By Vincent Ujumadu
AWKA — The Anambra South Senatorial candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, in the 2027 election, Chief Ebuka Onunkwo, has said he will not insult or respond to any comment made about him by Governor Chukwuma Soludo because the governor is his senior in age.
Onunkwo was reacting to alleged remarks by Soludo during a recent visit to Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the state, where the governor commissioned a road project.
Soludo was quoted as advising Onunkwo to concentrate on his business and not venture into politics.
But speaking to his supporters during a visit to Nanka, Orumba North Local Government Area, at the weekend, Onunkwo described the comment as a commendation rather than an insult.
He said he was proud to be a factory owner and industrialist, adding that his decision to contest for the Senate was driven by his desire to attract more development and dividends of democracy to Anambra South.
Onunkwo said: “Actually, the governor came to commission a road in my local government where he allegedly made the said comment. When the local government embarked on that road project, I gave a loan of N170 million to ensure its completion.
“As for who will be the next senator for Anambra South, it is the people that will decide. I think the governor’s comment about the need for someone to face his factory is a commendation.
“I thank God that I own a factory that employs the people of Anambra State, which makes me an industrialist. So, if the governor says that I am a factory owner, it shows that he knows my capacity.”
The NDC candidate said he remained on good terms with Soludo despite their political differences.
“I am in good terms with the governor and the only difference is that we belong to different political parties,” he said.
Onunkwo recalled that Soludo had previously entrusted him with political responsibilities, including serving as the coordinator of his campaign council in Ekwusigo Local Government Area during his second-term campaign.
“Let me inform you that the governor likes me because if he doesn’t like me, he would not have made me the coordinator of his campaign council in Ekwusigo Local Government Area before his second tenure election.
“If he doesn’t like me, he would not have made me Emma Nwachukwu’s campaign coordinator during the last by-election. I believe that he is saying all these things because he belongs to APGA and I belong to NDC,” he said.
Onunkwo, however, expressed confidence in his chances in the senatorial contest, describing himself as a popular candidate in Anambra South.
“Everybody knows that I am very popular in Anambra South and I am not afraid of the forthcoming election,” he said.
He described Soludo as his elder brother and said their political differences would not make him engage in a verbal confrontation with the governor.
“I cannot insult the governor. I can never reply to anything he says about me because he is my senior in age. Even if he curses me, I can never return the curse.
“I worked for him in the past when he was contesting for his second tenure. Besides, I am contesting for the Senate and the governor is not on the ballot with me. I know that his party has a candidate and we will meet in the field,” Onunkwo said.
Explaining his decision to contest the Senate seat, Onunkwo said his years as an industrialist and philanthropist had exposed him to the needs of the people and motivated him to seek a broader platform to contribute to the development of the senatorial district.
He said he intended to use the position, if elected, to extend his development initiatives across the seven local government areas that make up Anambra South.
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