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Tag: poll

  • ‘We ‘ll not condone unruly behaviour on poll day’

    ‘We ‘ll not condone unruly behaviour on poll day’

    Garba Baba Umar is the Anambra State Commissioner of Police. He has fought the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to a stand still in the state. In this interview with NWANOSIKE ONU, in Awka, the state capital, he warns trouble makers to stay clear of the Southeast state during the November 18 governorship poll.

    You have been here for just a few months and a lot of transformation has been noticed. How did you do this?

    The secret of the transformation as you have seen is hard work, dedication and the zeal of the personnel in the command to give the best. Much earlier when I took over, when you are dealing with your officers, you must be plain, and you must be seen as being above board in terms of discipline and ability to lead.  So, no matter how little you have, show that they are part of you and that you appreciate them and that you have the same calling. When you do that, you will see their cooperation.

    Is that why the transformation is not only on infrastructure, but discipline among the officers as can be seen now?

    That is what I am saying. When you discipline yourself, others will follow. I am a disciplined officer, and I believe in doing the right thing. I like my subordinates to learn from me. You know, a leader makes his subordinates, not the subordinates making the leader. When you say you are a leader, it is what they see you do that they do. You are like a mirror to them, and they do what you do. The officers here have seen me as a man of courage, honesty, sincerity, and man that is not corrupt, and they follow it. If I were a corrupt officer, and I move from one house  to the other, extorting from people and all that, they will also be looking, but they have seen that I am a contented person. I told them that you do not need to have money to be contented. Contentment of the heart is what you need. No matter what you have, you must  thank God for it. That is how I have changed the psych of the officers and men of the Nigeria police in this command; by making them to see right as right and wrong as wrong, and clearly they have seen that right is right and wrong is wrong. When it come to work, I also make them to understand, I come to work at 7;30 am, and by 8am I have started work  and we close late and am with them all the time, sometimes at 11 pm or 12am, and even at that, I also join them on patrol, and I ginger them, talk to them on the walkie talkie and tell them I am in so so place, and so so person is not there and theise is what is  called checks and balances, and as a leader if you do that you do not have problem. That is what we are doing in Anambra state.

    You have been here for sometime now, how would you describe policing in Anambra State?

    Policing here is easy. If someone tells you it is difficult, then, it is not the truth. If you find it difficult, it means that you do not have the strategy. But, when you have the strategy, it will be easy for you. The strategy is what I am adopting, like we have what we call patrol teams, these patrol teams, at time they have what they call sector commander, and there is no central body that commands, regularize or supervise and disseminate information. I formed that kind of habit, that is what is called checks and balances.

    How prepared is the Anambra State police command for the governorship election?

    Our preparation is high and it is water tight. The Nigeria police and other security agencies are ready if INEC is ready. We know the number of polling booths, we know the number of collation centers, we know all the number of black spots in the state. We have done our best in strategizing for a safe election in the state, and even those that are coming from other states have been adequately tutored on what their job is, and they need not to converge here in Awka because we already know where we are taking them to. The Inspector General was meticulous in this. Physically he did the operation by himself, having gotten all the areas that require to be covered, so you can see that we are prepared and we have the best of security and we assure the people that they will get the best and we are ready. Even those coming from Awka, we have decentralised our function. We are ready, we have the best. The IG did all the mobilisation by himself and you can see that we have taken everything into cognizance, so we can have free and fair election. We assure members of the public that we will have the best election with enough security and people are sure, and they know and have seen our strategy in security and they are ready to come out and vote because they have seen our strategy.

    Don’t forget that this is the only tome in the history of election in Nigeria that three months to a major election, we have not recorded any ugly incidence, and these is the highest of governorship candidates contesting for one seat in the history of Nigeria. 37 of them, this is the highest, we have never had these number before, and yet we have not recorded any violence, these is to tell you that that security is working in this state.

    What assurances do you have for the people in terms of security?

    Let me tell you, the Electoral Act says each polling unit must be covered by three police officers, and what we are doing is that each polling unit would be covered by three police officers, and we have 4,608 polling booths in the state. If you multiply that by three, you know how many police officers we will be deploying there.

