A state that is the home state of people, who have achieved distinctions in their respective careers and endeavours, deserves to be led by its best and brightest politicians, who possess probity, leadership qualities, forbearance, and knowledge. And Anambra State is such a state. It is not for nothing that Anambra State is called “the light of the nation’’. And the state has been living up to that appellation and epithet owing to the good political leadership, which the people of the state have been enjoying.
However, at the inception of the fourth republic, Anambra’s politics was dogged and characterized by political godfatherism, which hindered the development of the state. We have not forgotten that Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju was hamstrung by the interference of his political benefactor in the affairs of the state. And Dr.Chris Ngige, who succeeded him in office, fell out with the man who bankrolled his electioneering expenses.
Consequently, his political godfather spilled the beans about how he emerged as the Anambra State governor. The revealed secrets about his governorship electoral victory offered his political foes the ammunition with which they ousted him from office via electoral litigation. However, his praxis in the area of road repair as well as road construction has remained a model, which other political leaders in the country should emulate.
And, Mr. Peter Obi, whose parsimony is legendary, executed reforms in the health and educational sectors. It was he who returned schools to churches, and equipped them with computers and modern science laboratory equipment. He revamped the health sector, too, as evidenced in the upgrading of some schools of health in the state.
His successor, Dr. Willie Obiano, will be long remembered after he left office for building the longest bridge in Anambra. And, under his leadership, Anambra has earned huge revenue from the exportation of vegetables to other countries. He gave local farmers in the state financial incentives, which boosted their morale and led to increase in their agricultural produce. And, until some months ago, Anambra State under the leadership of Governor Willie Obiano had impeccable and commendable record in the area of security. Now, the state is chafing under security problems.
However, the state government has risen up stoutly to the challenge and problem of rising cases of crimes in the state. The killing of police aides attached to Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo during his meeting with Isuofia youths jolted us. Now, there are many conjectures regarding the motives of the executioners of that homicidal deed.
Did they attack Professor Soludo to frighten him so that he would rethink his declaration of interest to contest the 2021 Anambra governorship election on APGA platform? Or was the killing carried out by disgruntled and indignant gunmen, who are destroying our symbols of statehood and killing security personnel in the country to register their displeasure and disenchantment with the state of affairs in Nigeria? The answers to these questions are still up in the air.
Whatever is the case, it will be a gross injudicious act for Professor Soludo to opt out of the Anambra governorship contest on account of the gun attack visited on him, as he stands a good chance of becoming Anambra State governor based on the political permutation and situation in the state now. He should steel himself against any untoward thing that may happen to him while fighting to become the next governor of Anambra State.
It is believed that APGA stalwarts have surreptitiously reached a consensus that Professor Soludo will become APGA governorship candidate in the 2021 Anambra governorship election. And, I pray that they will abide by that unwritten accord and decision. Although APGA was rocked by internal crisis in the past, it is still soldiering on.
And if Soludo finally gets the APGA governorship ticket, he will utilise the APGA leverage as the ruling party in the state to maneuver his way to power.
However, we should not gloss over the fact that PDP and APC pose a great threat to APGA’s bid and effort to retain the governorship seat.
––Chiedu Uche Okoye, Uruowulu-Obosi
Anambra State
