By Cajetan Mmuta
Nine selected candidates of various political parties in Anambra state have shunned a proposed debate to unfold their agenda to the people ahead of the November 6th Governorship election in the state. Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano said that the rumours of violence and drumbeats of war during the Governorship election are all empty threats as the state would come of the exercise rejoicing amid a free, fair and peaceful process.
He noted that the state is peculiar in nature because of its strategic position in the politics of the country but assured that there was no cause for alarm as people of the state would triumph at the end.
“Anambra is a peculiar state; it’s always an anti-climax that when you think the sky will fall everything will calm down. The election will come and go, nothing will happen, we will have a free, fair and peaceful election,” he said.
Represented by the State Head of Service (HoS), Chief Harry Udu, the governor said, election in the state is always used to set the stage in the country’s politics but in the end, there would always be an anti-climax despite the tension.
He added that public speaking goes with talent and art because of the aura of mastery of different languages.
The governor lauded the Convener of the summit, Chief Chido Obidiegwu for the feat, courage and for the awards.
In addition, Speaker of the State House of Assembly Hon. Uchenna Okafor urged the actors to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship in which a winner would emerge in love, peace and collective interest for all and not war.
He pointed out that the success of the Anambra election would depend on how positive the master of ceremonies (MCs) who are at the centre of the campaigns present the manifestoes, personality backgrounds and campaign messages of the various candidates to the electorate for acceptability.
The debate organized by the planning committee for the MCs’ Summit 2021was in memory of late Chief Ikenna Ndaguba and for nurturing, nourishing the art of public speaking, with the theme “The MC and Issue-based Election Campaign in Nigeria” held Thursday in Awka the state capital.
Also, the event heralded several awards on distinguished personalities who have made marks in various fields of human endeavours, in addition to providing an opportunity for ten selected Governorship candidates in the forthcoming poll to unfold their visions and missions to the people.
However, out of ten governorship candidates invited to honour the summit and to present their manifestoes, (mission and vision) to the people of the state, only the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Nze Sullivan Akachukwu Nwankpo had personally attended the colourful ceremony.
This is as ADC candidate, Nze Nwankpo at the event urged voters and people of the state to cast their votes for the party, assuring that if elected as governor he will stabilize the state’s economy and bring true governance to the grassroots.
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The nine candidates who shunned the summit include Ben Etiaba of the Action Alliance (AA), Chiedozie Nwankwo, (AAC), Dr Godwin Maduka (Accord Party), Senator Andy Ubah (APC) and Prof. Charles Chukeuma Soludo (APGA).
Others are Obiora Agbasimelo of Labour Party, Chief Valentine Ozigbo of People Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of YPP and Obiora Okonkwo of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Although no reason was given for the absence of the nine gubernatorial candidates at the summit, it may not be unconnected with the worrisome security situation, especially, the activities of unknown gunmen in some parts of the Southeastern states of the nation.
Besides, the affected absentee Governorship candidates did not send any of their deputy Governorship candidates or any other representatives at the summit.
Nwankpo promised to initiate the ministry of Umunna (kinsmen) to sincerely cater for the needs of the people, bring government and governance closer to the rural dwellers for even and meaningful development across the 21 local government areas of the state.
“The fundamental programme of ADC for the people of Anambra state is to create a situation where the people of Anambra state will take control of their government through inclusive government. We are going to create the Anambra state ministry of Umunna Affairs. Every Umunna will get a seat, a voice and a share in the government,” he said.
He warned that Anambra State is not for sale, stressing that Ndi Anambra must shun political jobbers and contractors whose stock in trade for the past 26 years has always been to stake humongous foreign and Nigerian naira currencies with the selfish aim of bleeding down the resources of the state.
The governorship hopeful in an interview with newsmen afterwards called on Ndi Anambra to strive towards stopping the rich in politics from stealing from the people.
“I will say it again, the problem of Anambra state is that for over 26 years people buy the state from us, keep it in their pockets based on the principle of commercial transactions. They do this with the voters and leave us with a handful of dust. Now, stop selling Anambra state in advance, when people buy salt they use it the way they want”
“So, between now and this election, Nze Akachukwi Nwankpo will move to every Umunna (kinsmen) in Anambra state; I have taken serious pains to enlist every Umunna in Anambra state. I have the names of Umunna in every community in Anambra state, I have taken pains too to go to every part of Anambra state, all the political wards too, everywhere; I know the roads that are bad, I know the public utilities that are out of place.”
“And I want to sit down with these Umunna and hear what they are saying, let’s sit down in a town hall and decide the way we hold our Umunna meetings and tell whosoever wants to hear. Our ancestors had the best democracy, our leaders are not in contest with them.”
“You do election in the Umunna, you can’t give a bribe; when we do the election you cannot insult them, no matter how rich or small or bog you are, you are reduced to your own level. Who are these people robbing us; why must they be poking fingers in our eyes?
On the legal issues pending in courts, he said, “It’s only businessmen that go to court over all kinds of issues, they don’t look at the laws. Most of these people are not qualified to run the election, they don’t look at the laws; they didn’t even know there are electoral laws. They are too focused on looking at what they make out of the process. What they look at is how to manoeuvre each other but they forget there are grand rules and that’s why they are stuck in court.”
Earlier, chairman of the occasion and former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Tony Onyima described the event as historic as it came for the first time from a courageous citizen of the state.
A minute silence was observed in honour of late Chief Ikenna Ndaguba.
Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna in her keynote address said election remains the soul of democracy where the people are free to choose their leaders.
She explained that issue-based election campaigns eschew bitterness and acrimony hence they candidates and parties must toe the path of peace and violent free processes on their activities for a hitch-free poll.