    Again, there are 326 Registration Area Centres(RAC), and that is where most of our men would be , and if you multiply five men in each of the RAC by 326, you will know the answer. Then, there are 414 major streets and black spots in the state, and if we deploy seven to 10 men to these places, you will know why we are deploying that large number of police to the state. In the riverine areas, INEC has 40 buses that will convey materials and personnel, we have Navy to man those places. We also have what we call standby, just in the event of any trouble. We have eight entry points in the state; Anambra has border with Kogi, Ebonyi, Abia, Imo, Enugu and the rest, and we are sending 15 men to those places. We have banks, institutions, tertiary institutions, we have helicopters that will be carrying out aerial surveillance on that day in the three senatorial districts. We also have 21,000 men that will be escorting INEC materials in and out of the state, and we have these adhoc staff that will be working and we need to provide security for them, same for those that will be at the INEC headquarters. By the time you add all these, you will see that that number is not as high as you think.

    So, What is your assurance for the people regarding their fears over security?

    My assurance to the people is that the security that is coming is in line with what is required. It is to ensure their safety. It is not a war, it is an election and it is about their safety. Ask those who re in Edo State where there have clashes and even fights, there were 38,000 police men in Ondo State, there were over 35,000 in Ekiti, there were over 40,000 in  Rivers State, even before the election. Here in Anambra, we are trying to be minimal. This is because Anambra is not a volatile state, but that does not mean we will ignore security entirely. We have t provide security here.

    IPOB is still threatening that there will be no election in Anambra State. How ready is your command for these people?

    We are aware that IPOB is an already proscribed group, and the proscription stops them from meeting or carrying out any activity. Through our intelligence network, if we hear any noise from them, we will go after them. Since their proscription, we have not had more activities from them like before when they go about molesting people. Sometimes, they pass through my office and even throw stones at us and insulting us, but since the Federal Government waded in and they are proscribed, we will not have any of that because they are now an illegal organization and if they surface, we will go after them. As I said before, the IPOB people have not been kind to Ndi Anambra because as a result of them, peoples businesses have been challenged and made to suffer set back, and there is need for us, the security agencies to wade in and make sure they are not allowed to do anything that will bring crisis in the state. That is why we are after them. We do not have problem with anyone that is not a member of IPOB, but the moment we see you with anything that belongs to IPOB, automatically, you are a member. We are telling the people; do not listen to IPOB, do not be a member, be law abiding citizen and I know Anambra people are law abiding citisens and will not engage in the wrong thing.

    What message do you have for IPOB members as elections draw near?

    I don’t have any message for them. We don’t have IPOB any longer. They have been proscribed. So, who am I giving advice? People that do not exist? They do no exist. So, there is no advice to give to people who are not in existence.

    These people send us press releases and they are very strong about elections not holding, and their press releases are usually signed by one Emma Powerful.

    Tell that Emma or whoever he is that he is a coward. He is always in hiding and cannot come out in the open and talk. Tell him it is an advice from the commissioner of police in Anambra, that he should stop misleading the people, if he thinks he has a cause, let him come out of hiding. As far as I am concerned, there is nothing like IPOB, that person you are talking about is a criminal. He is a kidnapper and he wants people to remain in their houses on that day that police will be busy working in the field, so that he will attack people in their houses. He wants to use it as opportunity to perpetuate crime. People should not stay in their houses, they should come out enmasse to vote. Anambra people will not allow themselves to be divided because United we stand, divided we fall. If we let them instill fears in our minds, then they have achieved their aim, so we must not let them.

    What is your message for your men who will be on duty on that day?

    My message to them is simple. They should exhibit high sense of discipline and try not to be partisan in the discharge of their duty. They must know that the era when unscrupulous politicians used police officers to commit electoral offences is over. They should be careful. We resolved here in the Anambra Command to be neutral and you will see transformation in our services.

    How about politicians, what is your advice to them?

    I will only ask them to play by the rules I know most of the politicians want peace, and they want security and a level playing ground. We expect that they will do the right thing, but anyone that does anything contrary, they will reap the consequences of their actions.

