For politicians in Anambra State, including the incumbent, Chief Willie
Obiano, it is almost as if the governorship election slated for November
2021 would hold tomorrow. Across the major political parties,
stakeholders are busy working round the clock regarding who to support
as well as mobilizing their associates and foot soldiers.
Already two major issues, namely zoning and godfathering, are gaining
prominence in the various conversations about the essential qualities
of Governor Obiano’s prospective successor in two years’ time. In
November 21, 2017, against all odds, the incumbent governor was
re-elected for a second term. But the irony of what is currently playing
out in the state is that most of those who contested against Obiano
even in 2003 are still in the field searching for the people’s mandate
to be his successor in 2021. Most of the political stakeholders believe
that apart from riding on the coat tails of former Governor Peter Obi to
become governor, Obiano has not displayed the political sagacity or
performance that could qualify him to implant a successor or become a
godfather.
Sources in Government House, Awka, explained that it was on account of
the general belief that the governor’s power of incumbency was not
potent enough to impose a successor that not less than ten billionaires
have indicated their interest to contest the 2021 governorship election.
Prominent among the billionaires are those that contested the
governorship in 2013, including Dr. Andy Uba, Tony Nwoye, Ifeanyi Ubah,
and Godwin Ezeemo. Other that have so far signaled their intention to
participate in the 2021 gubernatorial poll include Dr. Obiora Okonkwo
(PDP), Dr. Godwin Maduka (PDP), Dr. Chido Nwankwo, Dr. Chinue Ozigbo
(Chairman of Transcorp), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo (APGA), Senator (Iyom)
Uche Ekwunife (PDP), Dr. George Moghalu (APC), Hon Chris Azubogu (PDP),
Johnbosco Onunkwo (APC), Stanley Uzochukwu (APGA), Nicholas Ukachukwu
(APGA).
But perhaps learning some lessons from Governor Henry Seriake Dickson’s
experience in the recent Bayelsa State governorship poll, where the
governor failed to produce his preferred candidate as successor, Obiano
is said to be widening his circle of political contacts to ensure that
his succession adorns the badge of inclusion.
One of the strategies, according to sources, was the recent setting up
of Anambra State Development Plan Committee, led by Prof. Charles
Soludo. Speaking when he inaugurated the committee, tagged Anambra
Vision 2070 Committee, Governor Obiano said the team was put together to
design a 50-year development template for the state. While charging the
members to do a thorough job, the governor reminded them that “the task
of the committee includes crafting the Anambra Vision 2070 Development
Plan that would also touch on security of the state, determine critical
milestones and success factors in the plans.”
The areas of reference, according to Obiano, include defining the
mission and vision statements, identifying specific sectors of focus,
creation of broad objectives for the sectors, development of programmes
and strategies, and categorising them into short, medium and long-term
frameworks. The governor disclosed that the committee’s report “would
assist subsequent administrations in the state in its development
drive.”
But no sooner had the governor finished inaugurating the committee than
the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dismissed the contraption
as an enlarged campaign committee to canvass support for the committee’s
chairman, Prof. Soludo. One of the men on the 46-man committee
regretted that it was becoming obvious that the governor wants to impose
a successor, wondering why he should set up a development agenda midway
into his second term.
He said: “It does not make sense that such a bloated committee should be
set up two years to the end of the governor’s second term. If indeed
the governor wants to raise a developmental agenda, he should first tell
Ndi Anambra how far he has implemented the Anambra Integrated
Development Strategies (ANIDS), including all the laudable economic
development plans he enunciated in his first year that have all been
abandoned.
“Why should Soludo be made to chair the committee when he is saddled
with similar assignments by the Southeast governors and the recent
appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari as member of the Economic
Advisory Committee? No matter how he tries to hide it, the fact remains
that Obiano wants to be political godfather.”
Other members of the committee are as follows: Primus Odili (Executive),
Prof Kate Omenugha (Executive), Mr. Ifeatu Onejeme, (Executive), Mr.
Mark Okoye (Executive), Patrick Okigbo III (Technocrat), Chris Okoye,
(Technocrat), Captain Iheanacho Ebubeogu (Technocrat); Capt. John T.
Okakpu, (Technocrat), DIG Val Ntomchukwu (Security Expert), AIG Okey
Ezike (Security Expert), Mr. Valentine Ozigbo (Transcorp, Hospitality
Expert), Mr. Maduka Emelife, (External Ndi Anambra), Henry Manafa,
(External Ndi Anambra), Hon. Chudi Offodile, (Political Class), Dr. Ikem
Odumodu (Technocrat).
Others are Joe Anatune (Technocrat), Dr Ndi Onuekwusi (Rep of Anambra –
Professionals), Prof. Idemobi, Nneka Ekwuozor, Professor Uche Amazigo,
Bryan Mezue, Dr. Uzochukwu Amakom, Engineer Emeka Ezeh (former DG, BPP),
David Onyinyechi Agu, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, (Technocrat), Mr. Mac Atasie,
(Secretary), Amb. Emma Obi Okafor (fmr Deputy DG, NIA), Dr. Emma
Onyilofor, Amb Chudi Okafor, Dr. Oscar Onwudiwe, (President of Aka
Ikenga), and C-Don Adinuba (Executive).
