Precisely, on Saturday 16th day of November, history would be made in Anambra. On that day, the people of Anambra or better referred to as Anambrarians, would be electing another person to take over from His Excellency, Dr. Peter Obi as the fourth Governor of the State since it was demerged from Enugu by Babangida in 1992. Other Governors who have ruled Anambra before now were Chief Akonobi, Senator Chris Ngige and Dr. Ezeife, whose tenure was abruptly ended by Abacha in 1994. The rest were Chief Akonobi, Dr. Ngige whose short-lived term was cut by the Supreme Court to make way for Dr. Peter Obi the legitimate Governor whose mandate was invariably snatched by a combination of Andy Uba and Chris Ngige.
In the past six months, the temperature of the election has been rising and is now coming to the cruciendo on Saturday. Officially, 9 Governorship Candidates would be contesting for the coveted seat. But in truth and reality, four candidates are considered to be more likely to produce the next Governor. These are: APGA, Chief Willlie Obiano; APC, Dr. Chris Ngige; Labour, Chief Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah and PDP, Chief Nwoye.
From all indications, the election is bound to produce expected fireworks which may snowball into social precipitation and upheaval. But, it is not going to go that length because the Federal Government is not going to fold its arms to see some over zealous political gladiators to rock the ship of stability in this country.
It was following the ominous signs coming out of the State that motivated me as a veteran journalist who likes to write from the standpoint of facts and not speculations that I picked my tape-recorder, note and pen and headed to Anambra to see things for myself and to listen to the people to hear what they are saying and what is likely to happen. Interestingly, I was surprised to hear many more people of Anambra talking of Owelle, the Governor of Imo State and his alliance with Chris Ngige. What worried the people most is their perception that APC is a Yoruba Party, point blank and wondered why Ngige whom many like would soil his good name and image by joining a party that is principally perceived as a Yoruba party contrived ingeneously to come and appropriate the conscience and image and rights of Anambrarians, the core Igbo people. Painfully, they see everything wrong in Owelle of Imo State coming to Anambra to provide fund and human resources to ensure that Ngige wins at all costs. Indeed, much misgiving in the minds of Anambrarians. As a professional, I found a more conducive spot to get unbiased views of people of diverse social strata men, women, boys, girls, mechanics, artisans, civil servants, public servants, journalists, teachers and in fact a full bag loaded with mixed individuals with mixed views.
What helped me in this trip was that I had once lived in Anambra a couple of years, representing different print media house and covering some major events of both political, economic and social consequences. So, I was not a stranger to Anambra State a land of businessmen and women who know very well different methods of willing and dealing in minor or major business instructions. During this short period, I moved from Ogbaru going to a small community on the bank of the Niger, called Atani, from where Osita Osadebe hailed; to Umuneri in Anambra East LGA to Nkwerre to Ntege the headquarters of Oyi LGA, to Umudi in Nnewi LGA, specifically, the home town of Ikemba Nnewi. From there, I made it straight to Agulu the current Governor’s home town; to Ogborji, a small town in Aguatta Local Government. Then I detoured to Okoh the home town of the Former Vice President, near Ekwulobia Dr. Alex Ekwueme; then I moved a little northward to the Palace of the Ezeozor of Awka; from their I headed eastward to a little Community on the boarder with Imo State. However, instead of heading home, I made a U-turn to Merchant of light Oba where my senior colleague with whom I worked in a major national print media house hails from; then, I made another slanting detour to Ihiala after touching Ozoubulu then to Uli hence I was home bound to Owelle’s State that was a major item of discussion in Anambra election. Before reaching this point, I had made a zig-zag visits to Amaobia, Alor, the home town of Ngige and other vibrant political active towns listening and taking notes.
At Uli, I made a refreshing stop to have the last information, sat down to refresh with a well chilled can of Amstel Malt. Fortunately, in a small pub popularly called, “Midland” Stop Over. Here, I found different clusters of people everybody was talking of Anambra election. Here, I ease-drop to get all manner of information. Although in the pub everybody was drinking different types of bottled or canned substances, everybody was talking about Anambra election, including bar attendants and restaurant maids. It was election, election and election all the way.
Without formal initiation, two youngmen and a brilliant looking lady joined me around my table. One of them drew extra chair nearer to augment the number of desired seats.
Oh boy, boy, I was lucky. Three of these were seasoned journalists. The youngman was an instructor in a Local Commercial Institution, teaching Commerce and Government. The lady, according to her, a young graduate of Political Science from a nearby University, waiting for the National Service.
These four persons provided me with more than what I needed to know as the most topical issue on Anambra election. Fortunately, they were knowledgeable and well informed. Even the young graduate was not bereft of information either. The instructor, to me, was expert and champion of politics. He reminded me of one of my nephews who was known as “political dictionary.” He knew everything about politics.
This instructor was indeed an encyclopedia not only in Anambra politics but in the totality of South East politics. He indeed, dominated to discussion and served as it were as the moderator.
Although all the four were vehemently against the interference of the Governor of Imo State, the young graduate and the instructor were more voice ferrous on this special issue. When I tried to justify the involvement of Owelle in the Governorship race, they made me look too ordinary as they reeled out reasons why Owelle should not come to Anambra to get people to vote for Ngige, saying “does Owelle love Ngige than his kit and keen?”
They took me around the implications of Owelle’s involvement. “Does he not know that APC means Alliance of political confusionists? Does he not know that APC is a brand of codine which had long expired?
Does he not know that APC is purely an Afanifere party, established by the Yorubas to promote and sustain the dominance of the Yorubas in the new dispensation? Does he not know that Akande was the Chairman of AD, ACN and now the Chairman of APC? Why, why and why? They asked. One of them looked into my eyeballs with impunity and superiority.
Now, the bomb, one of the journalists who had all along maintained sordid silence exploded. “Let me ask you, does your Governor think that we are fools in Anambra State, thinking that flooding Anambra State with money would help Ngige to win? Yes, we the Anambrarians, we love money, appreciate money, but we work for it hence we are all businessmen and women. But nobody can fool us with money. Watch, he will spend all the Imo money in Anambra, Ngige will never be elected because people see him as one infected with “political leprosy” by working for the Yorubas. Yorubas, to come and finish Ndi Igbo for the last time. “No, men, inogo work. Mark my words. Yes, Ngige is a popular person but for the wrong reason. Personal popularity is not the same thing as election popularity. Wait and see our Governor and his Yoruba cohorts would be sunk in a waiting waterloo. His expansionist propensity is annoying Anambra people seriously. May be if he has left Ngige on his own, Ngige would have made an impression without your Owelle, Ngige is making noise impression but can never make election impression.”
As I was stunned to the marrow, I managed to take excuse from my new found friends but very hot and hostile to my Governor. Oh, I wish I could replay this conversation to Owelle or any of his confidants he may need to change his political strategy after the Anambra election the question is this, does he listen to advice?
