REFREE NO OJORO OH!!!

The light of the Nation -located in south-eastern part of Nigeria has really brightened up our Nation in various ways. The international communities’ attention has been drawn to Nigeria because of the various outstanding achievements of our brothers/sisters from Anambra State.

Despite its small size, Anambra has produced a fair number of outstanding individuals and a number of firsts in Nigeria. Anambra boasts Nnamdi Azikiwe a native of Onitsha who was the first President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Nwafor Orizu was the first Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Professor Kenneth Onwuka Dike, a pre-eminent scholar of African History and native of Awka, was the first indigenous Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. Ben Enwonwu a native of Onitsha was the first Nigerian sculptor of international repute with artwork gracing the United Nations headquarters. Chinua Achebe, a native of Ogidi and known for Things Fall Apart was the first African writer whose books are standard curricula in schools and universities across the world.

“It also portends a very dangerous development that the container load of election materials will be floating about Anambra 21 days to the governorship election. If security documents can be treated this shabbily one wonders the credibility of what we are about to do and the outcome of the exercise”.

Others include Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu, a native of Nnewi who was the first Nigerian millionaire and first president of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, his son Emeka Ojukwu the leader of the secessionist Biafra Republic, Emeka Anyaoku, the first black Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Professor Chike Obi, a famous Mathematician, Cardinal Francis Arinze once considered a potential Pope at the Vatican, Charles Soludo, a famous economist who spearheaded Nigerian economic reform from 1999-2008 and was ex-head of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dora Akunyili, who cleansed Nigeria of fake drugs as head of NAFDAC, Chimamanda Adichie, an up-and-coming writer, Chioma Chukwuka and Jim Iyke famous nollywood actors, P-Square a popular Nigerian music group, Emmanuel Ammunike a soccer star in the 1990s and many others have all been light bearers for our great Nation.

However in the political terrain, the light of the Nation in recent times has been thrown into darkness. In the last four years Anambra State has had four governors at the helm of affairs. Anambra state witnessed electoral malpractices in the 2003 elections; court rulings bringing justice to the winner of the 2003 election as well as the people of Anambra state in 2006, disruptions in the State House of Assembly leading to impeachment on 2 November 2006 of the governor, court ruling re-installing the governor on 9 February 2007, another court ruling by the Supreme Court on 14 June 2007 upholding the contention of the governor who claimed he had not used his term in full which sent the winner of the April 14 2007 general election packing. In all these, Peter Obi, the incumbent governor has been on the receiving end and like the executive he is, has chosen the part of justice to fight his course. After Peter Obi what next for the light of the Nation?

Peter Obi’s unsettled tenure has witnessed its share of ups and downs; he did some good things and left many undone. He built many roads and constructed administrative buildings. He equipped many secondary schools with modern laboratories and libraries filled with new books. To Obi’s credit he has a comprehensive blue print that touches all areas of the government including neglected and dilapidated hospitals. In security, he did not fare well as kidnappers and robbers have had a fun time during his tenure. Who will pick up form here and continue the good work that has been started?

Come February 6th 2010 a fresh election will be conducted. The likes of Dr. Chris Nigige (Action Congress), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo (Peoples Democratic Party), Mr. Andy Uba (Labour Party), Hon. Uchenna Ekwunife( Progressive Peoples Alliance) and Governor Peter Obi (All Progressive Grand Alliance) are major contenders of the over 20 candidates that have signified interest in the driving seat of the State. All these people have a record of successes in their various endeavors. They have a lot to offer and have made their intentions known. My concerns as well as that of other Anambarians are will the votes of the people count?

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been presented with an opportunity to prove to Nigerians that they are ready for the general elections come 2011. Will they deliver? I wonder? What is disturbing is the rate of corruption and malpractices that have plagued public agencies in our nation. Recently, the Police force in Anambra State intercepted two trucks with electoral materials in Okija town along the Onitsha - Owerri road. One of the drivers who claims to be a soldier in the Nigerian Army was later discovered to be a student in a tertiary institution. He is however helping the police with their investigation. We hope it will see the light of day. What is alarming is the source of the electoral materials? Could it have been sponsored by some charlatans who seek political power through scrupulous means? Only time will tell (If the police do their job). A reporter of the Saturday Independent Newspaper who investigated the situation said the Public Relation Officer of INEC in the State refused to speak on the issue but directed the reporter to the administrative secretary, Tony Agbache. He claimed that he is not aware of the incident. When asked about INEC guidelines for reception of electoral materials, Agbache declined comments saying, I am a civil servant not a political appointee and that he does not have the power to speak to the press. Reacting to the incident, the chairman, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo Campaign Ogranisation, Okey Muo-Aroh, a lawyer said: “Until INEC makes a categorical statement on who owns the materials and where they were going, I think it is a very alarming situation. “It also portends a very dangerous development that the container load of election materials will be floating about Anambra 21 days to the governorship election. If security documents can be treated this shabbily one wonders the credibility of what we are about to do and the outcome of the exercise.” We urge the commission to make a public statement on the incident and also reassure us that the process would be free and fair. Governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralph Okey Nwous, told reporters that Anambra people have suffered enough from electoral fraud perpetuated by enemies of democracy, urging the police and other law enforcement agencies to save the state from the evil machinations of miscreants. Also speaking on the issue, Director, Uche Ekwunife Campaign Organisation of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), Mr. C.J. Chinwuba, said, “We commend the security operatives on their valiance and we condemn such acts aimed at rigging this election.” We in PPA and the entire Anambra State have insisted that the votes must count”

Anambarians votes truly must count and we hope that the referee- INEC will do its job effectively so that the light of the Nation can beam a ray of hope into the Nigerian political horizon of the 2011 general election and we Nigerians will see that like the Ghanaian general election of 2009, we can have a free and fair general election free from litigations, court rulings and multiple governors in a four year period