MR. Arinze Igboeli, a commentator on national issues, is a staunch supporter of Dr. Chris Ngige. In a democratic nation, there are different political parties, and we have the right to join any political party whose philosophy is the same as ours. That might have informed Igboeli's support for Ngige.Unfortunately, in his desperate attempt to burnish the image of his principal, he told lies against the person of Professor Dora Akunyili, the APGA candidate, in the April 2011 Anambra central senatorial election. Both Akunyili and Ngige contested the April 2011 Anambra Central Senatorial election, and Ngige was declared the winner. The case is now at the Election Tribunal in Awka. Defending Akunyili based on her achievements and contributions to the socio ' economic cum political development of Nigeria has become an invidious task for me. In his article which was published in Umuanambra@yahoogroups.com, he dished out falsehoods to unsuspecting public in his efforts to denigrate me and Akunyili.He said that my article lacked finesse, and that it's dour. To that, I will ask him this pertinent question: If my article was so bad, as he said, why did Thisday, a reputable newspaper, publish it'Igboeli said that I preferred Akunyili to Ngige based on Akunyili's stylish headgear and toothy smile. Is this assertion not ridiculous and inane' I pitched my tent with Akunyili because of the leadership qualities and other sterling qualities she possesses. Her personal qualities endeared me and millions of other Anambrarians to her.Akunyili is known to be honest. She demonstrated this when she returned money meant for her oversea treatment to government when she was diagnosed as not having the health condition anymore. Again, Akunyili is outspoken and patriotic. She displayed her candour and patriotism when she sent Memo to FEC asking them to do the right thing regarding the incapacitated President Umaru Musa Yar' Adua. As a fearless woman, Akunyili drove out fake drug manufacturers out of Onitsha at a great risk to her life. In addition, she has leadership qualities that swayed me to her.Again, Igboeli took offence at my calling Akunyili the political matriarch of Anambra. He believes that Akunyili's shutting down of the Onitsha drug market has made her undeserving of such appellation. Only people with homicidal tendencies will criticise her for fighting fake drug manufacturers. But for her timely closure of the market when she was NAFDAC Director-General, millions of Nigerians would have died from ingesting injurious and death-inducing health substances.So, as an Anambra born politician and based on her achievements, she merited to be called the political matriarch of Anambra. Daily, her reputation as a politician and administrator is increasing. The awards that are being bestowed on her testify to this. During electioneering, she visited many towns in the state and people trooped out to see her and show solidarity. So, is she not the political matriarch of Anambra State' Placed side by side with Ngige, his rival in the disputed Anambra Central Senatorial election, Ngige cannot hold a candle to her. The removal of Ngige from office as the governor led to his demystification. So, in order to achieve his political ambition, he resorted to rigging as his removal from the position of a governor caused his political demystification. But, Igboeli has refused to believe this. Did he not lose the 2010 governorship election to Mr. Peter Obi' Till now, no court has nullified Obi's victory.' Again, Igboeli, a hack-writer, accused Akunyili of not bringing development to Anambra, her home state, during her occupation of high offices. What Akunyili did for us is in the public domain. When she held high positions as the NAFDAC Director-General and PTDF Zonal Secretary-in-charge of South-East, she offered jobs to people, including Anambra indigenes. She facilitated the acquisition of skills at trade-centres by our youths. She sank borehole in Agulu for her husband's people. Only biased people like Igboeli have turned a blind eye to Akunyili's humanitarian and philanthropic acts.Igboeli alleged that Akunyili deployed political thugs to brow-beat NYSC corps members and INEC officials into rigging the Anambra Central Senatorial election in her favour. If this is true, then why is Ngige trying to put a stop to the trial of the Akunyili ' Ngige electoral case via technicalities'It is said that a sinking man will clutch at a straw. This is what Ngige and his pack of hack writers are doing.Akunyili started her regal march to the National Assembly when the Appeal Court in Enugu ordered that the case be heard.'Okoye wrote in from Uruowulu ' Obosi, Anambra State.
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