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LIFE SENATOR: I was reported out of context —Ekweremadu

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Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has reacted to reports in the media quoting him as boasting that he could remain in the Nigerian Senate “forever” if he so desired.

The Enugu State senator in a statement to newsmen refuted the claim, saying that it was not in his character to make such boastful claim as he was alleged to have made.

He was said to have made the comment at an event in Abuja on Thursday organised by the #NotTooYoungToRun movement and themed, “Youth Candidacy and the Future of Nigeria Beyond 2019.”

But in his statement of denial, Ekweremadu claimed what he said at the event was that so long as he continued on a good path, that his people would always want him to run and would be ready to re-elect him as many times as he was willing to present himself to run.

The statement read, “I read news story by some online media misreprenting me as boasting that I could be in the Senate forever if he wanted.

“However, such boastful attitude attributed to me is not in my character. I was only mentoring the youth that they needed to be rooted at the grassroots and relate closely with their immediate constituencies to achieve their political dreams, using myself as an example.

“My advice was taken out of context. I have always seized opportunities of meeting the youth and other aspiring politicians, who consult me on their political ambitions against the erroneous notion that they must have a godfather in Abuja or the party to succeed in politics.

“Much as I played a key role in ensuring that the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill succeeded and even wanted 18 years as age qualification to run for office, I have always advised my mentees that it is erroneous to hope to win elections relying only on the fact that they are young.

“I always advise them to start from somewhere, preferably the grassroots and remain with people even when elected.  In my case, I served as Chairman  of my age grade association  at ten and served so many years years as the President of my community’s town union before serving as the pioneer  Chairman of my Local Government  Area (LGA), etc.

READ ALSO: ‘If I want to remain in Senate forever, I will’— Ekweremadu

“So, I used the opportunity of the public dialogue themed ‘Youth Candidacy and the Future of Nigeria Beyond 2019’ organised by the Not-Too-Young-To-Run movement to share my personal experience, reiterating that the secret of my political staying power lies in relating closely with my constituents, making myself accessible to them, and ensuring justice and equity in the distribution of opportunities and development projects.

“I said that so long as I continued on this path, my people would always want me to run, ready to re-elect me as many times as I am willing to present myself. This is a verifiable fact.

“This is despite the fact that my town, Mpu, is the smallest in my LGA, and my LGA is the least in Enugu West Senatorial. And that is the more reason I remain humble about it and most grateful to my people, who are my primary employers and above all to God to whom all power belongs, and whose grace has no doubt brought me this far.”

By Ebere Ndukwu.…

 

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