Like in a trans…. or what many can call a vision, I heard a voice and when I looked up to the sky, behold, he spoke with deep voice filled with passion to save Igbo race.
I wrote it down, and it reads:
“I fought with all I have to defend my people when it mattered most.
I carried the scars of the war until I was lowered into my grave.
I left behind 1 legacy for my people
APGA.
Do not allow APGA to die.
Do this for the souls of my people killed to rest here in peace
Your freedom and that of your generation unborn depends on it.
APGA Nkea bu nke Anyi….”
I decided to create a visual of what exactly I saw, so that those who see it might believe.
Being the text of a Special Broadcast by the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano on the 2017 Gubernatorial Election, 16/11/2017
Ndi Anambra, ekenem unu
Umu nnem, a time comes that rarely comes in history when a people must stand up and take full ownership of their lives and circumstances or forever live in absolute regret. Ndi Anambra that time is NOW!
Three years and 8 months ago, when I assumed office as your governor, Anambra was in the firm grip of criminals. Kidnappers and armed robbers roamed the length and breadth of our state. Our people lived in fear and many of us could not go to sleep with both eyes closed.
Ndi Anambra, but our story has changed today. We have turned our adversities into advantages. We have taken governance from a mere construction of roads and bridges to fashioning out a new philosophy of life.
We have become Nigeria’s safest state. We have become the new Agricultural model for Nigeria. Our cities and communities have become aesthetic wonders at night with dazzling lights. We have created an environment for businesses to thrive on a 24-hour basis.
We have attracted investments valued at over $5billion. We have touched every community in Anambra State with special projects chosen by each community. We suspended taxes for low income earners and put more money in the hands of breadwinners in a recession. In fact, we grew our GDP by N1trillion in the middle of recession and increased our Internally Generated Revenue without increasing taxes.
We have sent our teachers to Singapore for training and handed out scholarships to 200 students in a time of recession. In return, our children have continued to bring us honour with excellent performances in World School Debates and external examinations, year after year.
Ndi Anambra, we have constructed roads and bridges that have enormous economic importance. We have built the longest bridge in the South East and opened direct access to our oil-wells. We inherited 101 roads and completed 51 of them. We inherited 6 bridges and completed 3 of them. We awarded 94 new roads and completed 20 of them. We also awarded 12 new bridges and completed 5 of them. So, in three and a half years in which Nigeria has witnessed the worst economic recession, my administration has completed 71 roads and 8 bridges. Many more are still coming.
We have floated the Universal Health Insurance Scheme to make quality medicare available to the rich and the poor. We have renovated 3 major general hospitals and 10 maternal and child-health centres. We have also disbursed the sum of N747m to Mission Hospitals.
Umu nnem, we have increased workers’ salaries in the midst of recession and settled the arrears of pensions and gratuity of workers that were abandoned by previous regimes and next year, we shall give workers another salary increase by the Grace of God. We have completed the construction of the Golden Tulip Hotel in Agulu and it will open for business before Christmas. We have commenced work on the site of the Anambra Airport City Project in Umueri and the surrounding areas. This ambitious project will change our story and change the trajectory of our development forever. This project is the future of Anambra State and the economic game-changer of the entire South East region. It will be ready in three years and Anambra State is not putting a single kobo in the project. So, it is a win-win situation for us.
Ndi b’anyi, obodo anyi adigokwanu mma! Anambra achapugo! We have crossed the threshold of mediocrity and become one of Nigeria’s elite states. We have re-written our narrative and hoisted our flag among the greats. Our today is great. But our tomorrow will be greater.
Ndi Anambra, November 18 is two days away. The time to answer the call of history has come. The time to finally demonstrate our readiness to safeguard our future has come. The time to show the world that we are prepared to defend the freedom we have enjoyed in these past three and half years has come.
Ndi Anambra, the time has indeed come to preserve the only political heritage of Ndigbo and ensure that outsiders do not squeeze it to death. APGA is the only party that Ndigbo can lay any claims to. Anambra is the last frontier of the bloodless war to conquer Ndigbo militarily, economically and politically. We must therefore not allow the COCK handed over to us by our illustrious fathers to die in our hands. Indeed, this COCK must not die. We must be ready to protect it with our lives when the time comes. For in the words of the famous African American civil rights leader, Dr Martin Luther King Jnr, “he who has nothing to die for is not fit to live.”
My brothers and sisters, we must defend our heritage and honour with our strength and might and a firm faith in God who controls the affairs of men. No sacrifice is too much to preserve the momentum of development that we have achieved in Anambra State at the moment. So, we must not be found wanting on the Election Day. For APGA must not die!
Umu nnem, all eyes are on us today. Everyone is watching to see what we shall do with our votes on Saturday November 18, 2017. They are watching to see whether we shall keep what we have created for ourselves or throw it all away. Ndi Anambra we must not disappoint those who look up to us for leadership. We must not disappoint ourselves. We must take charge of our tomorrow from today. We must cast our votes for APGA this Saturday!
Umu nnem, casting our votes for APGA is important, but protecting our votes to make sure that they count is even more important. So, I urge you to show some commitment to this cause. Devote some time to vote and a little more time to ensure that your votes count.
