AIMSG DG Charges Chairmanship Aspirants To Move APGA Forward

CHUKA UBAH

BEING TEXT OF WELCOME SPEECH BY DR. HARRIS CHUMA-ODILI, DIRECTOR GENERAL, ANAMBRA INDEPENDENT MEDIA SUPPORT GROUP, AIMSG, AT THE MEDIA DEBATE FOR ANAMBRA STATE APGA CHAIRMANSHIP ASPIRANTS WHICH HELD AT BEST WESTERN MERLOCH HOTEL, AWKA ON SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2023.

All Protocols Observed!
Good Afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen!

It is with utmost joy, that I welcome all of you to this Media Interaction/Debate for our worthy aspirants to the exalted position of State Party Chairman, Anambra chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

You will realize how exalted this office is when you weigh it against the reality that Anambra is the spiritual, social, economic and political home of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. It is therefore expedient to assume that this office is one that exudes great influence.

That is why we, as members of the Anambra Independent Media Support Group, AIMSG, have decided to hold this interactive session, this TOWNHALL MEETING…(not DEBATE, because the word, DEBATE scares a lot of people), which is aimed at giving the aspirants a more coordinated platform to share their visions and aspirations for APGA and Anambra people with our audience, which includes the media personalities physically present in this hall this evening, as well as numerous others who have registered and are joining in through our online platforms as we stream our activities today.

To our worthy aspirants present, I wish to assure you that this is not an English-speaking contest. No. We know who and where to turn to when we are seeking people to speak Grammar! This is just a forum to share ideas that will not only uplift the party but the people of Anambra in general.

I urge all of you to take note of the ideas being propounded by one another to know the ones that will be helpful to you when you emerge the ultimate winners during the Congress, because only one of you will win, and this will not mean that the others are losers, especially when ideas they have brought to this forum are imbibed and deployed by the ultimate winner.

As you all know the task before APGA as a party is quite huge, and it requires a methodical personality to harness the potential within the party to move it forward.

Times are changing, and political awareness is deepening on daily basis, so much that the youths are beginning to take active interest in the politics of the state and the nation in general; so be conscious of the fact that you are going to be dealing with a new population of youths who will hold you accountable when you emerge as the chosen one, and when there are missteps on your part, be sure that they will do everything that is legally right to get back at you.

Let me use this opportunity to thank the audience in the studio and those on the virtual platforms and also remind them that as media personalities, we have so much to contribute towards improving our society.
As the fourth estate of the realm, our duty is to propagate truth, fairness, equity and preach justice to all, at all times. Our broadcasts, posts, articles and comments matter to a lot of people, who look up to us as the mirror with which they judge the polity and its players.

We must see our role as a constructive one, and not a destructive one. Today, I urge you to listen to the aspirants with an open mind and share your impressions to your esteemed audience via your individual platforms in an impeccable manner, devoid of political biases.

Do not judge the aspirants based on their diction or oratory. Judge them based on what they are bringing to the table and how transformative their ideas are, because we have moved from the era of talkers to the era of doers. We are seeking those who dig deep and not shallow-swimmers who cover up their incompetence with flowery expressions.

Finally, to all APGA members who will be part of the upcoming Congress on Tuesday, we have done this to help you galvanise your options and make a credible choice during the elections. You know the challenges of the party and we at Anambra Independent Media Support Group, AIMSG believe you know who amongst these aspirants can do the job effectively and efficiently.
May God help you to make the right choices!

Thank you for listening and welcome to the 2023 Media Debate for Anambra APGA Chairmanship Aspirants!
Once again welcome to the Debate…sorry TOWNHALL meeting!