Countdown To Anambra Nov. 6 : Promises, Intrigues From The Flagbearers

At least 2.5 million enrolled voters in Anambra State are required to file out on Saturday, November 6, 2021, to appoint a aspirant of their choice in the forthcoming governorship poll in the state.

18 political parties are fielding prospects in the poll that is anticipated to be fierce. Among the political parties, only four appear to be serious contenders for the exalted seat.

The parties are the All Progressives Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Peoples Democratic Party and the Young Progressives Party.

APC: Andy Uba

Senator Andy Uba emerged the candidate of the APC in controversial circumstances. About 12 of his co-contestants in the party’s primary held on July 26, including the Director General, National Inland Waterways Authority, Chief George Moghalu, had protested the emergence of Uba as the party’s candidate. Moghalu and others asserted that the party did not hold any primary election. They, therefore, alleged that Uba’s emergence was not transparent. To register his anger, Moghalu is currently challenging Uba’s candidature in the court. Also, the leader of the party in the state and Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, is also of the view that there was no primary poll that produced Uba as the candidate of the APC. Ngige was a former governor of the state.

Though, Uba is not a new name in Anambra politics, the name means many things to different people. The Uga, Aguata Local Government Area-born politician had served as a domestic aide to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He won the governorship election of the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2007, but was in the office for just 17 days before the Supreme Court sent him packing by agreeing with Mr Peter Obi’s petition in which he contended that he (Obi) had four years to serve from March 17, 2006, when he was sworn in as the governor of the state.

In 2010, Uba abandoned the PDP and became the governorship candidate of the Labour Party. Regrettably, he did not make any reasonable impact in the race. Shortly after, Uba returned to the PDP. In the 2011 general election, he ran and won the senatorial seat of Anambra South Senatorial District. The current contest is Uba’s fifth attempts to become the governor of the state. Many bigwigs in the state are defecting to the APC in order to increase his chances of fulfilling his age-long political ambition.  One of those that have joined him is the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Nkem Okeke, who recently dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

However, most people in the state believe that only the use of what is described as “federal might” can help Uba win the election. A political analyst, John Ifeanyi, said, “If Andy Uba wins, Anambra may be relegated or riddled with crisis, borrowing, non-prompt payment of workers’ salaries, among other negative things. This is why the level of APC acceptance in Anambra is not high.”

The poor showing of the APC in past elections might also affect the chances of Uba. The ruling party at the centre has never won any elective seat in the state. Some are also of the view that Uba as a member of the PDP in 2003, might be aware of the remote and immediate causes of the political crisis in the state from 2003 to 2006, including the kidnapping of Ngige as a sitting governor and the inglorious impeachment of Obi, which was later overturned by the courts.

Many are also not comfortable with Andy because of the dominance of political space in the state by his siblings. The siblings are: Chris and Ugochukwu. The three men are known as ‘The Uba brothers’ in Anambra politics, and they have been around since the creation of the state in 1991.

Be it as it may, Uba has designed a blueprint of what he described as ‘robust all-around development’ for the state. He promised to bring governance closer to the people, by ensuring that local government “leadership is plugged back to true democracy, rather than the leadership-by-appointment anomaly foisted on the state.” According to his blueprint, linkages between unemployment and insecurity perhaps propelled his strategic plan for massive purpose-driven skills acquisition and youth empowerment schemes, put in place to address the twin issues of job creation and insecurity.

Uba believes that governance needs to be decentralised so as to touch the lives of the people. For this, he has said he will conduct local government election within six months of his administration if he wins and also give it the full autonomy to function. In this way, according to him, local roads and other governance issues under the control of the local government will be undertaken by them.

Among the othings he (Uba) promised to do differently from the old order if elected is to ensure that construction permits and Certificate of  Occupancy are processed within 24 hours and also ensure the elimination of middlemen in tax collection and enforce the use of electronic collection and the use of Treasury Single Account. Uba said he would give pioneer status to the mining and agricultural sector by exempting them from taxes, as well as give tax moratorium to MSMEs to enable them to set up and employ more.

APGA: Chukwuma Soludo

Soludo, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, is the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance. Born in Isuofia, Aguata LGA, Soludo is a Professor of Economics. This election is his third attempt to become the governor of the state, having tried as PDP candidate in 2010 and an aspirant in APGA in 2013. Soludo is a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Economic team. He heads the Anambra State Vision 2050.

Soludo’s strongest point in the poll is his towering academic credentials. One of his admirers, Madubuike Eze, said, “It is a mark of disrespect for other people to be contesting this governorship election with a Professor of Economics in an era of bad economy in the nation.”

Also, the achievements of the APGA-led government since 2006 in the state is said to have placed Soludo some metres ahead of his peers in the race. Aside these, his running mate, Dr Onyeka Ibezim is believed to be an asset to the former CBN chief’s governorship aspiration. Ibezim is the younger brother to the Archbishop of Province of the Niger and Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese, Dr Alexander Ibezim.  Anambra State is a place where a grip to church population matters a lot. While Soludo is a Roman Catholic, Ibezim is an Anglican.