Fellow citizens, I will not fail to use this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari for reacting swiftly to order the reinstatement of my Security Details that were whimsically withdrawn from me two days ago. Mr President has indeed shown that certain excesses do not go unchecked under his watch. I must also thank the honourable members of the National Assembly, especially the distinguished senators who firmly insisted that my security details are a part of the statutory provisions for my office and should be respected by all. Indeed, I must thank the leadership of the PDP and APC who also stood up in my defence because they considered that incident an affront on democracy. My sincerest gratitude also goes to the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris for his swift reaction in reinstating my security aides. I must observe that the overwhelming support that we received over this incident has shown me that the ties that bind us as a country are stronger than the forces that separate us. I thank you all for your kind words and your support.
I will not conclude this address without a word to my fellow contestants. Oseloka, Tony, Osita, Godwin and the other fellow candidates, I address you as the Governor of Anambra State today. Unu ma na Anambra bu nke anyi nine. This great state belongs to all of us.
The beauty of democracy is that it allows every candidate a chance to pursue their own vision of society but it also places the power of choice in the hands of the people. Democracy never ceases to remind us that Power belongs to the people. So, my brothers, I plead with you today to let the choice of the people prevail in this election.
My fellow candidates, our people are inundated with the rumours of violence and war over this election. But I have always believed that none of our gubernatorial ambitions is worth the blood of our people.
Bikonu, let us all caution our supporters and followers to maintain the peace in our dear state. We all have a responsibility to prove to the world that Anambra State is truly the Light of the Nation. We must make this election a victory for democracy…a victory for Ndi Anambra!
President General of the apex Igbo socio-political organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo and rights activist, Ayo Opadokun, have insisted that restructuring of Nigeria will resolve agitations by various groups in the country.
Speaking at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, during the sixth Zik Lecture Series, the duo agreed that for the country to have peace, those in positions of authority should see the need to put in place mechanism to restructure Nigeria.
In a 28-page lecture, Nwodo identified two models, the conservative type and fundamental devolution of powers, for successful restructuring of the country.
He said the conservative type is aimed at shedding off some of the exclusive powers of the Federal Government, like “issuing of mining licenses, permission for constructing of federal roads and shedding of regulatory powers over investments in critical sectors of the economy like power,” while the other, a fundamental devolution of powers to states, as federating units and a lean federal government, with exclusive powers “for external defence, customs, immigration, foreign relations and a federal Legislature and Judiciary, to make and interpret laws in these exclusive areas. The first approach simply wants the states as the federating units and federal government with limited powers. It wants the states to control a percentage of revenue accruing from their areas and contribute agreed percentage of such revenue to the federal government and other states respectively.
“The second approach proposes the states as federating units, with a region as each of the six geopolitical units, whose constitution will be agreed to and adopted by the states in the geopolitical region. The regions will have the powers to merge existing states or create new ones. There will be regional and states legislature in the respective political entities.”
In his own paper titled, “The political economy of restructuring in Nigeria: Problems and prospects,” Opadokun stressed that the consequences of abrogating a negotiated federal constitutional arrangement, upon which the ethnic nationalities, which were the building blocks subscribed to the independent constitution for a centralised and unitary governance, resulted in perceived and real injustice, inequity, unfairness, discrimination and undue advantages for some, to the detriment of other groups of Nigerians…”
Opadokun who argued that restructuring would not lead to the breakup of the country, but would rather restore power to the federating units to make them legitimate authorities said, “The campaign for national restructuring be it in the form of campaign for resource control, Niger Delta Avengers, MASSOB, IPOB, OPC, Middle Belt Youth Forum etc. accompanied with violence and bloodshed are dimensions of the suffocating nature of the currently unsustainable overreaching unitary government deceptively called Federal Government.
“Since the Military Government started creating states and local governments by fiat, the lop-sidedness and skewed nature of the national structure had become too prohibitive to finance.
“Chief Awolowo had 16 Ministers and 16 Parliamentary Secretaries to run the old Western Region now broken into eight states. Each of them now has at least 15-20 Commissioners who, in turn have private secretaries and special assistants with accompanying housing, vehicular entitlements along with other perquisite of office.
“Therefore, restructuring the Nigerian state to its Federal constitutional arrangements whereby the component units have constitutional power to create administrative units for effective service delivery, will certainly reduce the cost of governance substantially.
“Today, by genuine available data from the Federal Office of Statistics, World Bank and other international institutions, Nigeria for some time, has been spending about 80% of its annual earning on recurrent expenditures to service the various unproductive bureaucracies they have unreasonably created.
“Furthermore, arising from some Army personnel’s determination to have absolute control of Nigeria, which they considered part of their spoils of office, they appropriated all major sources of income residing in the various regions/component units to the central government.
“In the process, the federating components became glorified outposts of the Commander-in-Chief. Call them vassal states/outposts. As a result, everyone had to go cap-in-hand to seek the favour of the Commander-in-Chief for running the state government.
“Again, the military in its determination to have absolute control over Nigeria from 1970s, took over all prime assets and investments of the regions dictatorially; and most of those regional endowments have been ruined, mismanaged and even run out of existence; some today are shadows of what they were when they were founded by the regions.”
In about 24 hours from now, the good people of Anambra State, in the Biafran Region of Nigeria will be going to the polls to elect a Governor that will occupy the state Government House for the next 4 years that will commence from the 17th of March 2018.
For the past 3 years and 8 months, the incumbent Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has been on seat, having taken over from his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi, who governed the state till March 2014.
The Customary Government of Biafra, being the De facto Government of the people of Biafra indigenous Community wishes the good people of Anambra State a successful election day.
The Customary Government wishes to reaffirm her commitment to the use of political, legal and diplomatic processes to pursue self determination for the Biafran people without breaking any law of any land, including Nigeria.
