What a hot seat, Anambra State, Nigeria governorship seat, which every Dick, Tom and Harry in the state wants at all cost possible? But first, the incumbent governor of the state has to be unseated, but will Governor Pete Obi agree? A hopelessly, politically 'foolish' people, novitiates and ridiculously so unseasoned in the art of real politiking, the Igbos of Anambra State of South East Nigeria? Imagine 48 candidates applying for one governorship position? 48 candidates running for one governorship position and you wonder who is advising these pretenders to the office of the governor of Anambra State? Who are advising these people? Who are their David Axelrods? Who constitute their electoral exploratory committees? Who are their political consultants? Who conducted their polls and assured them they stand a chance of securing their party's governorship ticket for Anambra state? Icheoku fears that some Alhaji up north, has sold kites to these guys that he has the ears of President Umaru Yar'Adua and could make them governor of Anambra state; hence the bilking these guys their hard-earned money? Icheoku says, why can't these guys be more realistic of their chances at being "selected" the PDP governorship candidate and be more pragmatic in their mad quest to become the state's next mega-looter of the state's treasury? What happened to alliances and politicial blocs, wherein people with the least chances of becoming the candidate come together to support another more formidable candidate; and each in return agree on trade-offs and the concomittant horse-trades of appointments and contracts awarding? But not in Anambra State, Nigeria, where everyone thinks he is smarter than the guy next door and hence the melee of candidates. Now 48 of them from just one political party, the PDP are lining up, salivating greedily, to covet the job currently held by Governor Pete Obi? Five people running for one office is a fair number, even ten; but forty-eight, that is both laughable and ludicrous! A total raving madness, that Icheoku suggests, they should all have their heads medically-examined for some schizophrenic disorders? Who says the Igbos of Nigeria have come of age or learnt anything on real politics or how to effectively politik? Regrettably, they have not and this is the principal reason why they are ususally short-changed in Nigeria. They have not learnt their lesson on how to be astute politicians? At 5 million Naira payment for the forms and another 250,000 Naira cost of declaration of intent, each of these "traders and contractors" of Ananmbra state would have so far enriched the coffers of PDP by 252million Naira? Money that could have been used ,ore wisely to better the lots of so many jobless Anambra State people; and who blames the youths when they go on kidnapping rampages, abducting these 'hooligans' for ransom? 
A group of more politically savvy people, who know what they are doing, would have held pre-caucus meetings to determine among themsleves, best possible persons with the most chances, and streamline the candidancy around them? A reasonable plausible number would have been a preferred option, rather than all of these 48 wildebeests, being herded into throwing away their 5 million Naira in their mad-quest for governorship ticket? But no, every Tom, Dick and Harry in Anambra State sees himself/herself as the most qualified and suited for Governor Peter Obi's job; and hence 48 of these irrational human-beings are falling over the head of each other, in a mad fury, wishfully thinking to claim the coveted trophy in Anambra State? Icheoku condemns the excessively number of these candidates, as well as their naivette, for recklessly doling out 5 million Naira each to enrich the PDP; with no chances in hell to secure the governorship ticket? What happens to the time-tested calculated risk approach to issues, one may ask? According to the reports, forty-eight candidates collected forms of expression of interest for nomination for the 2010 governorship election in Anambra State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); while thirty-two of them eventually made it to the next stage - the party's primaries slated for next month? Whether 48 or 32, Icheoku says, that is still too large a number of people coming from one state and for one governorship position. This is a litle insight on the number of people that will queue up in the event the Igbos are allowed