- It’s not possible, say APGA chair, ex-Gov Ezeife
- Speculation rife on secret pact with Buhari
Following the victory of Governor Willy Obiano at the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State, speculations are rife that the re-elected governor is set to fulfil a pre-election accord of crossing over to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Obiano, who defeated both the APC candidate, Dr. Tony Nwoye, and Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, with a ‘landslide margin’ at the poll, may have also given room for the rumour to fester.
Observers said the governor’s visit to President Muhammadu Buhari a few weeks to the Anambra election, with no public inkling of what the two personalities discussed, might have meant that the duo reached a consensus “on the possible dissolution of Obiano’s All Progressives Grand Alliance into the ruling APC.”
A source close to the Presidency, preferring anonymity, told our correspondent that the President, having gained full support from Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, also considered wooing Obiano’s APGA, especially to get the East to support his second term aspiration.
“What the President might have calculated is that, if he secures half of the total votes in the East, he is good to go. He seems confident that, since the land was softened for Obiano to win, and since his former political godfather, ex-Governor Peter Obi, who is now in the PDP, will continue to be a pain in the neck, Obiano will naturally see a good shelter under the Buhari Presidency,” the source, a leading APC chieftain, told our correspondent.
Obiano will not take such offer from the APC, no matter the situation of things. Moreover, it is a mission impossible…APC has not merited having a governor like Obiano, despite their presence at the federal level
‘APC SHOULD FORGET THE THOUGHT’
But dismissing the rumour that Obiano is on his way to the APC, National Chairman, APGA, Chief Victor Oye, said, “How can a party determined to win more states dissolve into another party?”
He also declared as mere conjecture, the festering rumour that Governor Obiano had perfected plans to ditch the APGA for the APC, describing it as baseless.
“APGA has not entered into any pact with any party,” he said.
However, a former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, is more caustic in his reaction on Obiano’s possible defection.
“Obiano will not take such offer from the APC, no matter the situation of things. Moreover, it is a mission impossible,” Ezeife declared.
“APC has not merited having a governor like Obiano, despite their presence at the federal level, and if it is true that the party is now wooing Obiano, then it is a shame on APC,” he added.
Speaking on the just-concluded election in Anambra, Ezeife, now in the ranks of statesmen from Igboland, said the division in the PDP, despite having a good candidate in the governorship election, was the major cause of the party’s failure.
He also lambasted the APC, saying, “It missed it totally when it brought President Muhammadu Buhari to campaign before the election. For the APC, it was a mistake to have brought President Muhammadu Buhari, because people in the South-East have no trust in the APC at the federal level.
“Obiano won, not because he had a better campaign strategy or good agents, but because of his achievements and, above all, because God had ordained it.”
VICTORY MOMENT
At the election, Obiano won in all the 21 local government areas with total votes of 234,071 to take the first position; while the APC came second with 98,752, and PDP third with 70,293 votes.
It was an election that involved 326 registration areas/wards, 4,608 polling units and a large number of security personnel, drawn from the police, the military, the Directorate of State Services and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Announcing the Victory of Obiano at an elaborate ceremony at the INEC headquarters in Awka on Sunday night, the governorship election’s returning officer said, “Willie M. Obiano, having satisfied the requirements of the law and having scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared re-elected.”
The APGA victory was followed with the issuance of certificate of return to the victorious Governor Obiano at a colourful ceremony, held last Wednesday, at the INEC office, in Awka.
I’LL WORK HARDER, GOVERNOR PROMISES
Having received his certificate of return, for a second tenure in office that would begin to run from March next year, the critical question for Obiano now would be: what’s next? What does he intend to do as he prepares for his second tenure? What does one envisage to be the philosophy and direction of his administration in the next dispensation; more so that the current challenges facing the administration are still there?
Already, Obiano has unfolded the agenda of, not just his administration, but of the APGA as well, in the coming months. Speaking after he was given the certificate of return at the INEC office, the governor said his administration would ensure that Anambra continues to shine through improved infrastructure, employment and industrialisation. He also promised to work harder than he did in his first term, adding that his team was now going to ensure that “APGA expands to other states and is a party to be reckoned with nationally.”
Expressing enthusiasms for his second tenure as he grabbed the certificate of return, Obiano said, “This is the moment and I am very happy this morning to accept the certificate of return that confers on me the power to run Anambra State for the next four years. I call on everybody that contested with me to come on board and join hands with me in moving Anambra State forward.”
It is important to draw the governor’s attention to the fact that a lot of communities in Anambra State, including Awka, the state capital, are still torn to shreds by poor road network and town-union and chieftaincy crises
GROUP ADVISES ON CHALLENGES AHEAD
But a human rights group, the Conference of Nigeria Civil Rights Activists, has urged Governor Obiano not to be carried away by the euphoria of victory, but to face, with renewed energy, the daunting task ahead of him.
Its Convener, Comrade Ifeanyi Odili, said, “It is important to draw the governor’s attention to the fact that a lot of communities in Anambra State, including Awka, the state capital, are still torn to shreds by poor road network and town-union and chieftaincy crises, and this is in addition to the problems of corruption, nepotism and unemployment that have continued to drag the state down the slope, over the years.”
He also listed dilapidated roads needing the governor’s attention to include the roads in Awka, particularly the Amikwo road that stretches from Ogbugbankwa to Obunagu; Ifite-Unizik road, as well as Isiagu and Amikwo
roads.
Odili, who is also the National General Secretary of the Campaign for Democracy, added, “It is important to state that corruption is still a big business among public officials in Anambra, to the extent that some levies for PTA, harvest, books and building projects in schools are demanded from parents, especially from parents that have children in schools that are being funded by the government, but handed over to the religious
missions to run.
“From investigations, so far, hardly can anyone conclude a serious transaction in any of the government departments and offices without the offer of gratification and this is a problem the governor must confront as he begins his second tenure.”