On that note, we wish to reiterate our conviction on the rule of law and our firm belief that the only route to Biafra that will be at peace with her neighbours is through peaceful political process.
We are quite aware that the people against whom we are contending our freedom are not comfortable with our choice of peaceful restoration of freedom, because it completely disarms them from resorting to reckless killing of our people which they have shown serious penchant for. For this, they have repeatedly tried to torpedo all our approaches to freedom through legal, political and diplomatic route.
We are not deterred.
We are progressing, though slowly, bearing in mind the adage that says, slow and steady wins the race.
We must continue.
My Great Biafran people, let us remember, and always bear in mind that the road to freedom is tedious, rough and sometimes lonely. We must therefore take solace in the fact that on that lonely and precarious road, we are not alone. Our Lord God is firmly behind us. Let us not lose hope, that though the enemy runs around in rampage, our Lord will definitely put him to rest.
Therefore, the Customary Government of Biafra is urging all eligible voters in Anambra state to troop out enmass and vote a candidate of their choice. Let nobody deceive you into believing that there is any gain in boycotting the election. No gain comes to a man that abandoned the village square where dispute affecting him was being discussed. The implication is that whatever decision that is reached, he will accept.
Therefore, the Customary Government is calling on all eligible voters in Anambra state to go to their voting centers and cast their votes.
Our candid advice is that after voting, MAKE SURE YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
What Biafrans need at this time is a suitable political platform from which Biafran freedom fighters will engage their Nigerian counterparts on the political chessboard in order to take over our political environment.
For many years, since the cessation of hostility in 1970, Biafrans had erroneously believed that engaging Nigeria politically by moving on to the centre will make us to be accepted in Nigeria as equal partners and equal shareholders. We have tasted this center-politics since the return of democracy in 1999. We can remember our horrid experience then. We can also remember our experience during the military regime from 1970 till the coming of democracy in 1999.
We can never forget!
It is therefore the view of the Customary Government of Biafra that what the Igbo and all her neighbours making up Biafran region need in order to succeed in championing our course to peaceful freedom is regional cohesion amongst ourselves. That should be our priority! And that regional cohesion must be forged through a regional-based political platform. Biafrans’ love for Nigerian nation building has been misused and maligned enough, however ,we have seen that being in opposition is better than being used as laborers for baking a cake that is always shared in our exclusion.
Therefore, anybody or any political party that do not give you the feeling of Biafran regional cohesion, please distance yourself from him or that party.
Let us build our home. Let us build ourselves and strengthen our fortresses as we engage our contenders. There is no other peaceful route to Biafra than that.
Many people died, on Thursday morning, at the Abbatoir area of Agege, in the outskirts of Lagos State when a train derailed.
Several person were seriously injured while many vehicles and other property worth several millions were destroyed.
Lagos State police spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, who confirmed the incident said that the train also rammed into a trailer, injuring many and leaving unconfirmed number of victims feared dead.
According to Famou-Cole, “We just got the information. Our policemen and those attached to the railway command are in control of the situation. I cannot confirm any death, but i can tell you that some persons were injured.
” We shall be able to furnish you with details later please.”
Before the election in 2013, it was clear from the onset that the then candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Willy Obiano was going to carry the day. And two factors made that prediction easy to make: one, the then governor, Mr. Peter Obi had raised the governance level in the state such that the people of the state were almost unanimous in their resolve that he be allowed to ‘install’ a successor. Two and most importantly was the alleged backing of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan.
Although the PDP had a candidate in the race, in person of Dr. Tony Nwoye, the party made sure it did everything to allegedly frustrate his chances of winning the race by keeping him busy in the courts, until about two weeks to the election, before the Supreme Court’s judgment that declared him the authentic candidate.
Nwoye lend credence to the above fact in a recent interview when he declared that: “Jonathan sold me out, which he later apologised (for) anyway. I lost the election before (it was conducted) because the then president Jonathan gave all the support to them – to Peter Obi who installed Obiano and that was why they kept me in court. His (Jonathan) men assisted people that I contested primaries with, and they kept me in court; I only campaigned for less than 10 days.”
The rest as they say is history. Nwoye is back in the race again. So also is Obiano. But they are not the only two in the race. There are 35 other candidates, as released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in September.
In the full list, as released by INEC, five women are vying for the governorship seat, while eight others are vying as running mates.
While Obiano retained his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke as running mate, the APC candidate, Dr. Nwoye, has the son of former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dozie Ikedife Jr as his running mate, with PDP’s Oseloka Obaze pairing with the daughter of the former vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Mrs. Chidi Onyemelukwe. Former Aviation minister, Chief Osita Chidoka, who is running on the platform of the United Progressive Party (UPP) has Chief Marcel Okeke, an economic strategist, multi-talented administrator and philanthropist, as running mate.
Others on the list are Nwezi Amechi and his running mate Okeke Njideka, a woman, for the All Grand Alliance Party (AGAP), and Oby Okafor and her running mate Onyekwuluje Uzoma for the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD).
Also in the race are the Alliance Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Alliance (AA) and Action Democratic Party (ADP), African People’s Party (APP), Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP), Democratic Alternative (DA), Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC), Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and Kowa Party.
The rest are the Labour Party (LP), Masses Movement Of Nigeria (MMM), Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP), National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP) United Democratic Party (UDP), National Conscience Party (NCP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Nigeria Peoples Congress (NPC), National Unity Party (NUP), People for Democratic Change (PDC), Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Young Democratic Party (YDP) and Young Progressive Party (YPP).
