2019: Buhari’s aide, Juliet Ibekaku vows to unseat Ekweremadu in Senate, gives reasons

Special Assistant to the President on Justice Reform, Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu, has announced her decision to contest for the Senatorial seat of Enugu West zone in the 2019 elections under the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC).

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, Ibekaku-Nwagwu said the move was in obedience to the clarion call by youths, women and men of the zone who have complained incessantly of the negative impact of the activities and conduct of Senator Ike Ekweremadu who presently represents the zone.

She said: “It is common knowledge that the Senator has veered from his core mandate (quality representation of the interest of Enugu West Senatorial Zone) to self-survival to maintain a national posture that serves his personal interest and ego.

“In the sixteen years of his representation, no meaningful infrastructural development can be equated to the quantum of funds that was purportedly expended as constituency funds for the zone.

“It is on the basis of this leadership vacuum in Enugu West that my people drawn from the five local government areas, namely, Aninri, Agwu, Ezeagu, Oji River and Udi as well as various groups such as Enugu West People’s Association, Udi/Ezeagu Forum, Enugu West Youth Forum, Ibekaku Support Group, and many others came together to purchase my nomination form through contributions to persuade me to represent them at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 9th Senate.

“I have no option than to yield to their request as it is in conformity with my desire to have an ideal society for the good people of Enugu West Senatorial Zone. Hence the submission of my Nomination Form to the National Secretariat of our great party today the 12th day of September 2018.

“My people are hard working and deserve the best from a Senatorial Zone that is endowed with natural resources. All they yearn for is the provision of the basic necessities of life that would create the enabling environment to bring out the best in them. This is achievable if a fraction of the funds that were allegedly spent by the incumbent Senator to buy properties in all corners of the state, across the country and in several overseas territories were used to develop Enugu State.”

Ibekaku-Nwagwu, who is also the National Coordinator, Open Government Partnership (OGP), said If elected as Senator in 2019, she would work through necessary consultations with federal, state and local government authorities to ensure the restoration of the industries that were once the pride of the zone.

“Some of you may not be aware that Enugu West Senatorial Zone has a wide mix of abundant mineral and natural resources and massive human and economic potential.

“Our vision seeks to create local and strategic partnerships of Federal, State and Local Governments working with the Private Sector, Civil Society Organisations and the International Development Community to realise synergy and promote inclusive growth in ways that ensure efficient allocation of resources, promote wealth creation, full employment, and sustainable poverty reduction,” she said.