Awka - AS the clock ticks close to Saturday's Anambra governorship poll, Action Congress, AC, candidate and former Governor of the state, Dr. Chris Ngige, has asked the people to vote for the liberation of the state from the stranglehold of political godfathers, who he said were the bane of Anambra political crises. Ngige said a vote for his party, the AC, was a vote for round-two liberation of the state, adding that he had first liberated the state from the clutches of the godfathers when he was Governor of the state between 2003 and 2006.

Ngige said he was probably the only frontline candidate in the election without any godfather, adding that the effect of godfatherism in running of a state is very costly, as it leaves such a state without development "since godfathers are insatiable and extremely selfish to the detriment of every other person that should be a beneficiary of the statecraft, especially the masses."

Ngige asked the Anambra people to remember his days as Governor, when the state celebrates liberation day every July 10, as a mark of independence from the yoke of his previous godfathers, who he said masqueraded as statesmen but demanded for the state treasury.

He pleaded with his people to help return the state to the path of growth by not selling their voters cards or cast vote for money.

Story by: Dennis Agbo - 4 February 2010