‘I need no manifesto to lead Enugu to glory’ — LP guber candidate boasts

Chijioke Edeoga, governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Enugu, says he is more experienced than Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the party.

Speaking during a radio programme on Energy FM in Enugu, Edeoga said he joined public service in the country long before Obi.

The candidate said he rose to prominence in 1992 when he served as chief press secretary to Okwesilieze Nwodo, a former governor of the state, and was elected council chairman in 1997.

“Peter Obi had not entered public service in 1997. I have been in public service since 1992 on a continuous basis. I was chief press secretary. By 1997, I was elected council chairman. I was elected on my own strength. I went to the house of representatives in 1999,” Edeoga said.

“I am not trying to take away anything from Peter Obi, but was Peter Obi in PDP when I became the person to beat?”

Speaking in another radio programme with Urban FM in Enugu, Edeoga said a good leader doesn’t necessarily need a manifesto to know what is good for his people.

He said those attacking him for not presenting a manifesto to show his blueprint for the state did not understand governance, noting that he did not need any statement of purpose to lead the state to glory.

The LP candidate said he was confident of winning the election despite not presenting a manifesto.

“It is not going to affect my chances. Those people who are nipping those things are looking for excuses because they know it doesn’t matter,” Edeoga said.

“And those who are presenting the manifesto, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, which one (manifesto) did he follow? Who in Enugu state has said, okay, why did you say you are going to do this and who has benchmarked him?

“Even you, who is asking about the manifesto, have you asked Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi what did he do or what did he promise on education, what did you do, why not?

“So, this tendency, when somebody does a thing, everybody follows doesn’t help. The critical thing is, the things he (a candidate) even said, are they original?

“In serious climes, what they do is to ask questions to those people who presented those things and you will see that most times, it didn’t come from them; it is not original. That’s the point.”