But of the lot, Daily Sun investigations reveal that four stand out. And from all available records and statistics, it was further gathered, the four candidates, otherwise dubbed the big four are the frontrunners in the race. They are Obiano, Obaze, Nwoye and Chidoka. Of the four, three are from Anambra North Senatorial District, an area where traditional rulers, elite and other major stakeholders in the state believe should have another shot at the governorship, in line with its unwritten zoning arrangement in the state. Chidoka is the only one from Anambra Central Senatorial district, an area the people believed has had its turn as far as the governorship of the state was concerned.
Obiano
He is the incumbent governor. Naturally the incumbency factor should work in his favour. He is a Catholic and they are in the majority in the state. His candidature is seen as the surest short cut to having the south senatorial district have a go at governorship after four years based on the zoning and rotation principle.
He is also running on the platform of APGA, a party seen largely as an Igbo party. Although the original founder of the party, Chief Chekwas Okorie is not from the state, but because the late leader of the party and former Biafra warlord, Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu hails from the state, Anambra is seen as the home of APGA. Those who hold this view believe that irrespective of whether Obiano is doing well or not, the party must not be allowed to die.
The slogan is “Nkea bu nke anyi” (meaning: this is our own). They see the party as one that could be used to negotiate Igbo’s fortune in Nigeria. Two prominent chieftains of the party who have been pushing this position through in the media, especially is the immediate past national chairman of the party, who incidentally is leading Obiano’s re-election campaign, Chief Victor Umeh and former Information commissioner, Chief Tony Onyima.
Umeh, in one of the party’s campaign rallies in Idemili North said: “Anambra election is not only to re-elect Governor Obiano but to ensure that APGA did not go into extinction; we will not allow the only Governor elected under APGA to be removed from office.
“Governor Obiano is the only governor the Igbo race has, so the election is not only for Obiano’s re-election but to make sure the Igbo race is not wiped out in Nigeria.
“The way Igbo are treated in Nigeria has exposed the injustice against the Igbo people and we must struggle harder like never before to ensure that we remain in Nigeria, you should not listen to the people who are coming here to tell you to join them, their end will soon come.”
Onyima, on his part, in a recent interview with Daily Sun said: “If for whatever reason, Anambra decides to embrace APGA, and APGA has retained the power for the past 11 years, what is wrong with that? If you look at the political history of this country, which party has ever been a truly national party? It requires a handshake across the divide to be a national party. Obiano has promised to do that. In the last governorship election in Abia, he gave all the necessary support to the candidate there, and he nearly got or he got it, but for some unforeseen circumstances. In Imo State, recall that Rochas Okorocha first won election on the ticket of APGA and later he defected; AD started that way, and from AD to AC, ACN and, today APC. So, APGA is in the same trajectory.”
Obiano’s supporters are of the view that he has performed. And those in this league will readily point at the beautification of Awka, the capital city, building of roads and flyover, maintenance of security and his investment in agriculture, to buttress their position.
For Obiano, the major attraction for now is his dolling out of N20 million to each communities for projects. Because the traditional rulers and some elite are in charge of the disbursement of the fund, Obiano is expected to have them on his side. He also boasts of paying salaries of workers regularly. All these which are some of his strengths are expected to work in his favour.
However, there are other factors also likely to work against him at the poll. His performance is seen largely in some quarters as a fluke. Interestingly, during the last governorship debate organised and televised live by Channels Television, Obiano could not adequately respond to the issue when he was asked to show any tangible results on the ground of the series of MoUs he had signed in the last three and half years.
His government is also seen as clownish, as his appointments revolve mainly around his area- the Aguleri axis. And even some of the roads he constructed are said to be concentrated in his own area of the state. There is also a gang up against him, from within his party, APGA.
For instance, Chief Sylvester Nwobu-Alor, founding member of APGA in Anambra State, who is presently campaigning for the election of Oseloka Obaze of the PDP believes that Obiano does not deserve a second term. He said among other things that “it is preposterous and prevaricating for a properly constituted government with huge allocations and IGR to point at the payment of salaries and pension as achievement. By the way, it is legal, moral and natural to pay all workers at the due time. It is unconscionable and despicable really to owe a worker who has completed his task. Therefore, Obiano’s government should not see the payment thereof, as an achievement. Besides, governments before it (that is Ngige and Obi’s) paid salaries and pensions and still performed and packaged the infrastructures to the admiration of Ndi Anambra. More so, Obiano’s government has no reason not to pay salaries and improve on the lives of Ndi Anambra because a solid financial foundation was availed by the preceding government of Peter Obi. The street light project, good as it is, is not enough to showcase given the enormous fund at Obiano’s government disposal.
“I believe in objectivity and not swayed by parochialism and sentiments. Honestly, the government of Obiano has not done anything positive to warrant a second tenure. I say it again, giving Obiano a second chance means total liquidation of Anambra State. To this end, therefore, I urge Anambrarians to give Oseloka Henry Obaze their mandate come November 18, 2017. He is already tested and trusted having brought his Midas touch to bear on both Obi’s and Obiano’s incipient administration. The now famous and glorious MDG’s miracle in Anambra so far is the handwork of Oseloka Obaze. Truly, as an elder statesman and a stakeholder in Anambra polity, Obaze’s international diplomatic exposure and human management acumen, including the expertise of Chidi Onyemelukwe are sure the right steps to progress and prosperity in Anambra State.”
Obaze
He is a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG). He served former governor Peter Obi and incumbent governor, Obiano in the same capacity. But for the crisis that engulfed APGA in the run up to the 2013 governorship election, he would have succeeded Obi.