But this will depend on whether the Anglican faithful in the state will prefer the APGA status quo or to support the Anglican governorship candidate in the race in the person of Senator Andy Uba. That said, there are rumours that some people in the state are tired of APGA-led government due to alleged abandonment of projects and failed campaign promises by subsequent governments in the state. Critics say the incumbent governor, Willie Obiano, has not been able to account for the N75bn he inherited from the past administration of Peter Obi

Perhaps, the most vexatious issues in the state may be bad roads, erosion menace, and allied matters that are not getting attention from the APGA-led government. Soludo also has some issues to settle in his Isuofia community, including alleged unsuccessful attempt to rename or create an autonomous community in the area. Some also see Soludo as an aristocratic who may run an elitist government if elected.

Also, Soludo’s emergence as APGA candidate caused friction among members of the state from ward to national level, including the springing up of three factions in the once cohesive party. This development slowed down the party’s campaigns. It was only in September that the Supreme Court pronounced Soludo as the candidate of the party and Victor Oye as APGA National Chairman.

However, the court victory has not stopped scores of APGA members from defecting to other political parties to register their grievances over the way the party is being run. That notwithstanding, Obiano’s legacy projects such as the Anambra State International Passenger and Cargo Airport, Anambra State International Convention Centre, Awka Township Stadium and others are the campaign legacies that have placed Soludo on the front row of the November 6 contest.

“I have finished with the world, and I have also done my bit in Nigeria. I now want to help develop my own state. I am not running for this election so I can make money, or so I can enhance my CV. I am in this race to develop my home state. In my 30s, I achieved everything there was to be achieved. I have travelled to all continents of the world and consulted for over 20 top financial institutions of the world. I am here to change my state for good.

“If anyone thinks that governance is about going to Abuja to collect money, use part of it to pay workers, and use the rest to award contracts, then that person is making a mistake. If that is what governance is about, I won’t be in the race because that is something my grandmother can do,” Soludo said.

PDP: Valentine Ozigbo

Born in Amesi in the Aguata Local Government Area of the state in 1970, Ozigbo served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Hotels Plc from October 2011 to December 2018. In this role, he provided strategic direction and drove the execution of key strategic goals of the company and its projects which included business expansion, merger and acquisition opportunities, business improvements, upgrade and renovations. Ozigbo is loved even by his opponents in the race because of his discipline, amity and acuity.

Apart from his manifesto that has been described as one of the best, Ozigbo believes that age and the platform on which he is contesting the election, the PDP, are of great advantage to him.

He said, “The truth is that the PDP is a more popular party in Anambra State. APGA has always won the governorship and more seats in the state House of Assembly because of the connivance and support of some members of the PDP as a result of disunity in the past. To prove this point, APGA members, its leadership, did not actually support the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi in the 2019 presidential election. But out of the 36 states in the country, Anambra State produced the highest number of votes for the PDP.

“That speaks to the popularity of PDP. From Anambra State, the PDP has more seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives. That also speaks to the popularity of my party. I know how many of them are calling me today and I know what they say.”

Ozigbo said he decided to join the governorship race in order to impact on the society and take governance to an unprecedented level in the state. The businessman said he was basing his campaign on four foundations. These are youth empowerment, scholarship, business empowerment and seasonal concerts.

But based on his mien, some are seeing him as being too soft to navigate in the foggy waters of Anambra State politics. Others are also not comfortable with the visible presence of the former governor of the state, Mr Peter Obi, around him. They see Obi as his political godfather. Those thinking along this line are of the opinion that, Obi cannot foist a governor on the state again like he did in 2013 when he installed Willie Obiano. Today, Obiano and Obi are sworn political enemies.

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YPP: Ifeanyi Ubah

Known as ‘one-man crowd’ in the political sector in the state, Ubah is the candidate of the Young Progressives Party in the contest. He is the Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District. An oil mogul, Ubah, from Nnewi  North Local Government Area of the state, had in 2019 joined the YPP;  vied for the Senate of the district and defeated Andy Uba and Chris Uba, in a contest described by political pundits as the end of the Uba political dynasty in the state. Before the rise of Ubah, Chris Uba and Andy Uba had held sway in Anambra South Senatorial District in particular and Anambra State in general.

When the Uba brothers challenged the outcome of the election in court, the oil magnate also floored them. Since then, he has become a giant in the political calculation of the state. He remains the political leader in Nnewi and its environs. Months before the current political disposition began; he had crisscrossed the length and breadth of the state, explaining why he joined the governorship race and the need for the people to support his political aspiration.

He said, “I have my own situation room and I have over 80,000 canvassers in the state. We have as many as 500 canvassers in some wards; we have just a little over 5,000 polling stations in the state. We will have people in all of them. Let me tell you, once the election is over, we would have collated all the results and know its outcome, even before INEC announces the result.”

The governor Anambra State needs – Stakeholders

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the state are already looking forward to the type of governor they would want to have in the next dispensation.

For Jude Obiora, a public affairs commentator, “The next governor should be ready to work some magic in order to reduce the debt profile of the state. This is important as he can’t do much if the state is still highly indebted as it is now. Then, he should strive to complete projects initiated by his predecessor. But the most important thing is that he should be ready to fix the roads which have never been this bad.