to produce the president of Nigeria in 2016, maybe 1000 presidential candidates will join the race then for Aso Rock? As we recall, during the last chairmanship fight for the PDP, 28 Igbo people actively ran for the office. They could not settle on a consesus candidate, leading to the imposition of big nose Vincent Ogbulafor on the Igbo as their chairmanship candidate. So, Icheoku asks, when will the Igbo people become politically matured enough to learn certain fundamental lessons of productive politics? Some of these wanna-be governor include Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Nicholas Ukachukwu, Uchenna Emordi, Chuma Nwofor, Senator Annie Okonkwo, Senator Ikechukwu Obiora, Senator Emma Anosike, Dr Harry Oranezi, Chuma Nzeribe, Tony Nwoye, Udemezue Chukwura, Damian Okolo, Chief Kodili Okelekwe, Dr Alex Obigbolu, Professor Austin Ilochi Okafor, Ekwenze Solomon, Mbamalu Emma, Barrister Mike Nkwocha, Ugochukwu Sonny Jerry, Mrs Eucharia Azodo, Mrs Caroline Nwosu, Lady Chinyere Ogualili, Kenneth Odidika, Deacon Bernard Okeke, Mrs Chika Ibeneme, Princess Catherine Egwu, Engr E.O Efobi, Dr Emeka Eze, Dr Amachukwu Ezeike, Mrs Victoria Nwakwo, Mrs Ifeoma Love Ebe, Engr. Bethran Dim and Mrs Nkoli Imo, Chief Okey Muo-Aroh, Chief Basil Iwuoba, Chief Michael Okechukwu, Dim Ifeanyichukwu, Emoh Uchenna Pius, Nwandu Emeka Gibson, Valentine Ozigbo, Uba Ukechinyere, Obiagoli Obasi and Victor Osita? Who the brightest bulb in the chandelier is, is anybody's guess but who the henchmen of Nigeria politics has annointed is within the crevices of their warped minds which only next month's primaries will reveal. So until then, Anambra state people can only wait and pray in anticipation of who eventually gets the nod of approval and ritualistic-oath, before one deity or shrine, to fly the flag of the party at the election of February 2010. 
But a party of direction would have, as suggested by Uche Emordi, "do everything possible to trim the number of candidates seeking the party’s ticket in the February 2010 gubernatorial election in the state." What a madness of ambition by these 48 Anambrarians? According to one observer, "Anambra State has indeed become one of the theatres for some of the most absurd political engagements in the annals the country." As rightly summarized by one observer, the 48 wanna-be governorship candidates of Anambra State are made up of two groups of people - "the contenders and the pretenders," and Icheoku couldn't agree any more! With the latest disqualification of about 17 of the 48 applicants so far, how the PDP eventually settles on one candidate during their forthcoming primaries, is anybody's guess? But Icheoku says, what a people, the Anambra state people of Nigeria; a land where everybody is full of 'smarts' but with no real political intelligence? And it is not as if these human-beings are queuing up to do anything beneficial for the people of Anambra state; no, they are just getting ready to loot the treasury some more! With these 31 candidates now left to contest the primaries fixed for October, only God knows, how many of them will be kidnapped, maimed and/or even killed before that time; just to clear him off the way? Who also knows how many more millions of Naira will be washed down the drain in the process of votes buying, thug hiring, voodoo, bribery, settlements, hit-men hiring and all manners of political brigandage just to emerge the candidate? And after that, there is Governor Peter Obi to clear off the government house before the party begins its carnival of looting? But whatever happens, Icheoku is keeping a watchful eyes on the outcome of the Peoples (Un)Democratic Party's primaries in Anambra state, a state with too many people with "too much knowledge!"
Anambra: PDP Clears 44 Aspirants
ReplyDeleteWritten by Chuks Ohuegbe, Abuja
Tuesday, 22 September 2009 02:37
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Appeal Screening Committee for the Anambra State governorship primaries, headed by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has cleared 13 hitherto disqualified aspirants, bringing the number of the cleared aspirants to 44.
The chairman of the screening committee, Hon. Jibril Maigari, had over the weekend in Enugu disqualified a total of 17 aspirants for falling short of the requirements.
However, the appeal committee that sat in Abuja cleared Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and 13 others.
