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Anambra markets close as Kalu storms Onitsha today

Posted by By GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka on 2007/03/14 | Views: 586 |

Anambra markets close as Kalu storms Onitsha today


All roads lead to Onitsha, Anambra State today as the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) standard bearer, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, flags off his presidential campaign in the South East geo-political zone in the city.

All roads lead to Onitsha, Anambra State today as the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) standard bearer, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, flags off his presidential campaign in the South East geo-political zone in the city.

The rally, which is slated for the famous Holy Trinity Field, Onitsha, would witness the congregation of PPA members and candidates from the five states of the South East and supporters of Kalu all over the nation.

Already, leaders of the various markets in Anambra State, especially those in Onitsha, have directed the closure of all the markets today to honour Kalu, their colleague and mentor.

Speaking to Daily Sun on Tuesday, on the preparedness of the party in the state to host the rally, Chairman of PPA in Anambra State, Chief Kanayochukwu Obidigbo, said Nigerians would witness the daddy of all rallies. He gave an assurance that all were set to ensure a successful rally.

He said the wisdom of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other groups in endorsing Kalu, who is known as the new face of Nigeria, as the Igbo candidate, would play out on the occasion.

On arrival in the state, he said, Kalu and his entourage would pay a courtesy visit to the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe and the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha and then move to the rally ground.
Obidigbo also said that the PPA standard bearer would, at the rally, handover the party's flag to all the governorship candidates of the party in the five states of the zone.

He said: "Tomorrow (Wednesday) is going to be one of those days that Igbo converge on Onitsha to claim the Igbo agenda in Nigeria. I believe that when World Igbo Congress and Ohanaeze Ndigbo sat down and brainstormed and came out that Orji Uzor Kalu should represent and be the symbol of Igbo nation in Nigerian politics, they meant it and tomorrow (Wednesday) we are going to actualize it here in the East of the Niger.

"We have been to Jalingo, Taraba State. We were in Jos and we were in Lagos and the crowd spoke for themselves. The AIT is going to carry it live and I can assure you that this rally is going to be the mother of all rallies because this is the first time Orji Kalu is flagging off his campaign in the East.

"Anambra is one of his primary constituencies because he is our in-law. We have mobilized from school to school. All the markets are going to be closed and it is going to be unprecedented," he said.
On the clearance given Kalu by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the April polls, the state chairman said it did not come as a surprise as "Kalu has been a disciple of generational change in Nigeria."

Also speaking to Daily Sun on Tuesday, a trader at the Main Market, Onitsha, who gave his name as Ike Obi, said the entire market would be closed for Orji because, "he has always been with us. He has always identified with our problems and has even been having prayer sessions with us here. Mind you, he is also the only Igbo presidential candidate and we will give him all our support."

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