Obi, Daily Sun gathered, had zeroed in on him, campaigns were on, and suddenly crisis broke out between Obi and Umeh, who was the then national chairman of the party. But when the dust settled, part of the compromise reached was that all those who were on the side of Obi, and who had already been pencilled down to run would have to give way. And that was how Obiano, who was never part of the government and the initial campaign, came into the mix and became the beneficiary of the crisis.
But Obi and Obaze today are in the PDP. Like Obiano, he is also a Catholic. Daily Sun gathered that the Catholic Bishops at some point mooted the idea of backing a candidate, but the idea did not fly.
Obaze, as many have come to know today is the unsung hero of the Obi’s magic in Anambra State. Interestingly, if outcome of debates before elections have impact on the voters, Obaze, from last Sunday’s outing would have carried the day. Most Nigerians including those who are not from Anambra gave the day to him. He is sound, articulate and appears to have a clear idea of what he wants to do in Anambra. His major strength is Obi. But that could also undo him.
Obi is largely seen as fighting a vendetta. But Obi too has explained his reasons for leading a campaign against Obiano. He told Daily Sun in a recent interview that: “I governed this state for eight years. I can tell you that there is no candidate in this present election that can work better than our (PDP) candidate, Obaze. Some people wrote that Peter Obi and Obiano are quarrelling. I don’t have any issue with Mr. Willie Obiano, but I have issues with Governor Obiano. We are not quarrelling, Obiano is still my friend.
“…the issue I have with Obiano is very simple. When I took Obiano round Anambra State for campaign, wherever we went to, the markets and so on, the people kept asking me, ‘Peter are you sure this man would do well,’ and I said ‘yes.’ They asked, ‘if he fails to do well what will happen? I told them ‘I would be the one to lead a campaign against Obiano if he does not perform well in his first term.’ Today, can anyone show me what the governor has done within his first term? He has nothing to show for it. I am a businessman; you don’t introduce a product twice in the market.”
However, the crisis within the PDP would largely work against Obaze. If the PDP had put its house in order, analysts believe the governorship would have been it for the take. Those who argue along this line believed that Anambra was originally PDP and that all the major actors in the different political parties today, especially the major ones, were once members of the party before they all went their separate ways.
Ironically, all the aspirants who contested against Obaze on the platform of the PDP are not with him. While some are working for the APC, others are with Obiano. Yet, there is a group who believe in working for the party so that in the event that the party wins, they would find a way round their challenges. One of those in this category is Dr. Alex Obiogbolu. He believes that he could still be the governor, if the party wins, since he is already challenging the emergence of Obaze in court.In all, majority of the PDP members are angry that Obi has allegedly hijacked the party. They say his man picked the party’s ticket, a running mate was picked without recourse to them and that the campaign team was put together without carrying them who are the mainstream PDP members along. All these are expected to work against Obaze.
Nwoye
He is also a Catholic like Obiano and Obaze. Like the two of them too, he is also from the northern senatorial district. But unlike Obaze, this is not his first attempt. He ran against Obiano in 2013, but lost. However, to prove a point, he ran for the Anambra East/West Federal Constituency election and trounced the governor’s candidate. He believes strongly that if he could defeat the governor in his “backyard” in 2015 to go to the House of Representatives, he could repeat similar feat this Saturday.
Though, a grassroots person, Nwoye himself is of the view that the race won’t be a tea party. He admitted that APGA was a “strong party” to beat in the state, but nonetheless expressed confidence that he would win the election.
The youths, especially students are his greatest assets. Being a former students’ union leader, the youths see him as one of their own. He also enjoys reasonable support from the womenfolk, largely because of his major backer, Chief Arthur Eze, who is said to be a philanthropist of legendary proportion.
He is one that keeps to agreement. If you have an agreement with him, he is not the type that would betray it. Although he hasn’t say so, his opponents believe that he would be relying only on federal might to make it to Awka Government House.
But Nwoye and his supporters think otherwise. He said: “Rigging is not possible in this election. Votes must count; one man, one vote. APC will win this election convincingly. APGA would be the complainant while APC would be the defendant after the election.”
However, Nwoye’s major challenge is his party. Despite the fact that some of the ‘who is who’ in the South East today are in the APC, the party remains a hard sell in the zone, including in Anambra State. His party is seen largely as being responsible for the marginalisation of the Igbo.
Incidentally, Nwoye and his supporters too are aware of this fact. What they have now resorted to do is to convince the people that they should put it at the back of their minds that they are voting Nwoye and not any Hausa or Yoruba man.
Daily Sun can authoritatively reveal that were it possible to have candidates’ photograph on the ballot and not party logo, Nwoye would have been one of the greatest beneficiaries of that.
Apart from his party, there are also a few of his party members who are also not happy with his emergence. Prominent among them is Senator Andy Uba. All these may work against him.
Chidoka
A former Aviation minister, Chidoka is one politician who appears to be looking beyond this Saturday’s election. His party though very new, appears to represent the new thinking in Igbo land. Its ideals appear to be in tandem with some of the positions being canvassed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The party is being seen in so many quarters as an alternative to APGA. Maybe if the elite and the traditional rulers had not taken side concerning the issue of zoning in the state, Chidoka may perhaps have been dubbed the underdog in the race. Regardless, he appears like one.
