Anambra guber: Parties strategise as race gets tougher
While political parties are strategising and re-strategising to ensure victory in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Anambra State, aspirants are warming up with internal and external consultations with relevant stakeholders, all in efforts to secure the ticket of their respective parties. For instance, the All Progressives Congress (APC), an obvious major contender to the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state, has not rested on its oars in its efforts to wrest power from the incumbent Governor Willie Obiano.
Prominent among these efforts is the setting up of an eight-man committee, saddled with the responsibility of organising a “free, fair and credible primaries” to get the best candidate that is not only sellable, but someone that would further promote the image of the party in the eyes of the electorate.
The committee is also mandated to ensure equal treatment of all the aspirants, as well as explore ways of mobilising funds for the election.
The committee has the governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo as chairman and the former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzo Kalu as the vice chairman, while Sen. Nkechi Nwogu, Sen. Ifeanyi Ararume, Sen. Agboti and Chief Cosmos Maduka are members.
Undoubtedly, the setting up of the committee by the APC leadership, which has been commended by many, particularly with regard to the calibre of the personalities that constitute the committee, is seen as a step in the right direction.
Speaking when they met with the state executive of the party in Awka, the state capital, the chairman of the committee, Sen. Nwobodo said, “We will not fight, we will not kill anybody, we will peacefully take Anambra State.”
He said that though Governor Obiano might not be a pushover, all the APC needed was to present a good candidate that would give the party victory.
“Let us not make the mistake of thinking that the incumbent governor is a pushover. We must get someone that will be better, and who will, after winning the election, deliver the goods to the people of the state.”
On his part, the vice chairman of the committee, Orji Uzo Kalu, said that though Governor Obiano was their friend, his only saviour would be to join the APC now to save his seat before the doors of the party were closed.
He asked party members in the state to reject the old practice where people go for the highest bidder, which according to him, was the bane of politics in Igboland.
Some political observers, however, have expressed doubt on the ability of members of the committee to match words with action, in view of the myriad of challenges they are to contend with.
At the last count, no fewer than 10 people had declared interest to run for the election. Among them are Senator Andy Uba, Tony Nwoye, Bath Nwibe, Chike Obidigbo, Obinna Uzor, George Moghalu, John Bosco Onunkwo, Don Okonkwo, Charles Odedo, Paul Chukwuma.
The next issue is the challenge of changing the perception of the average indigene of the state who sees the APC as not just a northern party, but a movement dominated by Muslims.
Besides, some of the aspirants are so influential and intimidating in terms of affluence and connections that it would take courage and political will to push them aside.
The current Minister of Labour, Senator Chris Ngige, who APC members view as their leader, as far as the entire SouthEast region is concerned, is a heavyweight whose interest in the race is still hazy.
Although he had, in several fora distanced himself from the race, those who know him very well say he should not be taken by his words as he might likely spring up surprises, even at the last minute.
Speaking about Ngige, a political commentator, Tony Okafor said, “He once told us that he didn’t have interest in certain positions, including that of a senator, but some days before the election, he contested. He is like a man with nine lives, so I can’t predict him.”
He, however, said although the number of the aspirants may appear to be high, narrowing it to one would not be a tall order.
“I don’t think they are too many to handle. In 1999 we had about 18 aspirants for the governorship in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one person eventually emerged.
“The Nwobodo-led committee should look out for a person who is endemically committed to the party; who would not sell out the party. They should avoid a repeat of what happened in Imo State, where APGA hurriedly gave the ticket to Okorocha, who left it after winning the election,’’ he added.
Another political observer, Frank Udenze, urged the committee to factor in the zoning formula if they would succeed. He said selecting a candidate from the Anambra Central zone may reduce the winning chances of the party.
“If they bring someone from Anambra Central, that person may not get the appeal of the electorate because that zone has governed the state for 11 years,’’ he said.
A civil servant, Jideofor Michael, however, expressed the fear that the committee would be influenced by some moneybags to determine the outcome of the primary election of the party.
“I doubt the possibility of the committee delivering a credible primary when the likes of Andy Uba and Tony Nwoye are there. Some are even said to be the preferred candidate of Ngige, who is seen as the party’s godfather.
“If they can only avoid monetising the primary, they may succeed. But I doubt that in a state where money politics holds sway; money, not competence, is always the criterion for selection,’’ he added.
Okey Maduforo, a veteran journalist, said religion was another big challenge facing the Nwobodo committee, adding that it is a major factor that had always influenced the politics of Anambra State. According to him, it has always been a running battle between the Catholic Church and Anglican Church.
“The situation has become so messy that the clerics are neckdeep in party politics, projecting aspirants of their denominations to become candidates of political parties.
“Governor Willie Obiano, who is of the APGA, enjoys the support of 60per cent of the clerics in the Catholic Church, a serious threat the Nwobodo committee must have to grapple with in choosing between the likes of Obinna Uzo, Tony Nwoye, George Moghalu and Bath Nwibe, who are all from the Catholic denomination.
“Should the Anglican Church make bold their threat of fielding a candidate from their own denomination, the likes of Andy Uba and Chike Obidigbo may likely dump the party to fight against the eventual candidate of the APC,’’ he said, adding that the committee indeed has a herculean task of pacifying the two warring denominations and their followers in the party, irrespective of who emerges as candidate. Threat from other parties Another big huddle for the Nwobodo committee is getting a formidable candidate who would be able to give other aspirants from other political parties a strong fight.
The likes of the former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, who recently declared his aspiration for the election on the platform of the United Progressives Party (UPP), and the sole candidate of the Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA), Godwin Ezeemo, are no small candidates to wish away as far as the Anambra election is concerned.
Chidoka, during his declaration after being issued with the membership card by the state chairman of the party, Dr Sylvester Igwilo, in Obosi ward 1 in Idemili North Local Government Area, cited good governance for the state as the reason he offered himself for the race. He said he would run a government that would not impose taxes on the poor to increase internally generated revenue. He condemned money politics, saying it is unwise to spend one’s money to gain political power, urging the people of the state to subscribe to what he called “the power of ideas,” which he said would drive his administration if voted to power.
Having occupied two major positions in the country - a onetime Minister of Aviation and former helmsman of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) Chidoka’s chances in the election, to many, are relatively high.
As aspirants and their parties strategise and re-strategise for the election, which is barely five months from now, the electorate, who have expressed their readiness to exercise their franchise, as evident in the large turnout of eligible voters at the ongoing voter registration exercise, are expected to take their collective destiny in their hands.