Anambra on the march again

On the march again
Next month, voters in Anambra State will file out again to elect a new
governor, precisely on February 6, almost 12 months to the 2011 general
elections. Already 25 candidates , under 25 different political
parties, have been cleared by the Independent National Electoral
Commission(INEC) to contest the election. The political scene in the
state right now is quite very interesting.

"This state, known as Light of the Nation, is gradually becoming politically religious "

Gladiators

Among the 25 aspirants, it is a straight fight between only five:the incumbent, Peter Obi, alias the cat with nine lives, who is contesting under the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance(APGA); Andy Uba, the 17-day governor who was sacked by the Supreme Court on the grounds that there was no vacancy in government house

in Awka, is coming out under the ticket of the Labour Party(LP).
Of course, we have Obi’s predecessor, Chris Ngige, who was impeached
and reinstated like Obi but only to be kicked out later by the Appeal Court
for electoral fraud . Like Uba, Ngige is staging a comeback under the
banner of Action Congress(AC). Then comes the only woman in the race,
Uche Ekwunife, vying under the Progressive Peoples’ Alliance(PPA).
The last but not the least is Chukwuma Soludo, the immediate past
governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).He is flying the flag of
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the race.
Promises, promises, promises
As the countdown to the election begins, there are promises,
promises and promises coming from the aspirants.
For instance, Ngige said that all the jobs he did during his first term
as governor amounts to only 25 per cent, hoping to come back if he wins the
February election, to actualize the remaining 75 per cent.
“We have liberated the state before and this is the second liberation.
The work of development will begin again . I have done it again, this time
I will do it better,” his campaign billboard reads.
Uba, who distributed 21 tractors and 315 motorcycles to the 21 local
government areas in the state as part of his commitment to empower the
people at the grassroots and urban areas , promised quality education
and healthcare; employment and workers' welfare; youth empowerment and
security ; good roads, water and housing scheme. As for Soludo, he
promised to turn Anambra State into African Dubai in four years if he
wins .The incumbent, Peter Obi, is begging the electorate to give him
another chance to finish the good work he is doing such as roads
construction, building of schools , rural electrification programme
and agricultural development.
Ekwunife, on her part, is promising better life for the rural women and
meaningful life for all the people of the state.
North Ireland in Anambra
Just like in the North Ireland where politics is mixed with religion,
mainly Christianity, this state, known as Light of the Nation , is
gradually becoming politically religious . This is coming in the wake
of accusations and counter-accusations that some churches are telling
their members whom to vote for on February 6.Already,the battle line
has been drawn, strictly, between Catholics, who are said to
constitute about two-thirds of the population, and the Anglicans,
which, with the Pentecostals and other religious sects, are said to
constitute the remainder . Incidentally, four of the five leading
contenders are Catholics.They are Messrs Peter Obi, Chris Ngige,
Chukwuma Soludo and Mrs Uche Ekwunife. Andy Uba is of Anglican fold.
Tension is gradually mounting in the wake of reports that priests are
mounting the pulpits to adopt and campaign for candidates of their
choice in the forthcoming gubernatorial election. This may be a
deciding factor in the election as worshippers, as voters , usually take
the advice of their pastors, who they see as spiritual fathers, not only
as gospel truth but also as a voice of God. So call it Catholics
versus Catholics or Catholics versus the rest, you won’t be wrong. But
only God knows who will tip the scale.
Free and fair, rigging or free for all?
This is a very big poser! Will the situation in Ekiti State repeat
itself in Anambra ? This is riddle that is better left for the voters,
the candidates, INEC, the security agents, and the government to
decide . Already many pundits have said that the Anambra election will
be a test case for Nigeria’s democracy and electoral reforms.
Who carry the day?
Well, the dateline is February 6 across the length and breath of
Anambra, the Light of the Nation, when (not necessarily) the best
candidate will carry the day. Almost all the factors above will go a
long way in determining who will carry the day. Will it be Peter the
Rock Obi ? Soludo? Ngige? Uba or Ekwunife? Well, let’s all sit
back, fold our arms or cross our fingers , cross our legs, and relax
for the show is about to begin and we are going to watch the
gladiators slug it out.
Anambra after Obi?
I shudder to think that Obi will lose in his re-election bid.What
happens to the heavy- weight support which Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu
throws behind him? Should the man finally bite the dust, Anambra
State may not be the same again. There will be loss of face by the
priests who had adopted him; the election results may be disputed and
may once again become subject of litigation at Election Tribunal.
Chaos(God forbid) may rear its ugly head. And after all said and done
and the dust is settled, definitely the voters will expect the winner
to fulfil his own side of the bargain.