Like Obaze, Chidoka gave a good account of himself during the Anambra governorship debate last Sunday. He was rated second best after Obaze by Nigerians on the various social media platforms. He believes he has what it takes to build Anambra into the “first truly world class state in Nigeria and to trigger the processes that would deliver double-digit growth in the GDP of Anambra State and transform it into a middle-income economy by the year 2022.”
Unlike the other candidates, Chidoka is an Anglican. And the church plays very significant and important roles in influencing the choice of electorate.
Chidoka’s experience in the public sector is one of his greatest assets. He became the Chief Executive Officer of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) at the age of 35. But for now, his senatorial district remains his greatest albatross.
However, since he is the only one from the Anambra Central Senatorial district, and since the area has the highest voting population in the state, the people might just decide to spring some surprises. Anambra is never in short supply of political surprises.
Like all the other three major political parties, Chidoka also has some challenges with members of the UPP, some of whom have since left the party shortly after the primary election that produced him as candidate. Also, many believed that since his brother is a current member of the House of Representatives on the platform of the PDP, he should not have bothered showing interest in the race.
The battle ground
Like every state, Anambra too has three senatorial districts. There are 21 councils in all, with each of the senatorial district having seven councils. Obiano’s running mate is from central, while those of Chidoka, Obaze and Nwoye are from the south. But Obi and Ngige are from central. Both men are well respected in the area. Ngige is backing Nwoye, while Obi is backing Obaze. Senator Uche Ekwunife also has reasonable followership in this zone. She is backing Nwoye. Umeh, who leads Obiano’s campaign is also from central. From all indications, Anambra central which has the highest number of voting strength remains the battle ground and any of the candidates that makes appreciable impact in the zone may as well carry the day.
Last line
Regardless, for Obi and Obiano, Daily Sun investigations can reveal, the election is a contest for pride and ego between them. And since all the other three major candidates see Obiano as a non-performer who should not be given another chance to return, the collaboration between two of any of the three would make the race a very tight one for Obiano. But where they all go into the race the way they are at present, Obiano may perhaps carry the day.
The Anambra State gubernatorial election will finally take place this weekend. Here is a quick rundown of everything you need to know about it:
1. The election will be conducted by theIndependent National Electoral Commission (INEC)on Saturday, November 18, 2017.
INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has advised voters to get to the polling units by 8am to make sure the electoral process works according to plan.
2. A record number of 37 candidates from 37 political parties are in contention for the governor’s seat. The state’s incumbent governor, Willie Obiano of the All Progressives’ Grand Alliance (APGA), will face stiff competition from Oseloka Obaze of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Tony Nwoye of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC).
3. According to the Delta State Police Command, there will be a restriction of vehicular movement on the popular Niger Bridge during the election. The restriction will commence from 12am on Friday, November 17, till after the election.
Only people on official or emergency duties with genuine means of identification would be allowed passage.
4. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has revealed that it will deploy 11,000 officers from seven states as well as 300 dogs for the conduct of the election.
The Anambra State Commandant of the Corps, Mr. John Ahwe, said four drones, ambulancesand medical teams as well as 115 vehicles will also be deployed.
On their own part, the police will deploy about 21,000 officers as well as use water boats and helicopters to ensure a safe election.
5. The state’s House of Assembly election for Idemili North constituency will also take place on Saturday.
6. For full participation, Governor Obiano has declared Friday, November 17, as a work-free day to enable civil servants to relocate to their electoral wards and vote.
7. Dr Nkwachukwu Orji is the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the election.
Here is a list of all the candidates released by INEC:
1. Willie Obiano – All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
Obiano is the incumbent governor of Anambra state and had to overcome internal party politics to retain the APGA’s ticket. He’s also retained his deputy, Nkemakonam C. Okeke, as his running mate.
Governor of Anambra state, Dr Willie Obiano.
With the clear advantage of being the incumbent, he is poised to fend off strong competition and win reelection.
2. Oseloka Henry Obaze – People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
The 62-year-old is one of the election’s biggest candidates. He’s previously served as a United Nations(UN) diplomat and as Secretary to the State Government of Anambra State for three years under both former Governor Peter Obi and incumbent Governor Obiano.
Oseloka Obaze with running mate, Chidi Onyemelukwe.
His running mate, Chidi Onyemelukwe, is also a formidable ally as a graduate of Law from the University of Wales and the daughter of former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme.
3. Tony Nwoye – All Progressives’ Congress (APC)
With the might of the presidential ruling party behind him, Nwoye is one of the biggest contenders backed to win the race.
Honourable Tony Nwoye
The former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) failed in his last bid to become Anambra State governor with the PDP, as he came second.
Ezeemo is the only major candidate from Anambra south and is considered strong enough to pull off an upset at the poll with his running mate, Prince Leonard Uchendu.
Godwin Ezeemo.The industrialist contested the state’s last governorship election, also with the PPA, but lost at the polls.
5. Osita Chidoka – United Progressive Party (UPP)
Chidoka is a former Minister of Aviation who is committed to transforming the public service in the state to meet the people’s hopes and needs.
Osita Chidoka
He is also a notable supporter of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, as he drove him away from Kuje prison when he was released on bail in April 2017.
He is one of the favourite candidates to win the election with Okeke Marcel Ogbonnaya as his running mate.
6. Uju Uchendu Ozoka – Action Alliance (AA)
The 48-year-old lawyer and publisher emerged as the AA’s consensus candidate after her only opponent failed the party’s screening exercise.
Uju Uchendu Ozoka getting presented with her party’s certificate of return
Her candidacy is the election’s only all-female ticket after she chose Theresa Nnalue as her running mate.