    Some say they are sacred cows, particularly those who think they have federal connections?

    I do not know about those set of people. Maybe, you do not know who I am. But, when I took this job as a young officer, there were some oaths I took, which I will always abide by in doing this job, and no one can push me into doing the wrong thing.

    After the election comes Christmas with its attendant challenges, what message do you have for Anambra people?

    We usually make ember months plans, which also include Christmas. Look, tell Anambra people where ever they may be that this will be one of the most enjoyable Christmas in Anambra state in terms of security, and they should not waste time to come back for the festive period to enjoy themselves. We intend to give them the best and they will get the best this year.

  • No loss of life in Enugu poll, say police

    The Enugu State Police Command has said nobody died before, during and after Saturday’s local government election.

    The State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) conducted election into 17 local government areas and 261 political wards on Saturday.

    The command’s spokesman Ebere Amaraizu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that the speculations that some persons were killed were false and unfounded.

    “There was no loss of life anywhere in the state,” he said.

    Amaraizu said the police and other security agencies were able to persuasively calm frayed nerves and return normalcy in places where violence broke out on the Election Day.

    The spokesman said the police and other security agencies professionally handled the resistance among some groups that the election would not hold.

    He said the agitators were peacefully dispersed.

    Amaraizu noted that “against the backdrop of rumours that some people were killed in Oji River Local Government Area on Saturday, the command stated that there was no loss of lives in Oji River and throughout the state.

  • 2018 poll ‘ll be defining factor for Osun, says APC

    2018 poll ‘ll be defining factor for Osun, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress in Osun State has said the 2018 governorship election will be a defining factor for the future of the residents, their well-being and sustenance of the transformational development the state has been experiencing since 2010.

    A statement by the party’s spokesperson, Kunle Oyatomi, said: “This is because the electorate will be making a critical choice between moving forward along the current progressive pattern or reverting to the rot and pillage that characterised governance in the PDP days.

    “It’s a stark choice that will impact the lives of people of every category in the state, most especially the children and youths, whose future  will be hanging precariously in the balance, should a tragic succession in government occurs.

    “This kind of tragedy had happened before and it would appear that a similar conspiracy is underway to make it happen again. This will be the challenge of 2018.”

    APC warned Osun State residents to disallow the experience of 2003 to recur in 2018 “because it could leave an indelible scar on the state for decades, if not centuries to come”.

    The party said the state once had a frugal, astute and highly disciplined Alliance for Democracy (AD) government, which it said was “unfortunately” replaced with a profligate and apparently visionless PDP government in 2003.

    The statement added: “That PDP government generated unspeakable disaster in the state: City centres were left to rot in foul smelling garbage heaps; drainage became refuse dumps that caused flooding in the raining seasons, killing people in dozens and destroying properties. School infrastructure was so obscenely dilapidated. Many of the pupils were living in them like animals, while a good number of the schools became ‘dens of gangsters and juvenile cultists’. Besides, standard was unacceptably low.

    “The extent of this disastrous failure was so huge that it took great efforts in planning and execution (under the Rauf Aregbesola administration’s close scrutiny) to get Osun to where it is today.

    “From one signature achievement to another, the Aregbesola-led APC government so stunned the world in practically every department of governance that the accolades poured in from international organisations, the British parliament and even Federal Government institutions, controlled at that time by the PDP.

    “However, back home in Osun, a vicious campaign of hate, based on envy, lies and deliberate falsification of figures, was mounted by Osun chapter of the PDP against the person and government led by the governor. Unfortunately, a national financial meltdown, triggered by the collapse of oil prices, coupled with brazen oil theft by past administration, negatively impacted virtually all the states of the federation.

    “The impact on Osun was indeed severe. It slowed down several projects and brought in its wake a crisis of payment of salaries.

    “This situation fuelled PDP lies, which took in the characteristics of Hitler’s propaganda machine during the Second World War that brought ruination to Germany. This is where Osun is at the moment.

