By Vincent Ujumadu

A chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, and the party’s governorship aspirant in the last election in Anambra State, Dr. Paul Orajaka has dumped the party and joined the Labour Party, LP.

Orajaka, an American-based businessman from Azia in Ihiala local government area, said in Awka that he was attracted to LP by the virtues of its presidential candidate in the February 25, 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, stating that he would contest next year’s Anambra governorship election on the platform of LP.

Describing Obi as a symbol of value, integrity, morals, and decency, Orajaka said he actually left APC and joined LP to identify with such good traits that the former Anambra State governor symbolizes.

He added: “What he (Obi) did in his eight years of administration in Anambra is still a benchmark for good governance in the country.

“I decided to move to the Labour Party because of the presence of Mr Peter Obi in the party. LP is a platform that has a sense of purpose and more desire for genuine change.

“It’s a movement that is trying to bring out the best of Nigerians to run for elective offices so that when we have a critical mass of good people, we can change the system.

“My philosophy is that if a system isn’t working, you move to another system that works and propels you to achieve your desire to engineer positive change in society.

“I didn’t want to be tied in any way to anything that has to do with a regional arrangement. That is why I didn’t choose APGA. Then, the other parties have so much similarity with what I experienced in APC.

“LP is peoples’ movement that has revived the consciousness of the masses that together, we can do better and dislodge the old order.”

On his experience as a former governorship aspirant, Orajiaka said that he learnt to his chagrin that political structure and not the rich manifesto determines the fate of aspirants.

“One of the lessons I learnt from running for elective office is that you may be passionate about serving, but the political structures in place has a way of determining your fate.

“You can have all the zeal, but when the people at the top of the party hierarchy step in, you will find out that your whole efforts and desire come to naught.

“So, it is not just about one having the will, but about one being able to fight a system that is perpetually wanting to keep the best of the candidates out of the race,” he added.

According to him, partisan politics should go beyond the depth of candidate’s pocket, but knowledge and what the candidate can bring on board, lamenting that what is playing out today in Nigeria is money politics.

“We should be able to bring the candidates before the party members and ask them to choose among them, the best candidates. I think on the national and state level, there’s been too much money influence in the system.

“Not even when I was running for the governor of Anambra State under the APC, I always told them that in as much as I have a desire to become the governor, I would never allow my ambition to becloud the party’s victory.

“The problem I had with APC was because I felt cheated. I felt the right thing had not been done. If the APC had conducted a free and fair primary and I failed to clinch the ticket, I would never have left the party.  I am in LP now and I desire to work for the success of the party,” Mr Orajiaka stressed.

He said that he would be happy if he picks the LP’s ticket to run for Anambra State governorship come 2025, but promised to support whoever emerges under free and fair party primaries.

“The structure we built back then is still in place. We are still meeting regularly and strategizing for the next election circle. Unlike others, our flag bearer has remained active in the political scene. Mr Peter Obi has continued to move around, engaging and consulting people.

“The reactions we got during our engagements were a clear manifestation that Nigerians are still yearning for good governance. We will not lose faith because we are sure that salvation will come one day,” he pointed out.”

Orajaka also said that he is not impressed with the performance of Governor Chukwuma Soludo after two years in office, adding that Anambra people expected more from him based on his pedigree as a former CBN governor.

“What we are getting from him after two years in office, is more talk and less action.

“Governance goes beyond those pedigrees or the CV he’s brandishing. There is more to it. The practicability of what we are seeing on ground does not attest to or match those titles. From what we have seen, Anambra indigenes deserve more than they are currently getting,” the LP governorship aspirant declared.

He pledged to run a responsive and responsible administration that Anambra people would be proud of, if he becomes the governor of the state.