Similarly, the appeal committee disqualified the former state chairman of the party, Chief Uchenna Emordi, and two other governorship aspirants, saying he flouted the constitution of the party by not giving the mandatory 30-day notice before resigning.
Details of the appeal screening committee’s report, released yesterday by Ekweremadu, said that 17 aspirants appeared before the committee and, after due diligence and, examination of their appeal petitions, 14 members were cleared and three disqualified.
Giving further details of its work, especially on the clearing of the candidature of Ukachukwu, the deputy senate president said, "Although Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu’s qualification was withdrawn after earlier qualification because he stood election against the PDP in 2007, he had represented PDP in the House of Representatives, returned to PDP on August 1, 2007 and received by his ward and the state executive of the party.
"The decision of the National Working Committee (NWC), the Board of Trustees on Ekwueme Report suffice as clearance of his membership and, therefore, he is cleared to contest the primary governorship election."
Others cleared along with him included Barrister Mba Nkechiyelu, Bernard Okeke, Prof. Ilochi Okafor (SAN), Dr. Solomon Ekwene, Kenneth Odidika and Obiageli Okeke-Okwubanego.
Also cleared were Victor O. Ezenwa, Udemezue Chukwura, Ifeoma Ebe, Susan Ekwunife, Engr. Emmanuel Efobi, Basil Iwuoba and Okolo Damian Chibuzo.
The reasons for their earlier disqualification ranged from non-presentation of membership cards and proper documentations, as well as absence of evidence of membership of the party.
But the chairman of the appeal screening committee said that upon the review of their various cases, it was revealed that there were errors at some points.
But the former state chairman of the party, Uchenna Emordi, was not that lucky as the committee said that he did not resign his office 30 days to the commencement of the screening.
Also disqualified were Barrister Vera Nwobi and Chief Chika Ibeneme. The party said that there was no evidence of Nwobi's membership of PDP, while Ibeneme had no membership card and current tax clearance paid as at when due.
The 47 aspirants will contest the primary election of the PDP, starting on September 28.
Anambra 2010: PDP Parley On Consensus Candidate Flops
ReplyDeleteBy Rotimi Akinwumi , Correspondent, Abuja.
Attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to talk the 47 aspirants jostling for its Anambra Governorship ticket into reaching an agreement on a consensus candidate hit the rocks on Wednesday.
PDP National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, met with them in Abuja for over five hours.
Before the meeting went into a close door session, Ogbulafor had expressed concern over the politicking in Anambra, which he noted has defied solution.
He lamented that political gladiators in the state have frustrated all peace efforts, but urged them to show the fear of God in their quest for the Governorship ticket.
He reiterated that only one person can be Governor at a time, and that the party will be better off if a consensus candidate is allowed to emerge.
His words: "When I think of Anambra, I get very worried because here is a state that produced people like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Alex Ekwueme, Chike Obi, and the rest of them. Prominent citizens of this country come from Anambra.
"This time around, why shouldn't you be organised and tell the world that you are still in charge? That is the question.
"We got so many people picking our forms to contest. But out of this number, it's only one person who will emerge by the grace of God.
"The PDP is the only party in this country that is ready to deliver the democracy dividends to the people. It's PDP Governors who are performing in their respective states."
Ogbulafor recounted that, to bring Anambra members together, the PDP set up Action Committee, Peace and Reconciliation Committee, the South East Committee, and there were other moves made by the National Working Committee (NWC).
"But unfortunately up till now, we are still struggling to see how far we can go. As children of God who fear Him, and if you love this party, you will help us to enforce discipline so that the party will grow from strength to strength.
"I have always said, in my jovial way, that even though they say politics is dirty, I believe there is God in politics. Remember that we are all from Anambra and only one person will win, I would have loved a situation where all of us will come together, lock ourselves in one room and even come up with a consensus candidate. I love a situation where that will happen."
After his speech, Ogbulafor went into a close door session with the aspirants and some of the disqualified candidates, but all emerged after about one hour looking tired and dejected.