    “We are in the grip of ravenous political predators and mind twisters who can make you look at an apple and call it a banana (courtesy CNN). No matter what it takes, and how hard they try, the PDP can never be an alternative to the APC. So, the choice will hopefully not be as problematic as many people are suspecting.”

    The party advised that “the people of Osun should free their minds of prejudice and hate”.

  • Can PDP win poll?

    Can PDP win poll?

    The Anambra State governorship election is scheduled to take place barely 20 days from now. Yet, some parties are still battling to put their houses in order. One of such parties is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which parades two caretaker committees ahead of the election.

    One committee is being headed by former Minister of Health, Prof. ABC Nwosu. The Nwosu-led committee was set up by the party’s national leadership, while the one headed by Hon. Humphrey Nsofor, one-time majority leader in the state House of Assembly.

    But, how did the caretaker committees emerge?  Nsofor and his group alleged that Nwosu and his secretary and the former Minister of Women’s Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih, had compromised since they were detailed to come and bring the party together in Anambra.

    They added that the Nwosu committee is suspended and should submit itself to a disciplinary committee, “if our great party actually wants to win the governorship election which is very dear to us.”

    Since the ugly development in the PDP, things had fallen apart in Anambra; as it had become “to your tents Oh Israel”.

    The development is jeopardizing chances of the party and its candidate, Mr. Oseloka Obaze and his running mate, Lady Chidi Alexandria Onyemelukwe, the daughter of the former Vice President Alex Ekwueme.

    Besides, the Nsofor group is accusing former Governor Peter Obi of hijacking the affairs of the PDP, having recently switched over from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to PDP with his members.

    Speaking with The Nation, Nsofor said that anybody who said they (Hon. Nsofor and others) should be ignored do not mean well for the PDP.

    He said what was expected of the national leadership as a father was to look into the matter, the issues raised and find out what went wrong.

    He explained that stakeholders of the party had agreed for the purposes of the election to point out three elders from each of the three senatorial districts of Anambra North, Anambra Central and Anambra South who, according to him, would then set up not from among themselves a caretaker committee to handle the affairs of the party as it goes to election.

    The aggrieved stakeholders said instead of the appointed elders to do as agreed, they rather constituted themselves “with impunity” into a caretaker committee without recourse to other stakeholders, who had muted the idea in the first place.

    The aggrieved PDP stakeholders saw the alleged action of the Nwosu-led committee as against the principles of internal democracy.

    Nsofor said: “Twenty-seven members came together and passed a resolution in a press conference to reaffirm their decision to suspend the Professor Alphonsus Nwosu and Iyom Josephine Anenih-led caretaker committee as chairman and secretary, respectively.

    “We have not shifted ground, because this is an effort to lead our great party to success in the governorship election taking place in a matter of weeks. How can you say we will be ignored and you are hoping to win an election?

    “We are campaigning vigorously for our candidate, Mr. Henry Obaze, as ratified by our party and given to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). But, there are people in court. If the court proved otherwise, we will campaign for whosoever that is the standard bearer of the PDP.

    “We have been out of government for 11 years and will do everything within our ability for our party to win this election. That is our concern.”

    Nsofor added that the caretaker committee set up by the 27 stakeholders which he chaired, with Ozo Chidi Nwazojie as secretary, embraced all authentic PDP members, while at the opposing side were members from a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    In his Reaction, Prof. Nwosu said they were wasting their time as there was no other committee known to the national leadership of the PDP other than theirs.

    Nwosu who spoke through his Executive Assistant, Obunike Ohaegbu, a lawyer, said: “I can assure you that nothing like that happened. Prof. Nwosu is still the chairman of the caretaker committee of the PDP, Anambra State. He is too busy with the PDP campaign and he is focused on winning the governorship election.

    “He is very conscious of the enormous responsibilities on his shoulders. He has not allowed anything to distract him from remaining focused on the mandate given to the caretaker committee under his leadership by the national convention of the PDP through the Ahmed Markafi-led National Caretaker Committee.”

    Meanwhile, the situation is deteriorating, as virtually all the core PDP members had deserted the campaign of the party led by former Governor Peter Obi.

