The calm, confident, and cheerful Willie Obiano has became the Governor of Anambra State yesterday(17/3/14) despite the several ogbunigwes (Biafran made landmines) strewn along his path. When he was declared winner on 1/12/13, it appeared that the center could not hold as protests and threats, overwhelmed celebrations. While some ‘noise’ came from Ndi-Anambra, most came from our new found friends from afar with complaints about low turnout, disenfranchisement and scientific rigging. I am not a politician but I observe my environment, and even though I have never participated in partisan politics, I also do have my views on political matters. That was why I voted against Uba, and Ubah, insisted that Anambra North must not bring a Yobe-like candidate(one who is woefully unqualified) and that Ngige had some clarifications to make over his deals and wars with godfathers( Anambra 2013: No to Uba, No to Ubah and no to Yobe Syndrome. BusinessDay,
3/9/13).
Well, Andy Uba lived by courts and technicality and he lost to those forces. Ifeanyi Ubah ran a robust and colourful campaign, tried to explain away the obvious question marks surrounding him, and propounded some strange ideas like dividing government between business and administration or industrialising the state without money. Dr Ngige wanted( and still wants) us to regard him as a hero for exiting his pact with ‘the devils’ but there were also fears that he was getting involved with another set of godfathers. APGA fielded a qualified candidate; he was unknown politically but so was Obi in 2002. I did not comment on PDP because as usual, they were a house divided. Their candidate was cleared by court on election eve and I still marvel at how they even won 90000 votes. Their crises also continued after the elections when the party and the candidate disagreed publicly over the re-run. Ezeemo of PPA ran a gentleman’s campaign; he was at peace with himself and took it easy. Labour Party and APC were attacking Obi, rather than campaigning, while Ngige went to the extent of mimicking Obi’s speech pattern. Ngige was also referring repeatedly to what was in 2003 forgetting that 2013 was not 2003. As for Willie Obiano, I did not hear much from him; Peter Obi spoke for him-just as OBJ spoke for Yar’Adua. He just projected his CV and pledged continuity.
Some matters arose from the election and here are some pertinent questions. How did the voter turnout compare with previous elections (2010 and 2011) in Anambra State and with Edo 2012( 40%) and Ondo 2012, (38%)? How about those in the riverine areas who lost their cards to flood and Ndigbo in the local Diaspora who registered at home but did not return to vote? How come that the voter strength of two LGAs are so intimidating that they would have upturned the entire outcome? And since there was evidence that something was really amiss with these two LGAs, why and how did boycotting become a democratic option? How come that while APGA was trying to fight the fires in its house(Maxi Okwu and Obidigbo campaigned for or with Obiano), PDP was on fire throughout while in APC, the Chief Campaign Officer walked out on the candidate? How strategic was Ifeanyi Ubah’s spending? There were also issues with voters who did not take the review of voters register seriously, sharing of money on Election Day and what Alliance for Credible Elections called community-assisted rigging. All that is now a part of history and for the courts.
One term that has gained currency in Anambra State in the recent past is CONTINUITY. Willie Obiano has pledged to continue from where Peter Obi stopped. There is no doubt that Obi has done well for Anambra State. Anybody who remembers the Anambra of 2003 (governance by godfathers and powerful mobs especially NARTO et al, who owed their allegiance to one young man from Uga, general level of disorder and anarchy) will surely give Peter Obi a thumbs-up. Being able to stabilize and normalize Anambra state is a great achievement and his other giant strides are a bonus. His simplicity and humility as well as the demystification of governorship are all enviable and commendable. Commenting on Obi’s political strategy and attitude Abraham Ogbodo declares ‘He survived amid sharks and storms… the ultimate warrior is the one who fought and returned to tell the story of his exploits in the warfront..like a python, he hides his real strength in a velvet façade… he has a sharp utilitarian sense that removes anything that does not serve good purpose from his list of lids.(Peter Obi, the Good Boy Guardian, 9/3/14, p10).
There have been several commendations, governance awards and financial support from development partners-health and all these have been good for the state. But while Peter Obi(they call him Okwute-Rock) has done well, the concept of continuity requires some critical analyses. Continuity is good when what is being continued is good, coherent and beneficial to the people. Willie cannot be Obi because he is not Obi. One of our problems in the country is that every big-man announces his arrival by cancelling EVERYTHING his predecessor started and starting his own so as to make his/her own mark, dispense patronage and obviously line his own pockets. On that score, it is good to hear Obiano speaking of the 4Cs: continue, complete, commission, and commence, as well as enablers and pillars. While there are certain things I do not like about the ‘attitude’ and approach Lagos State government, it is obvious that the developments attained by Fashola were in part because he continued from where Tinubu stopped. Of course, Fashola is not Tinubu and thus Fashola’s self disciplined and Spartan outlook enabled him take Lagos to a level that his predecessor could not have imagined.
I want Obiano to practice continuity because it is in the interest of the state and because that was his campaign promise. But there are some matters that have arisen. Are we witnessing the re-emergence of godfatherism in Anambra State? Will Obi who wrestled against godfathers now become a godfather? What type of godfather will he be and can Obiano allow himself to be godfathered? Meanwhile, godfather-godson experience has not been very palatable in Nigeria. From Chime/Ebeano(Enugu); Kalu/Orji(Abia), Odili/Amaechi and Amaechi/Wike(Rivers) and Ngige /allied forces[Uba1, Uba2 & Aso Rock). I hope it works for the good of ndi Anambra. How about government by donations? I know it that it disperses responsibility and even power but how are these captured in the budgets and monitored? How about the quality of roads? I met an engineer who used engineering grammar to explain why Ngige roads last longer than Obi roads . How about schools that were given buses and computers but some of them are in dilapidated states?
Willie Obiano, the Okpokuedike of Ahuleri( You see the difference? Obi is Mr. but Obiano is a Chief!), you are welcome to the hot seat. I expect you to do far more than Peter Obi. He spent years fighting several wars but you took over in a stable and calm environment. Furthermore, he is just Obi but you are Obiano (literarily, Obix4 Obi+4). So, in the next four years, you must have quadrupled his attainments!
Ik Muo
