By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)
The governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in the Saturday, November 6 election, Chief Ben Etiaba (Ifennia Nnewi), has warned the electorates of Anambra state to be cautious of the activities of money bag politicians ahead of the poll. Etiaba gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, August 16, 2021, in Awka, the Anambra State capital. He said that the major problem adversely affecting the welfare, development, and security of Nigerians today is firmly rooted in money politics.
"Before now most Nigeria politicians approach elections with buying and selling mentality", he said.
Before crossing over to the Action Alliance (AA) party, Etiaba was a governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but left as a result of the issues that arose after the June 26 gubernatorial primary of the party.
"I left APC for AA to make sure that I achieve my major purpose of vying for the November 6 governorship election in the state. One key thing I intend to do is to campaign to our people without giving money, rice, salt, and other material things to them. I know that some other guber contestants are doing all of that, but I feel that is the bane of Nigeria society vis-a-vis governance and should stop", he said.
Etiaba, the first son of Dame Virgy Etiaba, Nigeria's first female governor, challenged Anambra voters to shun politicians offering them money and gifts to set the agenda for other states ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Flanked by Mrs. Regina Uchebo, his running mate for the election, Etiaba said Anambra people should treat politicians who visit them with gifts as Ghanian youths did to their politicians in a recent viral video.
"In that video, we saw youths in Ghana rejecting bags of rice and other items brought by their politicians, I feel that is the way to go if we must make progress in Nigeria. I expect Anambra to blaze this political trail to redefine politics and governance in Nigeria", he said.
Etiaba said he would campaign in all the 21 Local Government Areas of the state. "I am the only candidate moving without excess money to throw about in the course of this election. I do not even have a police escort because I cannot afford it and have trusted both my ambition and security in God's hands", Etiaba said.
He urged people of voting age, community, and religious leaders in the state to help in the campaign for the re-orientation of the people on the dangers of money politics. NNL.
