Anambra State indigenes resident in Lagos under the aegis of the Anambra United Assembly of Nigeria (AUAN) have unequivocally stated that they will use their votes to vote in any political party or candidate that has the interest of their people at heart.

AUAN made this known at a press conference held at Uruagu Hall, Orile, in Lagos on Thursday addressed by its President, Barrister Emeka C. Nwosu, accompanied by the National Secretary, Barrister Okwu Udoagwu, Director of Finance, Chief Mike Okwuma, Comrade Chinedu Agina, Director of Operations; and Matron Adaora Umenduka (Eze Nwanyi).

The group insisted that Anambra people are the biggest investors in the economies of Nigeria and Lagos, and statistically constitute about 65 per cent of Ndigbo in Lagos.

AUAN also claimed to own so much that huge part of the corporate, personal, business revenue taxes collected are from their operations in Lagos State.

The group declared that any political office seekers that do not specifically consult it to protect its interest have not bargained well and may lose the members’ votes in the elections nationally or at state level. It expressed displeasure that up till now none of the political gladiators have consulted it to know what the group wants done or rectify in the next dispensation toward protecting its members’ interest as residents in Lagos State, particularly.

AUAN made it clear that support for the candidates will be on first come first served basis. It urged Anambra people to make sure that they collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) while advising the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be fair in the distribution of the cards.

The group admonished the Lagos State Government to curtail henceforth the excesses of its organs that descend on Ndigbo that are doing legitimate businesses in Lagos and fraudulently extort huge sums of cash from them in the name of carrying out official functions.

On political offices exclusively reserved for Ndigbo and massive infrastructure denial wherever Ndigbo locate their businesses, Barr. Nwosu pointed out that these will form part of the deciding factor in casting their votes.

“It is the person that will address these issues that will get our support,” he declared.

Nwosu, who was also joined at the press conference by Mrs. Victoria Ezechukwu, Matron; Mrs. Kosy Udechukwu, Woman Coordinator, commended President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration for signing the N10 billion for the take-off of the second Niger Bridge, stressing, however on essence of rail lines from Lagos to the Eastern part of the country.

•Photo shows AUAN officials at the press conference . . . Thursday in Lagos.