    Also, it has reduced the chances of the PDP winning the November 18 governorship election, leaving the stage for the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Tony Nwoye and that of Governor Willie Obiano of APGA.

    Despite the depletion in the PDP, Obaze is still confident that his party would nick it. He is still counting the popularity of Obi and the support of former Vice President Alex Ekwueme.

    But, the most regrettable of it is that even some of the PDP stakeholders both at the national and state levels are secretly working for either the APC or the APGA.

    Three of the leading lights of the PDP in Anambra State, Hon. Ben Nwankwo for Orumba South, Prince Ken Emeakayi from Ihiala and Sen. Annie Okonkwo, had fully, declared their supports for Obiano and even held separate rallies for him.

    Based on the happenings in Anambra State PDP, political observers believe that the problem in the party is beyond salvage and they are now asking if they still have any chance.

  • Anambra poll: Who is afraid of Obaze?

    Anambra poll: Who is afraid of Obaze?

    In this piece, Cyriacus Okoye examines the chances of the People Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Osekola Obaze, in the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State.

    Our beloved State, Anambra is in dire straits; and we had better know and believe it. Coming from a refreshing relief provided by the administration of Mr. Peter Obi, we became complacent. For over three years after that era, we have been steadily sliding into the perfidy of inept management of our affairs. Indeed, it is an unprecedented betrayal of public trust.

    As this unfortunate and unhappy term grinds to a halt, we have to look to the future; notably the next term of office in Government House, Awka. However, in so doing, we do not just have to hope for the best; we have to claim and choose the best in our collective interest and to restore Anambra State to meaningful progress, propriety and respectability.

    A few weeks ago, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) conducted its primaries to choose a candidate for the up-coming Governorship Elections in Anambra State. While many party faithful rejoiced at the momentous choice Oseloka Henry Obaze, a few others quietly acknowledged that he was the best man for the race and position of Governor. Expectedly, easily most worried is the incumbent APGA whose candidate has done little to imprint the appellation of the State as “The Light of the Nation”.

    Obaze brings impeccable credentials to bear on his campaign for the people’s mandate to be elected Governor of Anambra State. He was not only born into a responsible family, but took positive advantage of that background to improve himself and make impact on society. Educated in Nigeria and abroad, he attended such renowned institutions as Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha; Christ the King College, Onitsha; University of Nebraska, Lincoln, USA and Nebraska Wesleyan University – obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s in Political Science & International Relations. Going further, undertook a number of professional courses in some famed institutions in Nigeria and Europe; with specialties in Dialogue, Mediation and Conflict Resolution, among others. These include: Nigerian Foreign Service Academy, Lagos; UNITAR/International Peace Academy, Austria; UN System Staff College, Italy (1999); and Folke Bennadotte Academy, Sweden.

    Obaze’s working experience has taken through some strategic appointments and assignments – in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United Nations System, Anambra State Government and Management, project & Financial Consultancies. In the processes, he has not only acquired wide experience, but added tremendous value to the operations of the organisations he served.

    A man of proven integrity, Oseloka has been acknowledged across the world for his professionalism, competence, dedication and leadership. Among others, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was known for his high principles, dedication and commitment to duty such that his relocation to the UN system was a fait accompli. Similarly, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon observed about Oseloka: “In your long distinguished career … you have proven yourself as a most dedicated, dependable and competent staff member ..  you have unfailingly upheld the highest standards of efficiency, competence required of an international civil servant”.  Back home as Secretary to Anambra State Government, he, among other attainments, transformed the Office in what it is meant to be: The Chief Secretariat and  Engine Room of the State Government – with tremendous impact on governance and staff welfare. These are verifiable facts.

    As a practical and practised mediator and team player, Oseloka Obaze will be a stabilising factor in our dear State that has been fractured by predatory managers in the last 3 years. In the same vein, he would be a dependable Chief Negotiator for Anambra State in the national scheme of things like the then Governor Peter Obi  did to the immense benefit of the State.