“Suddenly, Anambra has turned from the state with the best road network to one with some of the worst roads in the country. It is no more a pleasure to drive in Anambra State. For now, the car owners’ loss has become the auto mechanics’ gain. This should not continue. I expect the next governor to spend the first tenure restoring our roads and building new ones, apart from keeping the wheel of governance going in other sectors.”

For Uchay Amunike, an opinion leader in the state, “My expectation is that the next governor of Anambra State should be able to conduct local government election as stipulated by the Constitution so that they (the LGAs) will have the power to map out their own policies and progressively meet up with the demands and aspirations of their constituencies.

“The new governor should run a gender-inclusive government where women will be given great representation in both elective and appointive positions. The next governor should be smart, confident and fearless enough to stand up to the centre without being intimidated, especially when defending the interests of the state in the areas of marginalisation, exclusion from key appointments and so on.”

Victor Agusiobo, a journalism teacher, said, “The next governor must sustain or improve on Obiano’s areas of strength, especially those that resonate with ordinary citizens. Such areas include the prompt payment of workers’ salaries; the lighting of the state, an enterprise that extended business time in the state from 7am to 11pm, and the completion of ongoing projects. I expect the new governor to tackle housing by developing estates for the working class in the three senatorial zones of the state.”

Agusiobo added, “I will like to see a better technology-driven mode of tax collection. Away from the primitive and very physical method we presently have. I will like to see a formidable security system powered by the communities with the support of government. Strategic state roads must be offered meaningful facelift. Agriculture must be given the necessary fillip as the greatest employer of labour with other allied industries.”

Evaluating the situation, the President of a socio-political group, Igbo for Progressive Nigeria, Lawrence Onuzuluike, rated governance in the state low since the return of democracy in 1999

He said, “Many of Anambra State’s previous governors failed Ndi Anambra. It is glaring that the state’s leaders continue to adopt a bizarre system that pays more attention to political patronage rather than to real development of the state. Most of the previous administrations did not perform well.

“Anambra roads are in a total mess and many are almost impassable. Poor drainage systems lead to heavy flooding at any slight drop of rains. Apart from the complete breakdown of road infrastructure across the state, waste management is also worrisome as mountains of refuse dumps have taken over major cities of the state.

“Anambra State lacks proper housing projects. What of pipe borne water? Instead of the previous governors to put in efforts to resuscitate the Anambra State Water Corporation and all the water schemes in the state especially, the Greater Onitsha Water Scheme at Trans Nkisi, the Awka Water Scheme, as well as the Nnewi, Ihiala and Aguata water schemes, they gradually saw to the death of the water corporation.

“The educational and health sectors in Anambra are stagnated. No new tangible investments can be seen in schools. It is worrisome that no new schools are being built despite the increasing population. This has led to the proliferation of private schools with very low quality teaching staff and facilities, yet, they charge exorbitant fees.

“In the health sector, the previous governors did little to revitalise the primary healthcare delivery system. Many primary healthcare centres are dilapidated, with little or no medical equipment and sadly, are grossly understaffed.

“Local government system in the state has been completely killed and buried, with the state having not conducted a single local government election in many years.”

Meanwhile, there is palpable apprehension that the November election could be massively rigged. A member of a political party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said “The election may be rigged. That is the biggest fear we have in the state. Politicians are too desperate and I feel that the security agencies should double their efforts. We cannot afford to have a governor with credibility problem.”

There are also fears that the threat by the members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra to order a sit-at-home few days before the election could scare voters away from the polling booths.IPOB said its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, must be released from custody before the conduct of the election. Kanu, who is facing criminal charges, is being detained in the custody of the Department of State Services on order of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

But the police top hierarchy is not leaving anything to chance. Already, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, had ordered the immediate redeployment of 100 senior police officers to the state. Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, explained in a statement that the team comprising of selected seasoned strategic commanders from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police and above was being headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Joseph Egbunike. He is to be assisted by the DIG in charge of Operations, Acting DIG Zaki Ahmed. Mba, a commissioner of police, said, “Other strategic commanders deployed to Anambra State include five Assistant Inspectors General of Police, 14 Commissioners of Police, 31 Deputy Commissioners of Police and 48 Assistant Commissioners of Police.

“The senior officers are to coordinate human and other operational deployments in the three Senatorial Districts, 21 Local Government Areas and the 5,720 polling units in Anambra State.”

Mba added that while “Egbunike is saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of the Operation Order evolved from the Election Security Threat Assessment, to ensure a peaceful environment devoid of violence and conducive enough to guarantee that law-abiding citizens freely perform their civic responsibilities without molestation or intimidation.”

Mba also quoted the IGP as reassuring the nation that the Force was adequately prepared for the election and reiterated that the police would do everything within its powers to work with INEC and other stakeholders to protect democratic values, provide level playing field for all political actors, ensure adequate protection of voters, INEC personnel and equipment, accredited observers and other key players in the state. He also appealed to the voters to come out en masse and exercise their franchise.