The meeting continued for the rest of the afternoon, only for all of them to troop out keeping sealed lips.
Annie Okonkwo, one of the Governorship aspirants, argued that he should be the consensus candidate, because he is the only one whose candidacy will not cause trouble.
But the League of Anambra Progressives (LAP) threw its weight behind Okey Muo Aroh, describing him as the best man for the job.
A statement issued by LAP Co-ordinating Secretary Ifeanyi Okeke, and Public Relations Officer, Ben Nwajiaku, said Aroh fits the bill because Anambra needs "a techno-politician who knows his onions, a man with extensive goodwill and political spread, a responsible man who has a flourishing life outside politics and who will usher in peace and tranquility as a catalyst towards robust development of the state."
ANPP Cautions PDP On Anambra Guber Poll
ReplyDeleteBy Chibuzor Emejor and Rotimi Akinwumi, Abuja
All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to mellow the desperation exhibited by its 47 aspirants in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State to forestall unpleasant consequences.
ANPP gave the advice amidst a failed effort by national leadership of the PDP to reduce the number of aspirants in the race.
The ANPP is giving the advice just as the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP is set to hold its meeting today where the fate of the National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, is expected to be decided.
A statement on Wednesday by ANPP National Publicity Secretary, Emma Eneukwu, said the party was not bothered "about the confusion in a party (PDP) where 48 of its members, many of who are mere surrogates and proxies, are chasing a single gubernatorial ticket in a state".
However, Eneukwu noted with concern "the inordinate ambition of the PDP leaders to capture Anambra State in 2010, not through the electoral will of citizens of the state but by its usual style of military conquest.
"We are concerned because this do or die political disposition of the PDP which made nonsense of the country's electoral process in 2007 and subsequent re-run elections in various states ever since is about to be repeated in Anambra State, if the desperation of the party's aspirants in this contest is anything to go by," he said.
Anambra PDP is doomed – APGA
ReplyDeleteFrom GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Prof. Chukwuma Soludo
•Photo: Sun News Publishing
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Anambra State Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Akunwata Kwentoh, has said the emergence of 48 gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a clear evidence that the party was heading for doom.
Kwentoh in a press statement stressed that not even the ‘recruitment’ of immediate past governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, would save the party.
Linking what would befall the party to the Biblical Tower of Babel experience, the APGA chairman posited that nothing would shore up the alleged battered image of PDP in Anambra State.
“The recent emergence of 48 aspirants under the platform of the PDP for the 2010 governorship race in Anambra State is another clear evidence that the party is akin to the Tower of Babel where confusion reigns.
“The attempt by some PDP chieftains to recruit the immediate past governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Chukwuma Soludo is infantile, as Soludo cannot shore-up the battered image of PDP in Anambra State, ” he said.
Kwentoh described, as propaganda, the alleged claim by the PDP leader in the state, Chris Uba that some APGA members in Oyi Local Government decamped to the PDP, challenging him to show proof.
He expressed optimism in the ability of Governor Peter Obi to record a convincing victory in next year’s election pointing out that the governor has delivered unprecedented democracy dividends in the state.
Describing PDP as a leper in the state, Kwentoh stated that “PDP committed several havocs in Anambra State when it ruled the state by hook and crook between May 29, 1999 and March 15, 2006”
He said due to self-inflicted crises Anambra State became ungovernable under the administration of Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju pointing out that Anambra became a failed state bedeviled by anomie at that period.
According to him, due to unpopularity of the Mbadinuju administration, which was enthroned by the PDP, the Anambra electorate rejected the party in the April 19, 2003 poll but said PDP characteristically rigged the elections and imposed Dr. Chris Ngige on the people.
Kwentoh also observed that the Ngige administration was also plagued by monumental political upheavals which apart from damaging the corporate image of Anambra State led to the November 2004 mayhem during which public and private property worth millions of naira were destroyed by PDP thugs