadership they have. You have provided it in Enugu State”.

He Governor Nnamani that he was in Enugu to pay his respect and to further reaffirm the Enugu Declaration of Monday December 19, 2005 that the next President of this country come 2007 must come from the South-east or South-South geopolitical zones.

Governor Odili, who used the occasion to disclose his intention to run for the post of President in the 2007 presidential election, said that he was also in Enugu to meet with the party delegates from the state and solicit their support during their convention this December.

According to him “we have come to let our brothers who are delegates to the national convention to have the opportunity for interaction with us so that as we graduate towards December 16, uniform decisions and opinions can be formed…”

He also solicited Governor Nnamani’s support for his political ambition.