Ex-SSG declares ambition to run for Anambra Gov

Obaze, who served as the secretary to the state government between 2012 and 2015, announced this in a statement in Awka on Sunday.

Obaze hails from Anambra North Senatorial District as Gov. Willie Obiano.

Obaze, a retired diplomat, said he was not comfortable with the quality of governance in the state.

“I am interested in the 2017 governorship race in Anambra. A group of aspirants from different political parties including myself campaigned assiduously and collectively in 2013 to bring the governorship ticket to Anambra North.

“We funded the Let’s go North Campaign and rallied support for the eventual candidate from Anambra North.

“It was supported by former Gov. , All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), members and traditional rulers.

“Anambra is not where it is supposed to be in Nigerian scheme of events, comparatively, the state is still lifting below its weight and potentials.

“Anambra North having secured that mandate must be allowed to complete its two terms.

“But if completing the full tenure is at risk, as many now believe it is, there can be no conscientious objectors to rejoining the fray in order to salvage that Northern mandate and uplift Anambra”, he said.

He promised to bring his 35 years experience at the United Nations and hindsight of having served the state government for four years as secretary to bear in bringing quality governance to the people if elected.

“Hitherto, Anambra had been set on a solid foundation and trajectory to leapfrog ahead of every other Nigerian State, with Lagos perhaps being the only exception.

“We are not there yet, the state had been hijacked and it is presumptuous to believe that we will leapfrog, if we continue on the present course.

“Anambra politics is snappish, but such views are pervasive in the Anambra market places, tricycles, buses, pepper soup joints and indeed the grassroots.

“Those managing Anambra’s image in the media continue to sell the public a dummy, governance via media hype”, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that Obaze was a governorship aspirant in the 2013 election in Anambra but did not secure the ticket of APGA.