Lady Alexandra Onyemelukwe, daughter of former Vice President Alex Ekwueme has joined the race for the Nov. 6 Anambra governorship election, under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.
Onyemelukwe spoke with newsmen shortly after submitting her nomination and expression of interest forms at the PDP National Secretariat on Thursday in Abuja.
She said she was optimistic of picking the party’s ticket for the election.
“ Yes, new things are happening and the world is changing. Women are coming up in different places.
“Anambra already has two women senators, which has never happened elsewhere in Nigeria.
“In Anambra, we the women are special and innovative and we are daring. This time it will be different and we will see the difference a woman can make,” she said.
She said that she was not afraid of big weights in the contest because she was also a big weight with God as her political father.
“Basically politics for me is not a game, it is a passion.
“I grew up in politics and I come from a political family and I know you don’t go on such a journey without God.
“ I have the most high God with me and I believe that since I have Him I will not fail,” she said.
She said she was in the race because she had a lot to offer the state in addition to her passion for the people.
“I am a second generation PDP woman. I have the fear and love of God, and a sense of selfless service to offer to the people of the state,” she said.
Onyemelukwe promised to harness the skills and innovations of the people for the development of the state, if elected as governor.
“Anambra people are known for industry, hard work, skills and innovations.
“The state is actually an industrial hub. We have the Onitsha, Nnewi, Awka zones in the state.
“It is a matter of harnessing what we already have so that we can achieve optimum best and shine as the light of the nation,” Onyemelukwe said.
She also pledged to give priority to women and youth empowerment.
“As a woman and a mother I believe that I am in a better position to know what is the best not just for the children and women, but for the men as well, because I am also a wife and daughter and a sister.
“Our children need to have quality and affordable education. That is the most important thing.
“In that way we are training the next generation and the generations to come. The world is moving on, it is not about moving along with them but we catching on and then moving on.
“Anambra women are strong. As I said we already have two senators out of three. We need to harness our women in terms of having industrial clusters, SMEs,” she said.