Professor Barth Nnaji, a former Nigeria’s minister of power has joined the Enugu State gubernatorial race.
Nnaji disclosed this on Sunday when he received members of the New Enugu Coalition for Good Governance.
The Coalition was in his country home to present the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, nomination and expression of interest form to him.
Nnaji declared that he had accepted the call to serve the good people of the State, stressing that he would not reject the challenge thrown to him.
He, however, said Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi would ultimately decide his successor.
“It is difficult for someone to be presented with this challenge to come and serve the people and the person says no, particularly when the people had gone to get the instrument for the race. I hereby accept,” he said.
“If I come and don’t add any value, you wont be happy. But I want to tell you that all I do is to add value wherever I find myself.
“I want to use Integrated Power Project as an example, we did it in Abuja and people said why not come and do it in Aba. Geometric Power, we went to Aba; in 2004, we started the journey and people were laughing at us, who has ever built such, let alone distribution, that’s what they were saying.
“But we told Government to allow us, build and distribute. After so many years, there were issues but thank God Government eventually resolved it and we are here now.”
He stressed that there was the need to advance the course of governance in Enugu State.
“We don’t have a lot of private sector jobs, no industry, we need to attract investors to create jobs; with employment, crime will reduce
“Let us ensure that we are able to advance. The Governor has enabled us to live in peace, without which there can be no development”.
On how Ugwuanyi’s successor would emerge, Nnaji said, “it is our Governor that will decide who will go. Hopefully, the Governor will support us in this journey.
“The leaders of Enugu State agreed on zoning and by that, it is the turn of Enugu East Senatorial zone. We in Nkanu East said let us organize ourselves; based on that, we have visited prominent people in Enugu and they all agreed that if the Governor endorses someone from Nkanu East, they will give their support. I had no interest when we were doing all of that.”
Mr. Ekene Uzodinma, leader of the Coalition said their choice of Nnaji was not about zoning but competence.
“This is not about zoning, if you are from Enugu North, we will still support you, if you are from Enugu West, we will still support you.
“So, you are not just coming out because you are from Enugu East, but you are the most qualified.
“Let all the candidates come out, let’s look at their pedigree, let’s look at who they really are,” he stated.
