EBUKA ONUNKWO Joins ANAMBRA South Senate Race

• To Replace Late Sen. IFEANYI UBAH

Dr. Ebuka Onunkwo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Seahorse Lubricants Industries Limited, is set to contest the Anambra South Senatorial District bye-election. And this is authoritative. This much was revealed in a Facebook post by his media man, Chukwudi Iwuchukwu.

The industrialist, Iwuchukwu said, has decided to fill the vacuum created at Anambra South Senatorial District as result of the death of the senator representing the zone, Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah. Late Senator Ubah passed away on July 27, 2024, at a hospital in London at the age of 52.

Onunkwo, as it stands, will be slugging it out with other aspirants who have so far shown interest in the race under the umbrella of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Also, checks have revealed that the philanthropist has since commenced wide consultations within party leaders across the senatorial district in other to make his political dream a reality. And this move, we gathered, is yielding positive results as many leaders as well as political groups have endorsed his candidacy.

One of the coalitions of political parties that has endorsed Onunkwo is Anambra Rainbow Coalition. The coalition restated its support and commitment towards Onunkwo’s ambition in a resolution signed by Comrade Chukwudi Ibeh of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs Chioma Nwosu of Labour Party (LP) and Arinze Nanka of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

APPAS, the Association of Past Presidents General of all town unions in Anambra South has also endorsed Onunkwo ahead of the forthcoming bye-election in the zone.

Anambra South Senatorial District consists seven local governments; Nnewi South, Ihiala, Ekwusigo, Aguata, Orumba North, Orumba South and Nnewi North.

Dr. Onunkwo hails from Ekwusigo Local Government. Interestingly too, the sitting governor of Anambra State, Charles Chukwuma Soludo is from Anambra South Senatorial District. So the bye-election is a must win for APGA. This is because it will not only determine the party’s popularity but also serve as a kind of litmus test for the governor’s re-election come 2025.

That, also, is the more reason many people are rooting for a candidate like Onunkwo who has the popularity, goodwill and the financial wherewithal to battle the opposition parties in the coming bye-election.

Apart from the fact that Onunkwo enjoys maximum support of his people, he has many other things going for him. There has been clamour for the occupant of the senatorial seat to emerge from either his local government, Ekwusigo or Nnewi South as other areas have had there times. Records show that Ihiala Local occupied the seat through Senator Ifeanyi Eriobuna between 1999 and 2003. Former Senator Ikechukwu Obiora from Nnewi North was there between 2007 and 2011. While the immediate past occupant of the seat late Ifeayin Ubah comes from Nnewi North.

Again, it’s an established fact that Onunkwo is in tuned with his immediate environment. He has never for once forsaken his people. Despite his sterling achievements in business and his stupendous wealth, Onunkwo remains humble. He’s the friend of the masses, having touched many lives positively. Onunkwo is not only an employer of labour but also a community builder. He has contributed immensely to the development of his immediate environment.

All these coupled with several others are the reasons why people love and respect Dr. Emeka. He’s very close to the grassroot. He has earned their trust and respect over the years. They know his story. They are mush aware of how he successfully built his business empire from the scratch.

In fact, Onunkwo’s success story has become a great inspiration for many others. By dint of hardwork, Onunkwo, born into a very humble background in Ihembosi, Ekwusigo Local Government Area, find his way to the top.

He’s the last child of a family of 8. Onunkwo is the Eze Igbo of the Republic of Benin, and a holder of the revered OZO title, among many other chieftaincy titles. He has to his credit several awards and recognitions as result of his giant strides in business as well as his philanthropic gestures.

-Dare Adeniran

08057639079