Anambra 2017: Godfathers Set For Final Push
Few Veterans Versus Many Neophytes
Even without showing evidence, those close to Obiano alleged that the governor had paid as much as N4b, but he stopped refunding the money after Obi continued to traduce him and his leadership style in public.
With Obaze’s emergence as PDP governorship flag bearer and Umeh’s appointment as Director General of Obiano’s reelection campaign committee, the political feud between Obi and Obiano has shifted to Obi versus Umeh. Ensconced in his position, the first salvo fired from the Obiano camp was a well circulated piece entitled “No to Peter Obi’s stooge,” asking voters not to look in the direction of Obaze.
Obi’s camp, giving reasons why the immediate past governor declined support for Obiano, dismissed the idea of Obaze being a stooge. The former governor’s aides recalled how Peter Obi had shortly after handing over to his successor on March 17, 2014 declared: “If Willie Obiano fails on continuity promises, I will join the rest of Ndi Anambra to vote him out.”
They explained that Obi was merely expressing his political preferences out of sincere principles, pointing out that Obiano did not merit his continued support after squandering great opportunities handed over to hm. Obiano’s close associates say the governor is riding on Umeh’s coat tails to navigate through the precarious position of the Oye camp in the current APGA leadership crisis. “The governor believes that being conversant with the bench, Umeh knows the strings to pull to ensure the apex court smiles on Oye,” the source disclosed.
Arthur Eze-nwoye
NOT a few people expressed surprise when Hon. Tony Nwoye, beat 11 other aspirants to clinch the governorship ticket of All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday August 27, 2017. But, prior to the governorship primary on August 26, a purported deed of conveyance between Prince Arthur Eze and Tony Nwoye, was made public. The document was based on agreed terms for support and sharing of the booty of government, including the appointment of commissioners and distribution of internally generated revenue, among other financial accruals to the state.
At result of the charged primary, fingers pointed in the direction of Senator Andy Uba, more so when a petition from a nebulous group, APC Southeast Volunteers Movement; to the national headquarters of APC called for outright cancellation of the primary.
And while the call for a review of the outcome of the primary was gathering momentum, the leader of the party in the state and Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, was said to have mobilised party stakeholders from the southeast to reject Nwoye’s emergence on the grounds that the former students’ leader could not win the governorship.
A proxy political battle ensued, as a group, Buhari Support Organisation (BSO), joined the fray. While dismissing various negative qualities ascribed to Nwoye, BSO, in a statement signed by its Enugu State chairman, Chief Anike Nwoga, declared that the APC flag bearer is not only broadminded and pro-people, but also that he possesses all it takes to win the November 18 poll.
BSO rejected the claim by southeast volunteers that Nwoye induced delegates to win the ticket, asking whether the member of House of Representatives equally induced voters in Anambra East and West federal constituency to defeat Obiano’s candidate, Peter Madubueze.
“It is obvious that delegates chose Nwoye, because he represents a generational change in leadership, is pro-people and has the requisite experience to win the election,” BSO stated, adding that Nwoye’s victory will usher Nd’igbo to main stream politics.
Nwoye’s victory is under serious interrogation, following a strong worded petition from Senator Andy Uba, detailing how the August 26 APC governorship primary was marred by irregularities ranging from delegate swapping, gangsterism and inducement.
It is left to be seen how godfather and godson surmount the political challenge presented from the well connected Senator, especially in the light of many affidavit of process submitted by distinguished delegates and President Buhari’s alleged disapproval of the process.
Obi-obaze
FOLLOWING the wide voices of opposition to the emergence of Oseloka Obaze as the PDP flag bearer for the November poll, former governor Obi began a subtle fencemending visits to stakeholders of the party in the state and zone. Obi impressed it upon the protesting aspirants the need to go into the November 18 poll as a united bloc, especially given the efforts to revive PDP as the main national party.
Perhaps, noticing the friction within the
PDP fold, a fake statement was released by those who wanted to expand the mutual suspicion within Anambra PDP, which was reeling with the unexpected dissolution of the state working committee.
The statement, which was later attributed to a faction of APGA, signed in the name of Chief Chris Uba, decried an attempt to impose an outsider on PDP for the governorship election, even as it labeled the former governor as a backstabber.
However, given the progress achieved in reconciliation efforts in the party, particularly the talks about making his younger brother the running mate to Obaze, the self acclaimed political godfather of Anambra politics, Uba, came out to denounce the statement as the handiwork of blackmailers. In the statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Ejiofor Eze, Eselu, said: “My attention has been drawn to a publication making the rounds in the social media and credited to me. First, I must express my shock and disappointment ath the height detractors can go to blackmail people. Secondly, I have never conceived such an idea portrayed by the blackmailer about my party's candidate in the just concluded primary election.
“The blackmailer forgot that as a BOT member of my great party (PDP), I have means to dialogue with my party members, which are family to me than going public, if actually something of that nature ever existed. I hereby call on the general public to disregard every message ascribed to my name that is targeted on reducing the person of Peter
Obi, the PDP flag bearer, Oseloka, or anyone, as that is a plot of the evil ones and such is not in my character.”
In addition to complaints from displaced aspirants, 23 members of the PDP caretaker committee in the state recently petitioned the National Caretaker Committee, accusing the chairman and secretary of imposition. As a visible former governor, Obi has been at the centre of reconciliation efforts, even as the position of governorship running mate is being dangled as carrot.