    Unassuming and unpretentious, Oseloka Obaze is not a “Man Must Wack” politician. He did not leave his position as an International Civil Servant for ‘Bread and Butter” politics. He is of clear purpose, and his antecedents demonstrate clearly that he would not be swayed by parochial or vindictive considerations and pursuits. Over the years, he has firmly rejected the cult of predatory sycophancy that has been the bane of many people in places of leadership as has been witnessed in our dear Anambra State over the last 3 years or so.

    Obaze’s exposure in Nigeria and internationally has equipped him with an extensive knowledge base and experience to manage Anambra State to sustainable and meaningful development. How many people know he has facilitated financial and equipment support from some international agencies for several development projects in parts of the country? With that kind of goodwill, coupled with a mandate as Governor, we should expect more for Anambra State.

    With a working experience firmly rooted in corporate governance and best practices, Oseloka Obaze abhors grand-standing and grandiloquence. Knowing that a leader’s mandate belongs to the people, he is focused on good governance as a means of making positive impact on the socio-economic and political well-being of the people.

    Increasingly, the world has become a global village where best practices will make the difference between progress and stagnancy. As an international civil servant of note, Oseloka Obaze has since keyed into the imperatives of managing a modern economy and society; having been widely exposed to the intricacies of modern governance, administration and management – locally and internationally.

    In the same vein, he has the integrity to attract much-needed Foreign Direct Investments as well as support from Development Partners and various other donor agencies across the world. Blended with his practical experience at the Federal and Anambra State levels, he has a firm grasp of the developmental needs of the people.

    Ndi Anambra, do not be deceived that any political party “is our own”. More than any other factor, the quality of the leader determines the nature of his performance. As is said of the computer, “It’s garbage in; garbage out”. Anybody given a public trust and cannot deliver in 4 years certainly cannot perform creditably in 8 years. Giving him another 4 years will have more disastrous consequences on the people and the State.

    As a candidate on ground, Oseloka Obaze has made himself available for service to the people of Anambra State. This is a candidate whose qualities most other States pray for in their leaders. Ndi Anambra, it is our prerogative to make a choice, but it is in the interest of our sustained welfare that we should not miss the Oseloka Obaze advantage. That way, we would all be spared another 4 years of painful regret.

  • Coalition calls for credible poll in Plateau

    As Plateau State prepares for local government elections, a coalition of civil society organisations has called for free and fair polls.

    The coalition said the sensitization was aimed at ensuring free, fair and credible elections.

    Council elections in the state is often marred with violence, especially in Jos North local government. The last council election held in 2008 led to bloodshed, resulting in destruction of lives and property.

    The Community Action for Popular Participation (CAPP), Actionaid, UKaid and Media Action said they have the objective of ensuring peace during the polls.

    The Program Manager of CAPP, Nelson Amanze said: “The coalition has began to engage various segments of stakeholders in the state in a town hall meeting to sensitize them on how to make the proposed election peaceful and credible.

    According to Amanze, “We have held town hall meetings of stakeholders in all the local government headquarters across the state. And we have commenced another awareness seminar for various stakeholders like security agencies, electoral officials, religious leaders, youths, community leaders, journalists, politicians and political parties and other relevant stakeholders.

    “All we are trying to achieve as a coalition is to make sure everyone that has a role to play in the election should do so in the most descent and professional manner to guarantee a credible electoral processes in the state”

    A representative of the Commissioner of Police, Akomolede Babayemi Daniel, applauded the coalition for taking up the responsibility to sensitise stakeholders. The police commissioner said: In the hierarchy of stakeholders in any election, the police is counted first because of the need to safeguard lives and properties of citisens during election.

  • ‘MASSOB-BIM for peaceful governorship poll in Anambra’

    Ahead of its 18th anniversary celebration on Wednesday in Anambra State, the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) said they will support and ensure that the November 18 governorship election holds.

    The fused organisations, called MASSOB-BIM, said the call for the boycott by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was self-serving and not in the interest of Biafra agitation.

    Enugu zonal leader of the movement, John Nnamani, told reporters that any call for the boycott of Anambra State election was retrogressive to the pursuit of Biafra.

    Nnamani said: “MASSOB-BIM has gone far in the agitation for the actualisation of Biafra. Anybody or a group of people trying to draw us back by asking our people to boycott Anambra State election should be regarded as enemy of Biafra.

