Ngige joins the race for Aso Rock saying he will re-engineer Nigeria the way he did Anambra

LABOUR and employment minister Senator Chris Ngige has joined the race to become Nigeria's next president throwing his hat into the ring as one of the aspirants seeking the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket.

Next years, Nigeria goes to the polls and will among other things elect a new president in what is already becoming a heated contest. Heavyweight contestants have already emerged from within the APC and from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and both parties are expected to have gruelling primaries.

According to Senator Ngige, he had been consulting stakeholders in the party as well as stalwarts of opposition political parties and is now due to formally announce his candidature tomorrow. He added that his standpoint was informed by his belief that his candidacy has a cross-party appeal.

Senator Ngige said: “I visited the Enugu State governor as part of my nationwide consultation. Even though he is in PDP, he is an Igbo man and he is a very realistic, discerning person.

"Don’t forget also that Enugu is the capital of the former Eastern Region and you know that respect is reciprocal. Over the week, I also consulted some other Nigerians not allied to any political party.

"Therefore, I had to consult the Enugu State governor over my intention to contest and to seek his views too and he told me to kick the ball into the net. So this journey is not for APC members alone, as our brothers in the PDP are easily agreed that I tower above some of the persons aspiring to the position in their party.

“I have no fear whatsoever and I am equal to the task. Even our brothers in the All Progressives Grand Alliance will join us in the task ahead,"

He added that his antecedents, stewardship as a civil servant, governor, senator and minister stood him apart. Senator Ngige stressed that he had the advantage of being part of this government and part of the seventh senate.

“What we did in Anambra in 34 months, those who did eight years have not done them. I did 34 months during which I laid the foundation for the new Anambra. I didn’t just lay the foundation, I also took the house beyond the lintel level.

“I built schools, returned schools to the missions, rescued Odumegwu Ojukwu University from the status of a glorified secondary school, built structures there and secured accreditation for 15 courses including law and medicine. I rehabilitated and upgraded our general hospitals, including Enugwu-Ukwu, Onitsha and Amaku in Awka and restructured the state’s civil service and also introduced examinations as a basis for promotion.

“I built more than 500km of roads across all senatorial zones that are still standing today. I also inherited N42bn debts when I assumed office. I didn’t talk about it. I put my hands on the plough and started working and cleared arrears of pensions and salaries, among others," Senator Ngige said.

He added: “I’m well equipped for the job. I plan to re-engineer Nigeria the way I re-engineered Anambra and April 19 is the date. Let all roads lead to Alor where the matter will be laid to rest."