By Emma Ogbuehi
Rattled by the rising security challenge in the state, candidates of major political parties in the November 6 Anambra governorship election, have turned to Lagos as avenue to market themselves for the election. Lagos is over 500 kilometres from Anambra and not in the same geo-political zone with the state. But apparently for fear of attacks from unknown gunmen, the flag bearers are resorting to Lagos to woo Anambra residents in the state.
Last weekend, three of the candidates, Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Obiora Okonkwo of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), showed up in Lagos to market their agenda to Anambra Town Union Development Association, an umbrella body of all Anambra community groups in Lagos. Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is yet to have a date. Prof Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), was on campaign at Ogbaru and Agulueri axes of the state, hence he could not make the Lagos trip. He is however expected to make up on Friday, 16 and Saturday, 17.
Lagos branch chairman of one of the communities in Orumba South who confirmed the new strategy by the candidates, attributed it to the spiraling insecurity in the state.
He said; “Yes, they were around. Ozigbo, Okonkwo and Ubah were around. Andy Uba of the APC has not shown up. Soludo has picked Friday and Saturday to meet us. We have been asked to mobilise our people for the visit. They came to solicit for votes. They begged us to endeavor to come back and vote”.
Asked why the candidates are doing so in another geo-political zone, over 500 kilometres away from Anambra, he said; “There is no hiding the fact. They cannot openly campaign in Anambra. IPOB has warned that they would not want anybody to campaign for the election. Nobody wants to die”.
One of the candidates, Ifeanyi Ubah of the YPP, confirmed the apprehension in Anambra when he embarked on open campaign in Lagos, visiting markets with large Igbo population and making road shows.
Only last week, gunmen attacked an APGA campaign ground in Ihiala, Ekwusigo Local Government Area, reportedly killing six people and injuring others. Before then, a convoy of House of Representatives member for Nnewi, Chris Azubuogu, was attacked at Nnobi, leaving the driver to one of the vehicles dead. Persons not affiliated to any political party, are not spared. Dr. Chike Akunyili, Consultant surgeon and husband of the former Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), late Prof Dora Akunyili, was killed by gunmen at the Nkpor section of the state.