    “Boycotting Anambra election is retrogressive, self-serving; it is anti-Biafra agitation and punishment to the Igbo race. Biafra agitation is not a personal agenda; the election is part of the process to actualise Biafra. MASSOB-BIM is not and would not support such a selfish call.

    “We call on the good people of Anambra State to come out en mass on November 18 and vote the candidate of their choice.”

    The zonal leader urged MASSOB-BIM members to remain peaceful and support the cause being championed by their national leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.

    He said: “MASSOB-BIM is a responsible and non-confrontational organisation. We are united in the cause our leader is championing. We are firm, resolute and united in this cause.”

  • Anambra poll: Nwobodo congratulates Nwoye

    Anambra poll: Nwobodo congratulates Nwoye

    The Chairman of the Anambra State All Progressives Congress (APC) Govership Election Planning and Strategy Committee, Senator Jim Nwobodo, has congratulated the winner of the primary election, Hon. Tony Nwoye.

    In a statement in Enugu, capital of Enugu State, he urged party to brace up for the governorship  election.

    Nwobodo said: “I watched with keen interest the live transmission of the 2017 All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Primary for Anambra State, where Dr. Tony Nwoye was declared as the winner with a total of 2,146 votes.

    “I congratulate Dr. Nwoye for the overwhelming mandate.  This is a victory for the APC and all the aspirants for the peaceful manner they conducted themselves at the primary.

    “I wish to use this opportunity to remind all the aspirants of their commitment to support whoever emerges as the party flagbearer. And appeal to you to join Dr. Tony Nwoye and form a formidable campaign team that would secure victory for our party, the APC, in the forthcoming November, 2017, Governorship Election.

    He added: “I also congratulate the Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, and his Committee for conducting a free, credible and rancour-free primary in the state, making it the first time any political party would conduct such a transparent and rancour free primary in the state.

    “I wish to congratulate the National Chairman and National Working Committee for making this possible.”

  • Anambra poll: Letter to APC delegates

    The primary election to nominate the APC flag-bearer in the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election comes up this Saturday, August 19. This date is of significance because on that date, the fate of APC in this year’s election will be decided. The outcome of the primary election will determine whether APC will contest the November 18 election to win or to lose.

    On August 19, the chances of the party and, indeed, the hopes of Ndi Anambra to effect the desired change in the governance of the state will rest squarely on the shoulders of the delegates to the primaries.

    I, therefore, urge the delegates, as they step out on that day to cast their votes to elect a flag-bearer, to please be reminded that a rare opportunity has been thrust upon them to do that which is right and which will be beneficial, not only to them, but to their own children, all Anambra children and posterity at large.

    I say to you all: You became a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) because you became tired of the status quo and wanted a change from failure to success and from stagnation to acceleration. You now have the opportunity to   effect that change by nominating someone who has ability and capacity to defeat the incumbent administration on November 18. History is beckoning you to write your name in gold, as a major catalyst in the change agenda in the state. How will you react? Will you be guided by emotions and sentiments to nominate that friend or relation of yours when, indeed, you know that he does not have what it takes to defeat the incumbent and win the election?

    Will you be guided by earnest desire for the common good to nominate someone who has what it takes to defeat other contestants and win Anambra governorship for the APC and thereby kick-start that overdue change for which you became a member of the APC?

    Dear delegate, it is now up to you to decide whether you want Ndi Anambra to remember you as the hero who effectively empowered change, or the villain who sabotaged the best chance for change we ever had.

    I accept that it is always difficult to strike a fair balance between what is and what ought to be. As an indigene of the state residing in Ghana, I have followed this year’s election with uncommon interest because, however we look at it, the results of all elections impact on us positively or negatively. The last time, I wrote an article and asked the question: Can APC rescue Anambra State? My answer now to that question is:  Yes, APC can rescue Anambra State only if it succeeds in rescuing itself from enemies within.