Her published works include Women And National Development (French And English), Nigeria Of My Dream, and Nigeria: Towards An Egalitarian Society.
7. Oby Kate Okafor – Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD)
Oby Kate Okafor
Running on the promise to right the failure of the menfolk to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people, the Nollywood actress turned politician won her party’s ticket uncontested and chose Onyekwuluje Chidi Uzoma as her running mate.
8. Akunwata Ejoh Ojiba – Alliance Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN)
The retired Customs Officer has been a vocal voice during the campaign and is one of the seven candidates with a female running mate in Ebele Onyinye Angel.
9. Paul Chukwudi Obianaso – African Democratic Congress (ADC)
The indigene of Oghalegbu in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra is also running for governor with Francis Amechi Agumadu as his running mate.
10. Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo – Action Democratic Party (ADP)
Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo.At 64, the Nnobi native is the oldest candidate contesting the governorship election with Nnadozie Ndujekwu Ike as his running mate.
The graduate of Fine and Applied Arts from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) is another one of the five female candidates contesting the Anambra governorship election.
She defeated her rival during APDA’s primaries, Izuegbu Chinedu Chima, by 390 to 3 votes. Her running mate is Oguejiofor Franklin.
12. Emmanuel Uchenna Nwibe – Democratic Alternative (DA)
Nwibe is contesting the governorship election with the youngest running mate on the ballot paper in Okpezune Nnaemeka Kingsley who is 28 years old.
13. Edochie Yul Chibuike – Democratic People’s Congress (DPC)
Edochie is one of the most well-known candidates contesting the election as he’s a Nollywood actor turned politician.
Yul Edochie .
The Dramatic Arts graduate from the University of Port Harcourt is the son of veteran actor, Pete Edochie, and, as one of the youngest candidates, has vowed to bring an end to the old order of politics that has denied the common people the true dividends of democracy.
Okeke Oluchukwu is his running mate.
14. Onuorah Basil Onyeachonam – Green Party of Nigeria (GPN)
Onuorah Basil Onyeachonam
The 38-year-old industrialist has promised to create three million jobs in four years if elected. His running mate is Chukwuanu Genevieve Nonye.
15. Samuel Osita Oraegbunam – Hope Democratic Party (HDP)
Sam Oraegbunam
Oraegbunam is a vocal critic of Governor Obiano and has promised to run a more transparent administration that’ll cater to the common people. His running mate is Arthur Regis Odidika.
16. Ndife Franklin Ikenna – Independent Democratic (ID)
The 35-year old farmer was elected unopposed to become his party’s flag-bearer and has promised to break the state away from the ‘retrogressive system’ that has held it back from proper development. His running mate is Nwabude Stephen Jachike.
17. Praise Okechukwu – Mega Progressive People’s Party (MPPP)
Okechukwu is another female candidate contesting the election with Ugochukwu Emmanuel Ndubuisi as her running mate.
18. Benneth Abaniwu – National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP)
Abaniwu is a renowned hotelier who is also contesting the election, with Peter Chudi Okoye as his running mate.
19. Nnoli Amechi Justin – National Unity Party (NUP)
The 54-year-old Nnoli has worked for the presidential campaigns of former President Goodluck Jonathan and incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari (2002-2011), and he believes it is God’s wish for him to lead Anambra State.
Nnoli Amechi Justin
His running mate is Agbata Martin Ikechukwu.
20. Peter Chibike – People for Democratic Change (PDC)
The 44-year-old believes Anambra needs someone with passion, foresight and strength to take it to the next level of development, and that he represents that perfectly.
His running mate is Okudo Christian Chukwuemeka.
21. Kenneth Ejike Modezie – People’s Progressive Party (PPP)
Pastor Modezie, a former bank manager, has promised to ensure that Anambra’s children and youths have access to quality education at least from primary to secondary school levels.
He contested for a House of Representatives position in 2011 but lost. His running mate is Chinweze Ogechukwu.
22. Stephen Obiorah Mbah – People’s Redemption Party (PRP)
Stephen Obiorah Mbah
The industrialist and self-acclaimed “servant leader” has promised to transform the state into an economic powerhouse if he’s victorious with his running mate, Onyejiaka Norbert Anabalaonye.
23. Ozoemena Nonso – Young Democratic Party (YDP)
Ozoemena is another 35-year-old contestant that considers his candidacy to be a revolution against the old order of Nigerian politics as he’s bent on providing the sort of leadership that Anambra deserves.
Ugochukwu Nwofor is his running mate.
Other candidates with very little known about them are:
24. Nnaemeka Ifeoma Ezibe – Young Progressive Party (YPP)
Running mate: Odiniru Chigozie Faminus
25. Nweke Christopher Chukwudubem – African People’s Party (APP)
Running mate: Akabike Ifeanyichukwu
26. Ohanugo Ikem Cecil – Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP)
Running mate: Eze Nnabuike Ogbonna
27. Ifeanyi l. Obalum – Social Democratic Party (SDP)
Running mate: Clement Chukwuraa Okafor
28. Stanley Uche Ezeanyaku – United Democratic Party (UDP)
Running mate: EricChijioke Enemo
29. Henry Ikechukwu Onuorah – People’s Party of Nigeria (PPN)
Running mate: Igboanusi Glory Ugochi
30. Felix A.R. Obi-Okafor – Nigeria Elements Progressive Party (NEPP)
Running mate: Nneka Anasudu
31. Okafor Charles Ogbonna – New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP)
Running mate: Okolie Oliver Elvis
32. Val. Okey Oguejiofor – Nigeria People’s Congress (NPC)
Running mate: Okafor Ejike Samuel
33. Chinedu Uzoma Okpalanma – National Conscience Party (NCP)
Running mate: Chukwuma Ivan Egeonu
34. Rufus Okeke Sunday Ezeokolonkwor – Kowa Party
Running mate: Ezeonyirimba Charles Izuchukwu
35. Christian Okechukwu Enemuo – Labour Party (LP)
Running mate: Okoye Obi Vincent
36. Okafor Onyeka Christian – Masses Movement Of Nigeria (MMN)
Running mate: Onwuka Osita
37. Nwezi Felix Amechi – All Grand Alliance Party (AGAP)
Now, it’s difficult to piece together what is going to become of Zimbabwe after now, however history gives us a peek at the key actors in the drama currently playing out.
