By Paschal Candle
As the Anambra governorship election approaches, any visitor to the state now who is very observant will see and notice that the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA)-led government in the state has commenced its usual political gimmicks, thinking that Ndi Anambra and Ndi Igbo are gullible. At every strategic location from Awka-Agulu-Nanka-Oko-Umunze-Umuchu-Nnobi-Nnewi-Ihiala-Ozubulu-Oba and Onitsha are giant and money spinning billboards with bold Inscription- “Umunnem, APGA bu nke Anyi” meaning My brothers and Sisters, APGA…… is our Own with the picture of the Late Biafra Warlord, Chief Odimegwu Ojukwu who died many years ago.
The questions that easily come to one’s mind are: “What is the picture of Late Ojukwu or his family members got to do with the forthcoming governorship election in the state? Is late Ojukwu or wife or his son, an aspirant in the election? Why can’t Chief Ojukwu who died long time ago be allowed to rest in peace?
To these politicians, anything and everything is okay and possible, so far it can guarantee them Political power. It will be recalled that this was the same gimmick, the immediate past governor of the State and Chief Willie Obiano’s Predecessor Mr. Peter Obi on the same platform used to deceive Ndi Anambra during his second tenure where Chief Ojukwu was seen raising Peter Obi’s hand and telling Ndi Anambra to grant him his last Wish.
Governor Willie Obiano and his supporters appear to be following the footsteps of his estranged political godfather, Mr. Peter Obi, forgetting that such cannot work for him this time around, due to many glaring factors ranging from non-performance, abuse of office, disrespect for traditional institutions etc.
When Chief Ojukwu came back from exile in 1982, he joined the National Party of Nigeria, NPN and not the Nigeria Peoples’ Party, NPP led by an Igbo man, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. When asked why he didn’t join his brothers in NPP, he said, Ndi Igbo need to be at the centre where things are being discussed. He even contested for Senate under NPN.
It is of note that for eight years of Mr Peter Obi’s Administration, APGA never won any senatorial seat in the state. Despite the claim that it was branded as an Igbo party. Rather, what Chief Umeh and Mr. Obi did was to arrange a secret and selfish alliance with the PDP-led Federal Government, where PDP conceded governorship seats to APGA in the state, then divided the state House of Assembly seats.
The question that is begging for an answer is: IS APGA AN IGBO PARTY?
Even at that, all the acclaimed apostles of Chief Ojukwu in Anambra and beyond never identified with APGA before and after his death. Why? Why was it that APGA didn’t grow beyond Anambra, throughout the eight years of Mr. Peter Obi? Why didn’t Ndi Igbo embrace the party totally? Was it because it lost its soul and became a platform for Anaocha (Agulu and Aguluizuigbo) now Agulueri and Ogbunike people to make money and achieve their political interests.
Now, whatever is done in APGA is determined from Willie Obiano’s village, because not all Agulueri villages are being carried along in the nepotism that is holding sway in APGA today.
We now all realize that the “Spirit of APGA” is gone! There is no one who was part of the original dream of APGA still in APGA of today. Given what charlatans have made of APGA, the great Ikemba would NEVER have continued to be part of it. They have turned APGA into a private and cabal business using Late Ikemba’s name and even those who never identified with Late Chief Ojukwu to deceive Ndi Anambra. Never again, shall we allow it.
Last year, November 26 to be precise, during Chief Ikemba’s remembrance, it is on record that neither Governor Obiano nor the Anambra State Government remembered Ikemba’s death. Not even a symbolic newspaper remembrance. It was only Chief Raph Uwazuruike who organized a memorial service at Owerri for the late Ikemba.
Indeed, this APGA- led government has never organized any memorial lecture for Late Odimegwu Ojukwu. Even the programme that was organised at Owerri in remembrance of Ojukwu’s death, Anambra state governor was not there and he didn’t send any representatives. People from different ethnic backgrounds gathered at Owerri, Imo state to honour Chief Ojukwu at Freedom Square built by Chief Rochas Okorocha in honour of Chief Ojukwu.
It is on record that Chief Willie Obiano has constructed over 35 roads in Agulueri with street lights and road signs, he did not deem it fit to construct the road leading to Ikemba’s family house and village.
Whereas Obiano has devoted all his energies into his village in Aguleri, a town like Nnewi producing a substantial proportion of the IGR of the state is left like a dead zone.
Obiano’s achievement in Nnewi town is the N20 Million Community project given out of the N4.9 billion statutory allocation! Governor, where is your heart?
It is in this light that I put forward my support for Dr. Tony Nwoye, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Dr. Nwoye as a student activist and a politician has shown a knack to break logjams and push forward the interests of his constituency.
The people of Anambra East/West Federal Constituency are testifiers of his capacity. Is it not remarkable that Dr. Nwoye represents Obiano in the House of Representatives? The people rejected the APGA candidate projected by Governor Obiano in 2015 and rather chose Tony in that election and Tony has in his own way helped all those communities denied projects by Obiano with Federal Government projects he facilitated.
Ndi Anambra should as one this Saturday reject Obiano the way his people rejected his recommendation in 2015 and vote Dr. Nwoye as governor to upturn all the damages done these past three years by Obiano.
Mr Pascha Candle, a graduate of International studies and Diplomacy, University of Benin, a Public affairs analyst writes from Awka, Nigeria. He can be reached via [email protected]