    I have studied the personal data and pedigree of all the gentlemen aspiring for the APC ticket and for the sake of our common good, I have decided to be more pungent and direct in this open letter. This year’s election is not any aspirant’s personal war. It is a battle between political parties and the best each party can do is to enter the war arena with its best war commander, and the best that each aspirant, truly loyal to his party can do, is to support the person among them who has the best chances to win the election for the party.

    This is the major reason why I am writing this letter. It does not appear that some of the aspirants will allow the best among them to bear the flag because to them, it is not about the party and its members but about their personal ambitions. It is up to the delegates to correct this impression because they are party delegates and not personal delegates of the aspirants and therefore, they must be guided by a good sense of who has the best chance to win the election for the party.

    After due research and studies, the name that effortlessly comes to mind as the most equipped and prepared at this time to win this year’s election for APC is Senator Andy Uba, and this is for six verifiable reasons which I urge the delegates to investigate.

    The first reason is the man’s vast experience. The requisite experience of any leader is a beckoning asset that his administration can always leverage on. Uba was a close presidential aide for nearly eight years and no one can ordinarily dispute the wealth of experience that flowed from the job. He had contested and won Anambra governorship election before and has become familiar with the terrain. He is equally a two-term serving senator, openly acknowledged as having the highest number of bills in the Senate. Having served in the executive and the legislature, he knows how government works and his experience can be trusted and relied on, on this.

    The second is that his belief in the core values of Anambra State is not in doubt. As a close presidential aide, he was instrumental to the appointment of the three most cerebral indigenes of the state ever to work at the same time for one administration. Charles Soludo, Dora Akunyili and Oby Ezekwesili were some of the finest gifts of Anambra State to Nigeria and Senator Andy Uba’s contributions to these appointments cannot be denied. His commitment to the completion of the 2nd Niger Bridge, the dredging of the River Niger and a sincere Anambra Airport are proofs that the best for the state will always remain his priority.

    Thirdly, no one wins more elections than a politician who is on ground and close to the people. This is Andy Uba’s greatest advantage. In 2007, he established the structures with which he won that year’s governorship election. In 2011, he used the same structures to win his senatorial election and used the same structures to win his senatorial re-election in 2015. He has been using the same structures to campaign for this year’s election because unlike many politicians, he never dismantled his structures. They have kept him very close to the people for 10 years and as the D-Day approaches in this year’s election, there is really no time for experiments.  What APC needs to win this year’s Anambra guber is for its delegates to nominate him because he has existing and well-serviced structures to win the election.

    The fourth reason is that the Senator has no godfather. He is his own boss and will be in charge of his own decisions and responsible for his own actions. From 1999 till date, we are all aware of the destruction godfatherism engendered in the state and how much it slowed our wheel of progress. Anambra State is tired of following someone who is following someone else.  Uba has a personal vision of what he wants to achieve in the state and this vision will not be impaired by the control of any godfather.

    The fifth reason that urges the choice of this man is his extensive connections in high places that the state can leverage on for negotiations and concessions. The senator is well respected in and outside the state and as an astute strategist, he has become our established bridge across diverse national interests.

    Finally, he sees leadership as service to the people and not an avenue to enrich self or acquire houses abroad. He seeks to use the office of the governor to continue doing good which he has been doing in his private capacity. If he could touch so many lives as an individual, he can only do much more as governor.

     

    • Dr. Offodeme writes from Takoradi, Ghana.

  • Kwara council poll to hold Nov 18

    The Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) has postponed the local government elections from November 4 to 18.

    KWSIEC chair Dr Uthman Ajidagba said card readers would not be used for the election.

    He said: “A proclamation was issued on July 31 on local government elections, in accordance with provisions of the extant laws, and on the commission’s preparedness to conduct credible elections in the 16 councils.

    “However, shortly after the proclamation, there were pleas to consider the interest of Muslims, who are presently on hajj in Saudi Arabia.

    “After listening to these, and in line with our promise to conduct a credible election, the commission concluded that to be fair to all, and to allow for an all-inclusive election, there is need to adjust our programme of activities.

    “In view of this, the commission is constrained to adjust its election timetable, particularly as it affects party primaries, which in effect has affected the earlier date slated for election.”