Now, this is the story you dont’t know.
Mugabe the deposed President of Zimbabwe, Constantine Chiwenga the Head of the Zimbabwean Military and Mnangagwa the sacked Vice President of Zimbabwe are all friends, very good friends, they are comrades. The three men were in their 20’s when they entered the bushes and took part in the liberation struggle to free Zimbabwe from white rule. Mugabe who was initially the Sect General of ZANU PF, became the head of state, the other two men were equally given plum positions of power and have continued as the 3 musketeers presiding over the destiny of Zimbabwe for 37 years.
Sometime in the 90’s – Mugabe, the first musketeer fell in love with his personal secretary who happened to be another man’s wife at the time, the lady’s name was Grace and she became his mistress. While Mugabe was still married Grace had children for him. In 1996 they became man and wife after the death of Mugabe’s first spouse.
But Grace was no ordinary mistress turned wife, she was not ready to take a backseat, she turned herself into Mugabe’s political confidant, she used the bed and made her way to the very centre of Zimbabwean politics straining the relationship between Mugabe and his two comrades.
Mnangagwa the 2nd musketeer after many years of loyalty became Mugabe’s Vice President in 2014, paving the way for his eventual hold on power should Mugabe retire, resign or die. But Grace had other ideas she wangled her way into ZANU PF’s politburo and began her move to take out Mnangagwa and take power from her ailing husband.
In August 2017 Mnangagwa accused certain persons in the party of trying to poison him and made references to Grace. This didn’t go down well with Mugabe, how could anyone accuse his beautiful harmless Rose flower. What Mugabe forgot was that boys are allowed to fight but the brotherhood must stay strong and united. In a move that shocked everyone (but didn’t shock his beloved Grace) , he removed Mnangagwa from the position of Vice President, Mnangagwa not sure of what Grace will do to him fled to South Africa.
Now, in comes the 3rd musketeer Chiwenga Head of the Zimbabwaean military, a friend and brother of both Mugabe and Mnangagwa, “this is all the fault of one woman”, he is probably thinking in his mind, ” we were one until this woman came. I trust Mnangagwa to takeover, I don’t know this woman; by the way, where was she when we were sleeping in the bushes before the liberation”.
Chiwenga sends a warning to Mugabe advising him to put his house in order, the first time he has ever spoken this way to his senior comrade. Thinking Mugabe will take the signal, call him, negotiate and talk things over a cup of tea. NO! Mugabe does the exact opposite, he sends his Minister of Information to tell the Army General to stay out of State matters, Mugabe then finalises plans to sack Chiwenga. The military chief at this point knows his brother and comrade in arms has drunk deep from the strange woman’s bosom, it’s not him speaking anymore, so he rolls out his tanks early this morning. He’s therefore right when he says,”this is not a coup” ; when you really look at it, 3 friends have only fallen out over the ambitions of a woman.
Latest reportś say Mnangagwa the 2nd Musketeer is on his way back from South Africa, i’ve just seen a report he’s been installed interim President. The 1st Musketter Mugabe is under house arrest. The 3rd Musketter is in the saddle promising calm and quick elections. The 3 men have held Zimbabwe under lock and key for 37yrs, this is nothing but a change of baton. Zimbabwe needs a real revolution out of the hands of the veterans of the liberation struggle. In the 21st century Zimbabwe is the frozen out Animal Farm in George Orwells celebrated work.
Meanwhile the woman Grace, who started the whole katakata, I hear has fled the country leaving her beloved husband who sacrificed everything to face an uncertain fate.
16 million Zimbabweans could not remove Mugabe but a woman did.
Mama was always right when she always told me, “son – be careful who you fall in love with and eventually marry”.
The National Chairman of APGA -Chief Victor Oye has described the defection of Ojukwu Son to APC as inconsequential and would not have any effect on Saturday gubernatorial election.According to Chief Oye ,’ the decision of Ojukwu Son to dump the party that represents his father’s ideology portray him as a prodigal son.
Chief Oye believed that the Prodigal Son will always return to APGA in due course.
The long wait for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to return to action will soon be over as Jose Mourinho confirmed that the striker will make a comeback before the end of the year.
Ibrahimovic has been out since April after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. But the 36-year-old forward having recovered swiftly is closing in on a first-team comeback.
After suggesting last month that the former Sweden international could be back this year, the Portuguese boss is now certain of that timescale. “He is a lion, he is a fighter,” Mourinho told Sky Sports. “I think that is a good description of him, he has the anger all the time and that’s the reason why he’s almost coming back. “As we expect, he’s reduced the timing of his recovering and, as we were saying a few weeks ago, he will be back in 2017, which is a magnificent recovery.”
