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Governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State has advised the
presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2007 general elections, Alhaji
Umar’ Yaradua,
to ensure continuity in the implementation of the reform programmes of
the Obasanjo
administration, if voted into office.
Speaking when he received the presidential flag bearer at the Enugu Government
Lodge at the weekend, Governor Nnamani specifically mentioned the expansion
in the telecommunication and tourism industry, vibrant foreign policy and
banking consolidation, among others.
According to Governor Nnamani, “By the grace of God, you will form
government in June and continue where President Obasanjo had brought Nigeria
so far in the process of reform, with expansion in telecom, tourism, banking
consolidation and vibrant foreign policy …”
Governor Nnamani explained that the PDP Presidential ticket given to
Governor Yar’adua of Katsina State was a collegiate one, which
requires the collective responsibility of all the collegiates to deliver
the ticket.
In his words, “ As you said, from the beginning, this ticket is a collegiate
ticket, it evolved collegiately and behooves on us a collegiate responsibility
to make sure that the ticket is delivered”, he said.
He used the occasion to congratulate Gov. Yar’adua for picking
on their behalf the ticket and promised to continue to support him and
the
PDP and
prayed God to give him the strength wisdom and courage to deliver.
The Governor further said, “ For us in Enugu State , we shall provide
whatever we can, to the best of our ability, to make sure we all succeed”.
Earlier in his speech, Gov. Yar’adua had told his host that he was
in Enugu to pay his respect and express his profound gratitude to Gov. Nnamani,
the leadership of PDP in the State as well as members of the State Executive
Council for their support during the party’s national convention.
According to him, “ Frankly, I find it very difficult to get adequate
words in the English Dictionary to describe my gratitude to you, members
of your cabinet, our leaders in the party and members of the PDP for doing
this great honour of making me the flag bearer of our great party for the
2007 presidential election”.
The PDP presidential flag bearer described the ticket as an honour which
he had accepted and promised to uphold it to the pride of his colleagues,
the leadership of the party and the people.
In his words, “I had the courage to accept this honour because I know
that people like you will stand by me and support me and together as a collective,
put in our collective efforts, if given the mandate to run this country,
we will achieve great things for our people”, he said.
Governor Yar’adua, who described Governor Nnamani as a brother,
friend, confidant, true nationalist and dedicated leader thanked him
for his invaluable
support, adding that he will forever remain obligated to him.
According to him, “During preparations for the convention, I had been
planning to come to Enugu …but Governor Nnamani called me and said, ‘do
not worry, go to other places, for us in Enugu , we shall deliver the votes
to you’, and precisely, that was what you did. For this, I will
never forget you in my life. Let me declare publicly that I am indebted
to you,
I am obligated to you and will remain so.”
He said that if given the mandate, his government would work out programmes
that would lift Nigeria from the state of under- development to a developed
nation in the world.
Gov. Yar’adua said that his administration would provide a framework
for the nation to develop industrially and the enabling environment for
Nigerians to develop their potentials to be able to contribute to the
nation, the African
continent and humanity in general.
The PDP presidential flagbearer said, “… we can collectively
provide the necessary framework for the nation to make the limp, develop
industrially and ensure that our people are able to break away from the shackles
of poverty to become prosperous, with an established peace, prosperity in
the nation and with equal opportunity for everybody,” he said.
“
Your Excellency, sir, let me assure you that you that for me as a colleague
of yours, you have chosen me so that we can all together as a team and collectively
provide the necessary leadership required for the country to move on,” Governor
Yar’adua said.
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