By Ikechukwu Amaechi
While election observers, civil society organisations and, indeed, many Nigerians were applauding the conduct of the November 18, Anambra governorship poll and the roles played by the stakeholders including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties, their candidates and the electorate, I came across an advertorial in the Vanguard newspaper of Thursday, November 23, 2017, titled, “Anambra election: Let truth be told,” which was a counter-narrative.
Signed by Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, founder of Igbo Youth Movement and Deputy Secretary of the Professor Ben Nwabueze-led Igbo Leaders of Thought, the opening paragraph painted the picture of Armageddon – a battle between the forces of good and evil where demonic forces prevailed.
“A very dangerous precedent is being set by government agents, apologists and all sorts of hypocrites and sycophants, who are applauding the Saturday November 18, 2017, governorship election in Anambra,” was the opening salvo.
Why?
The advertorial gave two reasons – alleged abysmally low voter turnout and brazen monetary inducement of voters.
“Whereas INEC officially acknowledged that more than 75 per cent of the 2.2 million voters who collected their PVCs stayed away, observers on ground believe that more than 90 per cent stayed away.
“But for the inflated figures and the induced “multiple” voters, the grand total of votes cast would have been less than 100,000 instead of the over 400,000 votes bandied about by master riggers.
“The repulsive cash payments made openly by two political parties at the polling booths are enough to cancel the election and a re-run ordered. The sickening applause by praise singers and other cheer leaders who are actually celebrating the false narrative that the November 18, election was free and fair, is the beginning of the death of Nigeria,” Mr. Uko thundered.
What followed next was a most egregious allegation: “The central government refuses to investigate, prosecute those behind it and even nullify such dubious election, probably because the party that was awarded victory does not represent a threat to the ruling party.”
And then the apocalyptic prediction! “As we accept this horrifying anomaly as valid and commendable election, we are only preparing the death of Nigeria.”
No doubt, this is the kind of narrative that nobody wants after the relatively free and fair poll because it is not only patently false and beyond the pale but also because it is hard to fathom the purpose other than once again to muddy Anambra political waters.
Most Nigerians expected the worst on November 18, given what is known of the state’s political temperament and antecedents of the gladiators but what transpired pleasantly surprised everyone.
To claim that APGA was awarded victory for whatever reason is an insult to the electorate who queued despite the odds to elect their governor.
For an election that produced many firsts – record number of candidates (37), a fascinating pre-election debate and historic win (the incumbent governor won in all the 21 local government areas, defeating the other 36 candidates, some in their wards), it will be uncharitable to call it a sham.
To dismiss such an epochal election, where most of the political heavyweights in the state were active participants as an unmitigated charade is to stretch the limits of falsehood and that is not what the state needs right now.
This is a time to come together and build Anambra. And the task of building a state is a collective effort. The government only drives the initiative and gives the momentum the required push. Obiano is the catalyst but those who contested against him also have something to bring to the table. Now that Anambrarians have spoken and loudly too, it behoves all to rally behind the winner for the sake of the state.
It is heartwarming that none of the aspirants is threatening to challenge the outcome of the poll in court. That will be a waste of everybody’s time unless there are proven cases of electoral malfeasance because in a country where there is little or no difference between private and public purse, the incumbent will use the people’s patrimony which would have been expended on public cause(s) to defend himself in court.
For the sake of the Southeast, it is important that Anambra gets it right. But the state can only get it right when the people, no matter their political or religious persuasion, come together. The fundamentals that will spur development in Alaigbo resonate in Anambra. The state harbours the growth drivers – human resources, putative industries, blossoming markets – which knock-on effect will lift Alaigbo from economic doldrums.
And the reason is simple. While Enugu remains the de facto political capital of the region just as Ibadan is the political capital of the Southwest, Anambra State should be, and indeed, has become to the region what Lagos State is to the Southwest – the economic and financial hub.
APGA as the political vehicle that conveyed Obiano to power is also important in this renaissance journey. The party must ensure that the state lives true to the tenets of its motto – Light of the nation. But since charity, to borrow a cliché, begins at home, Anambra must be the light of Alaigbo first.
To make this dream come true, all hands must be on the axiomatic deck. Obiano must, in deference to the will of the people, extend a hand of friendship and fellowship to all the stakeholders. That is the import of his resounding mandate. His should be an inclusive government. To do otherwise is to claim the status of an emperor. That was not and can never be the intent of those who gave him the clear and emphatic victory.
Obiano must avoid the temptation of triumphalism. The victory, as grand and audacious as it is should not be an opportunity to look down on the other contestants. Rather, it should be a wakeup call. He should be magnanimous in victory because the ultimate goal is the good of Ndi Anambra.
There is, strictly speaking, no victor, no vanquished. The only winners are Anambrarians whose democratic credentials have been burnished by the outcome of the poll.
Therefore, the 36 other contestants must join hands with the governor in building Anambra and making it a model state. Patriotism should trump partisan politics right now. This is the time to deliver the much talked about “democracy dividends” to the people through good governance.
That is the least they deserve for their tenacity and vote of confidence in Obiano. Democracy must begin to deliver on its promises through the people who have been mandated to make authoritative allocation of collective values on behalf of others.
Grabbing Obiano’s hand of fellowship by his rivals is the surest proof that in seeking the state’s political diadem, his competitors were also motivated by the common good. The election is over. Now is the time to build.
Such cooperation will not only place Anambra in an enviable place in the country’s comity of states but also portend good for the Southeast.
