Nwankpo, Umeoji, Soludo: Next To Obiano

Dr. Harris Chuma-Odili (Ogene Igbo), FCMsp 

Since the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA wrestled power from the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in 2006, Anambra state has been enjoying good governance and productive leadership. Rewind, from the days of ex governor Peter Obi, to the present day Gov. Willie Obiano, ndi Anambra have enjoyed in no small measures the dividends of democracy.  

The APGA led government has not disappointed the good people of Anambra state. We have experienced unimpaired growth and developments in the state. Chief Willie Obiano came at a time when the state was in dire need of an experienced administrator to sustain the profound impact on developmental governance made by Mr. Peter Obi in the fledgling state. Cautiously, it was the dream of the outgoing Governor Obi to hand over reigns of power to a more capable hand who would not just succeed him, but, ensure that the gains of his administration did not go down the drains. 

As the dawn set, APGA was courted by sound minds, interesting and sophisticated personalities all gunning for the highly exalted office of the executive governor of Anambra state. As the intrigues, drama, and power play set in, came the right choice on Willie Obiano to lead the battle. The decision to present Willie Obiano was considered the best option for the survival of APGA, and continued developmental governance in the state, as it were.

The ultimate rougged and righteous APGA basking in the euphoria of “nkea bu nke anyi” with no doubts despatched the “golden boy” Willie Obiano to the gubernatorial polls, and consequently, won the most keenly contested governorship election in the annals history of the state. 

Fortunately, three years into the saddle of leadership, Gov Willie Obiano’s sterling leadership qualities dwarfed his predecessors, he took governance to a whole new level. Gov. Obiano brought a change people can see, touch and feel. He initiated projects no one believed could be possible in a state whose internally generated revenue and federal allocations had been adjudged the poorest. With Gov Obiano on the wheels, Anambra began to witness uncommon socio-economic transformations as huge infrastructural developement and peoples oriented programmatic initiatives began to emerge, to the chagrin of political pundits.

In fact, within first 100days in office Gov. Obiano had successfully thrown Anambra state into construction site; roads rehabilitation, construction and reconstruction, building of “flyovers” which was allen to the state surfaced in the capital city Awka. The sleepy town and communities began to see streets lights everywhere, and night life with its economic activities sprouted all over. The capital city Awka began to live its full status; comatosed hospitality industry got reawakened, and quality entertainment revitalized, and we began to “club” and do “awantilo dance” not forgetting our “Ogbono” hangouts at the various entertainment hotspots round the state. Peace and tranquility returned to the state, violent crimes drastically reduced, and security was guaranteed. Ndi Anambra in diaspora who had been avoiding home for fear of unknown began to return home in droves, and started investing in the state.

Gov Obiano’s achievements were loud, bold and unprecedented in almost all the sectors, reason why ndi Anambra felt they owed him a part on the back, the mega vote of confidence for second term. Gov Obiano’s reelection completely redefined politics in Anambra, for the first time a sitting governor seeking for reelection did not lose election in any of the 21 local government Areas of the state. That’s Bold.

Gentlemen, Anambra is on the Match again. Currently, Governor Willie Obiano is searching for a capable hand to handover the baton inherited from his predecessor Mr Gregory Peter Obi. Indeed, it is another critical decision time, and APGA is in the eye of the storm, once more. A possible replacement is being sought after. The survival of APGA depend largely on who will be chosen to represent the ruling party at the November 6 gubernatorial election. 

In APGA, amongst the top contenders are Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo a trained Lawyer, Technocrat, Philosopher and erstwhile Presidential Aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Rt. Hon Chukwuma Umeoji astute politician, scholar of great repute, and federal Lawmaker, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo, former Central Bank Governor, world renowned economist, and currently the Economic Adviser to President Mohammadu Buhari led APC government. These political juggernauts will be logged in stiff competition at the APGA primary elections in June. It promises to be an interesting bout, expectations are high.

Earlier, speculations were riffed about Prof Chukwuma Soludo’s annointed candidacy, but the APGA party leadership has come in the open to promise a level playing ground for all the contestants. Nwankpo and Umeoji who are regarded as underdogs by the Soludo’s apologists are not leaving any stone unturned in the quest to grab the party’s ticket. There has been torrent of endorsements flooding the political spheres by various political blocs, both old and new. Even, some notable party stalwarts and BOT members prematurely conducting open endorsements to spite and discourage aspirants they don’t like their faces. It is truly, the season of “If not me, It cannot be you”, the heat is on, it’s raging. All manners of strategies and tactics are being deployed by all the aspirants, the d-day beckons, the showdown will not break us. We will rise in unison to protect our darlyn party APGA, it is our only hope in the Nigeria enterprise. Our shared identity. We must get it right, it is our life.

The APGA is on the Match to produce the next governor of Anambra state, even the opposition parties are descretly aligning themselves with the ruling party. From a dependable source, not fewer than five PDP guber aspirants from Anambra central have started negotiating to support the APGA incase PDP guber primary election swings in favour of Anambra Southern aspirant where APGA had zoned its guber ticket. On the other hand, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah’s  Young Progressives Party YPP are impatiently waiting to see who would emerge APGA’s candidate. Senator Dr Ifeanyi Ubah is already in the ring as consensus candidate of YPP, all alone at the moment waiting for the outcome of other parties primary elections. While the APC is quietly working round the clock to ensure her primary election would go without “roforofo”. The big masquerade Engr. Johnbosco Onunkwo had mouthed that he had the capacity to defeat all the APC aspirants at the party’s primary election, and escape with the guber ticket. Indeed, Engr. Johnbosco Onunkwo is an untamed lion.

Between Nwankpo, Umeoji and Soludo, one out of the APGA brightest aspirants will eventually emerge as the flag bearer, and will go ahead to beat silly the opposition at the governorship election scheduled for November 6, 2021. It is what it is! We die here!

Stay with me

Ekenem