However, checks by The Guardian showed that while Governor Obiano seems
to be sticking to his verbal promise to support Soludo to take over from
him in 2021, his wife, Mrs. Ebele Obiano, has indicated open preference
for Chief Stanley Uzochukwu to pick APGA’s ticket.Despite the perceived
divisions within the governing All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),
PDP has insisted that Obiano’s 50-year Development Plan Committee is
meant to usher in the governor’s preferred aspirant, Soludo.
In a statement by its state Public Relations Secretary, Nnamdi Nwangwu,
PDP noted that although it sees nothing wrong in planning for both short
and long terms, “what the party finds worrisome is the intention of the
planner and, in this case, the antecedents of the planner. “The fact
that the very bogus committee of 51 persons is headed by Prof. Chukwuma
Soludo, who is widely believed to be Obiano’s preferred aspirant to
emerge as the candidate of APGA in coming 2021 gubernatorial race in the
state, completely gave the intention away. Also a deeper look at the
antecedents of Obiano gives the whole plot away as another form of
jamboree and showmanship aimed at hoodwinking the people further.”
Picking holes on the committee, PDP further lamented that if the same
APGA administration valued planning, “how come they dismantled all the
plans inherited from preceding APGA governments for eight years?
“What happened to the UN Habitat plans for Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi
painstakingly procured by Mr. Peter Obi from the UN Africa headquarters
in Kenya, and already being implemented, handed over to Obiano to follow
as part of continuing the same APGA government?
“What of Anambra State Industrialisation handbook, painstakingly
prepared by the preceding APGA government of which, very articulately,
mapped out steps to industrialise the six industrial estates in the
state?”
PDP concluded that APGA and the incumbent governor “know that they have
destroyed all the goodwill they built in the first eight years that
guaranteed the second eight years,” stressing that that goodwill has
been destroyed in the second eight years.Although APGA secured just one
House of Representatives seat, it boasts of retaining formidable
grassroots presence in the 177 towns and 21 local government councils of
the state, which it said would guarantee the party electoral triumph in
the governorship.
Falling apart
WHILE Governor Obiano enjoyed the goodwill of his predecessor and
benefactor, Mr. Obi, to win the 2013 governorship election, which was
predicated on the introduction of zoning, he fell apart with Obi and
other crucial stakeholders, including leaders of Omabala Union. Despite
the fact that the battle for zoning was stoutly fought in 2013, Obiano
mounted the saddle and sidelined Anambra North Stakeholders, including
Dr. Chike Obidigbo, who was the zone’s consensus choice for the
governorship ticket.
In his acceptance speech after his election in November 30, 2013, tagged
‘Sustaining our Steady March to Progress,’Obiano said: “I stand here
tonight in the shadow of history. You made history when on November 16
and today you cast your votes in favour of APGA. In doing so you have
affirmed the life-long struggle of our great father, Dim Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu Ojukwu. You also upheld his view that our people should
preserve our heritage through one united political roof. Ndi-Anambra I
want to thank you for honouring the memory of late Ikemba.
“In voting Dr. Nkem Okeke and I as Deputy Governor and
Governor-elect, you have also expressed your wish that the tradition of
excellence, which my brother, His Excellency Governor Peter Obi, has
entrenched in Anambra State these past eight years should be sustained. I
wish to assure you that Nkem and I are ready and adequately prepared to
expand the boundaries of our development and place Anambra State on the
map of rapidly advancing states on all parameters of development.
“Nkem and I are fully aware that after Governor Obi’s glorious reign,
Anambra can only advance to higher glory. As inheritors of this
tradition of purposeful leadership, we shall dedicate ourselves to a
life of service. Our administration shall be responsible and responsive
to your needs.”But despite those lofty sentiments, Governor Obiano took
his political battle against Obi to another level during the 2019
presidential poll, when he mobilized moral and fiscal support for APC
and President Muhammadu Buhari to spite Obi who was PDP’s vice
presidential candidate. The endorsement of APC by APGA in the last
general election led to further division within the party, which ended
in a series of litigations that hindered the party’s national
convention.
Although attempts are being made to resolve the various leadership
crises in the party to ensure that APGA does not repeat Zamfara State’s
mistake of APC, stakeholders in the state have continued to agitate
against zoning and godfathering. Some of the opponents of zoning,
including Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, maintain that aspirants should show
interest based on their pedigree and vision for governance, stressing
that merit, capacity and competence should guide the election of
Obiano’s successor.
But on APGA platform there are those insist on the sustenance of
zoning, particularly Prof. Soludo, who declared in 2017 that Anambra is
not broken and needs no mending. As preparations for Anambra 2021 guber
poll gain momentum, some aspirants in APGA say Soludo is banking on
zoning due to a pact with the governor. Sources disclosed that it was in
response to reservations expressed about Soludo that the governor’s
wife decided to throw up a rival from Anambra South in the person of
Chief Uzochukwu.
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