The former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mr Okechuku Itanyi, said on Sunday that he stepped down for Rep. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for governorship because he enjoyed support of majority of PDP members in Enugu state.
Itanyi disclosed this while presenting N20,000 bursary award each to 100 indigent students from Ukehe community at St Peter’s Catholic Church, Ukehe in Igboetiti Local Government Area of Enugu state.
He said: “Ugwuanyi is eminently qualified to be the governor of Enugu State come 2015, any aspirant who feels otherwise should test his popularity with Ugwuanyi during the PDP governorship primary.
“Since he is the one that enjoys maximum support of party stakeholders, I have no option than to step down for him but he is my brother from Nsukka senatorial zone.
“I will give him all necessary support both in PDP primary and election proper to enable him to become the next governor in the state,’’ he said.
He described the allegation in some quarters that Gov. Sullivan Chime forced Ugwuanyi on the party as untrue, noting that his selection was the outcome of series of meetings and consultations between party stakeholders and the governor.
“You can approach internal democracy form different perspectives, either you go and vote for the candidate of your choice or you as stakeholders sit down and agree on a candidate.
“Ugwuanyi was not imposed on PDP members in the state but the choice of party faithful for 2015 governorship election, all the aspirants were present the day he was selected,’’ Itanyi said.
On the bursary award, he said the N20,000 he gave to each of the 100 indigent students of Ukehe was to assist them since education remained the key to power and wealth in the 21st century.
“My interest is to assist indigent students who cannot afford school fees.
“I hope they will reciprocate this gesture by studying hard so as to graduate with good results.
“I urge them to focus on their studies so that when they graduate they will be able to get good jobs to enable them to train their little ones as well as assist others,’’ he said.
Some of the recipients in their remark pledged to study hard to make good results as well as prayed God to reward Itanyi for coming to their rescue.
One of the recipients, Micheal Ani, a law student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, thanked the donor for his kind gesture and enjoined other wealthy people to emulate Itanyi.
“My prayer is that God will bless and reward the donor for coming to our rescue,’’ he said.
Earlier, the President, Ukehe Catholic Woman Organisation (CWO), Prof. Lizzy Ngwu, thanked God for using Itanyi to assist indigent students in the area in their education pursuit.
“CWO in the area is happy that indigent students in the area today received assistance from former deputy governor to continue their education.
“Without this assistance today some of them would have become school drop-outs,’’ she said.
Ngwu said the occasion was facilitated by CWO in the area and expressed appreciation to Itanyi for listening to the appeal of CWO toward assisting indigent students.
She urged other wealthy individuals in the area to emulate the former deputy governor. (NAN)
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