Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Anambra governorship election, Oseloka Obaze, on Wednesday, unveiled Lady Chidi Alexandra Onyemelukwe as his mate.
At the presentation of his running mate in Awka, Obaze said Lady Chidi was selected from a shortlist of “very eminently qualified PDP faithfuls” and described her as a “promoter of excellent and qualitative education, and has great passion for advancement of women affairs.”
Obaze noted that “the association between Lady Chidi’s family and mine goes a long way back; and to my earliest childhood memories. More importantly, Lady Chidi comes to this state and national assignment with rich personal accomplishments, impeccable credentials and high pedigree.
“A learned person, she is a Lady of the Anglican Communion, Enugu Diocese and the first daughter of former Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme.”
According to a statement signed by the PDP governorship candidate, Lady Chidi is a graduate of Law from the University of Wales in the United Kingdom and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990. She also bagged her Masters Degree in International Law and Diplomacy and Masters of Business Administration from the University of Lagos and Duquesne University, Pittsburg in the United States, respectively. In academia, she had a brief stint as an Adjunct Professor of Finance in Florida, USA. Currently, as a private citizen, her focus has been in Real Estate Law Practice and International Business.
She has also served as the Chairman, Board of Directors, Federal Housing Authority and also as Special Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs).
Obaze said his choice of Ekwueme’s daughter was in furtherance of his commitment to “gender mainstreaming, women empowerment and a 60-40 targeted ratio in political appointments.”
Obaze will be following in the footsteps of former governor Peter Obi, who had Dame Virginia Etiaba as her deputy. Etiaba subsequently became Nigeria’s first non-elected female governor in November 2006, after Obi was controversially impeached by the state legislature for alleged gross misconduct. Obi later regained his mandate in February 2007 after his impeachment was overturned by the courts.
