If Obi's Protege Wins? - Ndukwe Robert

CHANGE is desirable even it be
from frying pan to fire!!
I may lack the jurisdiction or
should I call it the political wisdom
to write this but on the other hand I have experiences that not writing this will at once spell a disservice to first my conscience, Ndi Anambra, the Igbo nation and indeed Nigeria at large.

I would like to introduce myself,
for the aviodance of doubt and for
you to understand the motive behind this unintelligent writing. I am from one of those backwards state in Nigeria. Infact my state budgeted 122.4 Billion in 2012 and had 137Billion as its 2013
budget. Yet our roads are so
deplorable and in its worst of stages. In my state, 3D drawings are commissioned as projects; in my state a particular road has been constructed over 3 times in less than 2 months, and only in my state do skilled and intelligent
contractors fill the roads with red mud and cement.

My state is in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. In my state, the politics of IMPUNITY is the bedrock of her “development”.
IMPUNITY defined as exemption
from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action and when licence is granted to public office holders in any society or when her leaders “Dont GIVE A DAMN” and goes ahead to disagree on democratic fundamentals and institutions, we can at once say such and such state and her leaders play the obvious “POLITICS OF IMPUNITY”.

Having explained what I call “POLITICS OF IMPUNITY”, please
allow me narrow it down to a state where it does exist and dont get me wrong as its not only in Abia state that you will encounter such.

In 2007, Orji Uzor Kalu, the then
Executive Governor of Abia State
miraclously handed power over to
T. A Orji (a man who won his
election from the barred walls of a prison), thus the older Orji established himself as “Mr fix it” and in his wisdom delivered to Abians the best they can ever
get. The younger having been
inducted into the Orji dynasty
played according to the said script and in no time found his foot and
established himself as his own master and Lord.

Just after six years, situations in
this state has degenerated from
bad to worse, state responsibilities are neglected, tax and levies are charged and
collected by agencies or individuals who can access the Government house or its personel. Roads are constructed
and deconstructed, sum
appropriated and expounded without recourse to the yearnings of the people. The future
is clearly without plans and the
present is in ruins. And all you will
hear and see are radio jingles and
Television adverts of development
and of course 3D commissioned
infrastructures.

As at the time of writing this paper, I am no  loyalist of any political party (maybe my undoing) neither do I know any of their offices, let alone of having contact with any of her party official. I am a Nigerian who
wants to see leaders rise above impunity and mediocre politics. My only task is to forewarn Anambrarians of the danger in voting for Obiano come
16th. I keenly watched the debate
organised by AIT (more recently
NLC debate) and wept for the future of a sister state for it seemed obvious that if APGA
wins the polls the POLITICS OF
IMPUNITY will  be enthroned. As I
write this, I know it might be impossible for APGA not to win the polls, as I write this, am so convinced that Obiano is sleeping and assured of victory but Anambra should pause and
think, Is Obi’s protege the best person to take Anambra to where it should be? Yes he is highly certified but as Ifeanyi Ubah
rightly pointed out , its not about
certificates nor degrees. It is solely about getting the job done.
We saw him in the debates and of
course the campaigns.
Anambra, does Wille Obiano strike you as a man who
will put Anambra on the path of
progress and development? Does he act like one who is willing to give in his day and night?
Imo has made tremedous
progress under the leadership of
Owelle Rochas for the singular reason that they jettisoned sentiments and voted with their heads intact and Abia is
paying the price because they
didn't.

As a friend of Ndi Anambra, I think Obiano will do the political Fulani dance where dancers make a step forward and three such steps backwards. I think Obiano will set you Anambra
ten years backward and you will
join the ranks of a state owned by God but closer to Hell.

Ndi Anambra, rise above sentiment and cheap propaganda. See the big picture and where all this will lead you to.
Fellow countrymen, are we going
to say no to impunity and then let a few people among us soil our minds?
Ndi Anambra are you going to watch the very disease which is causing the demise of Nigeria take root in your state?
Are you prepared to embark on
another revolution perhaps more bloody to put right the inevitable disaster? I ask you, Ndi Anambra, can you afford another spell of strife to correct social inequalities? I want the ordinary
Anambrian to say no. When I speak of the ordinary Anambrian I speak of the People. Anambra belongs to the People.
Who are the People? You may ask. The farmer, the trader, the clerk, the business man, the housewife, the student, the civil servant, you and I are the people. If any man despise the institution of the People, such a man should have no place in governance, such has no right to leadership and
should not. Please be reminded
that “ Onye ndi iro gbara gurugu na eche ndu ya nche oge nile, Ndi Anambra unu ehila ura.

Daalu nu

Ndukwe Robert writes from Abia state.