By Ikenna Ebubedike
There is tension in political circles in Anambra. The governorship election is less than three months away and there is high-pitched fever in various camps. From the circles of the incumbent administration, the fever is on and the cause is the opposition’s determination to wrest power from it. From the various camps of the opposition, adrenaline pump is unusually higher. They all want to defeat the incumbent but before that major battle in November, there is already an implosion of internal battles mounted by different aspirants to secure their parties’ tickets for the main battle.
As usual, these internal battles are becoming dirtier by the day, as all the aspirants want the same prize, the party’s ticket. One curious evolution in this year’s election is that the eventual winner of the guber election may not win because of the political party he or she belongs to, but more because of his or her pedigree in the state. Anambra voters no longer want to vote for unfit people in wonderful parties. They would rather now vote for wonderful people in any party. This is why I have become concerned about what is going on in the All Progressive Congress (APC). The party seems to have the best chance to win this year’s Anambra governorship election but if it does not get its acts right, it may yet squander this begging opportunity. As in other parties, every APC aspirant wants to become Anambra’s next governor. Therefore, the battle for the party’s ticket has involved blackmail, treachery and crass propaganda.
The party has to look beyond these carefully mounted acts of mischief and manifest resilient capacity to distinguish between comedy and action, pretenders and serious people, sentiments and facts. The party must decide whether it will take part in this year’s election to win or just to participate. To win, it must discountenance the plots, the counter – plots, the “exposures” and “revelations” attributed to its aspirants. They are mirages created by the weak to discredit the strong. It must focus on identifying the aspirants with the best of what it takes to win the election.
For instance, the sentiment of old members of the party being very perfect to fly the party’s flag in this election is just intriguing selfishness, that is easily debunked by available records. One of the aspirants from Nnewi is an old member of the party but in the 2015 general election, APC did not only lose in his ward but also lost woefully in the polling unit beside his house. This goes to show that there are old members who cannot bake a pie for the party while there are new members who came with loads of already baked pies. It is not how long one stays in a party that counts but how much a member brings into a party, even if he is a new member.
APC should be concerned about its aspirants who, in the pursuit of their ambitions, say and do things that are more imaginary than factual but can definitely hurt the party’s chances. Not long ago, an aspirant accused the party’s National Chairman and its National Leader of selling the party’s ticket to Sen. Andy Uba. The Senator ignored this blackmail and continued in his campaigns. Today, the same sources have changed the story. Now, they are accusing the Honourable Minister for Labour and Productivity, Sen. Chris Ngige, of selling the same ticket again to Sen. Uba.
I had once asked why the political presence of Uba is sending cold shivers down the spine of many aspirants? How can a generation of aspirants be so intimidated by the presence of Uba, that they squat and squeal in fear, while the senator, thoroughly amused and unperturbed, continues to drive his campaign from village to village, marketing himself and his programmes to the people? The point that cannot be downplayed is that this man’s presence in APC has improved the chances of the party winning this guber election. This has a lot to do with his pedigree in Anambra State and the bond existing between him and the real voters in the state. Running against the Senator in any election in the state, whether primary or major election, is always a tough choice because a fraternal bond exists between him and the real voters and he has done so well over the years to sustain this bond by being rigidly faithful to the worthy cause of empowering the people and catering for their needs.
If the APC truly wants to win this year’s Anambra guber election, the party must resolve to nominate its best aspirant. With Andy Uba as its candidate, there is assurance that members of other political parties would vote for him. No politician has ever done more for Anambra voters than the Senator in recent history. The record is overwhelming. From schools to hospitals, from orphanages to old peoples homes, from financial grants to the provision of buses, tricycles (Keke), motorcycles (Okada) and food items, the Senator’s philanthropy is noted and appreciated throughout Anambra State.
The leadership of the APC must understand that there is always a time when our best chance to conquer the future begins with our resilient resolve to confront today and its challenges. According to Buddha, “the value of life is not based on how long we live, but how much we contribute to others in our society”.
This year’s election is not about how long anyone has been in APC but how much each aspirant has contributed to the lives of real Anambra voters. Since his appearance on Anambra’s political stage in 2007, Uba has been consistent in his contribution of quality to the lives of indigenes of Anambra State, who happen to be the real voters in the forthcoming election. These same people and their dependants have come to see elections as their opportunities to reward the Senator for his philanthropic gestures. That is why he always wins his elections easily.
APC should leverage on this monumental goodwill enjoyed by Uba in the State and also exploit the advantages of his already existing and well-serviced structures. The party should be able to educate its aspirants, that the interest of the party surpasses their individual ambitions. This election is not about who is the master of intrigues or blackmail, but about who is the master of getting Anambra votes and voters. Who easily appeals to the voters? Who is closer to the voters? Who has more followership among the voters? Who has undeniable strong presence in the 326 wards in the state? Who among the aspirants has the political clout and structures to defeat the incumbent?
Can APC answer these questions right? If it does and ensures the emergency of such person as its flag-bearer in the November 18 election, only God can deny it victory. The aspirants are lined up. Other political parties are hoping and praying that Sen. Andy Uba will not get the ticket.
He is the nightmare that they all want to avoid and they are watching and praying that APC will make the mistake of nominating someone else that will pose no threat in the election. But the question remains, can the party can get it right?
Ebubedike writes from Ukpor, Nnewi South L.G.