After the recent resolution of the people of Anambra North senatorial district to adopt Gov Willie Obiano as their sole candidate for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the State, the question has always been who will be the first to throw stones against reneging aspirants or which of them will be the first to throw in the towel.
The worry had lingered as panic gripped the respective camps. While Raph Okoye and team recoiled to reconsider their ambition, Tony Nwoye summoned an emergency meeting of his group and charged them to look before they leap. On the other hand, Chike Obidigbo empowered his only visible campaign strategy which is to double online assault against the governor.
Oseloka Obaze on his part ran home to garner the support of his local government but unfortunately he was bashed by his own kinsmen resulting to a mild drama few days ago at the Traditional Rulers' Council Hall inside Ogbaru LGA Secretariat, venue of Ogbaru Development Association (ODA) meeting, an umbrella body of Ogbaru communities.
Here's a bit of the story. Ogbaru is one of the seven local government areas covering over 40 communities that partook in the adoption of the incumbent governor as the sole candidate of the region through Anambra North People's Assembly, ANPA which is the apex socio-political voice of the zone.
Following the resolution of ANPA, Obaze had sought to address his people on his governorship ambition. When eventually he mounted the rostrum to speak, he told them that far from the impression being created about security, that there is no security in Anambra state. And said that filling the roads with soldiers is not security. According to him, he came to inform ODA of his governorship ambition come November 18th. He said that ANPA resolution cannot stand and said after all who and who made the resolution. Obaze instead of pleading with his people to support him went ahead to say that Gov Obiano failed ndi Anambra and ndi Ogbaru. He said that the N20million project is a fraud and challenged anyone that disagrees to tell him any community that has started or completed the project. He continued and said that Obiano abandoned Ogbaru roads and bla bla bla. He foamed that all the appointments coming to Ogbaru is going to Atani alone and rhetorically asked if Atani is the only community in Ogbaru declaring that Obiano is a misfit. He went on to sing how his family (the Obazes) became instrumental to the making of Gov. Obiano and said that everyone including Peter regrets putting Obiano in office. He said that Obiano's government is a failure in all aspects.
In fact he elated to run down Gov. Obiano's government and to subject the integrity of Gov. Obiano's administration to ridicule instead of selling his candidacy to the people. When he finished with his sweeping attacks and there were many hands up in the air wanting to ask him questions he refused taking questions, maintaining that he had come to address Ogbaru people through the body and will return some other time for interactive session.
At this point Mr Uzoije, the Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Ogbaru LGA Chapter, dammed his protocol of not being ready to entertain any question and asked him if his ambition is personal or for the interest of ndi Anambra and Ogbaru? He also asked him why Ochuche (Mr. Oseloka's town) was the only favoured town in Ogbaru under Peter Obi, then Obaze interjected saying that he is going to be selfless and boasted that he had discoursed his governorship ambition with Sen. Stella Oduah, Hon. Chu Chu Onyema, Hon. Somto Udeze, Rt. Hon. Chinwe Nwebili, Hon. Afam Ogene and Dr. Alex Ekwueme and that they are all in support of him.
At this juncture, there was uproar in the meeting and Obaze was informed that he cannot address such a large gathering of Umu-Ogbaru and raising the kind of issues he threw up without listening to one or two comments from the people. Obaze was pressured to agree for one person to make a comment but not a question.
Hon. Ben Nwasike, got up and said to him that when he was living in Lagos before he relocated home two years ago, that if the bus he boarded from Lagos arrives Uga junction by 6.00pm, that he could hardly find a vehicle going to Ogbaru because people were afraid of their lives because of insecurity but now, that as late as 11.00pm buses are still loading from Uga Junction to Ogbaru and said that the talk about no security is not true that there is firm security in the state which all can see.
Hon Nwasike continued and said to Mr. Oseloka, during Mr. Peter Obi's administration that it was only "you and your brother" that were in Ogbaru, from the same mother, the same Ochuche and that their ward, Ochuche/Ogbakuba Ward, had the positions of SSG, Commissioner for LG & Chieftaincy Matters, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Chairmanship of the party in Ogbaru LGA, among others and queried why he-Mr. Oseloka did not object to that arrangement and why then should he be against Atani who are not having the kind of key positions his Ochuche/Ogbakuba people had under Mr. Peter Obi. Hon. Nwasike said further that contrary to Mr. Obaze's remarks, that Gov. Obiano is a success story as there is glaring evidence to show that Anambra state is working under Gov. Obiano's watch.
Hon. Ben Nwasike went on to advise the obviously startled Oseloka that he (Obaze) cannot make progress by lying against Gov. Obiano in his bid to deceive Ogbaru people. At this point Obaze became agitated as the people in the hall applauded Hon Nwasike. Nwasike went on to advise Obaze to be constructive in criticizing Obiano's government that Obiano's security milestone and developmental policies have to be applauded for instance that night life has returned to Anambra and that Ogbaru is the highest beneficiary of Obiano's #20m project, receiving N320million of which many towns in the State have completed theirs and reminded him to visit Ossomala-Mputu-Ogwuaniocha road and Ossomala-Obeagwe-Ogwuikpele road among others to see that no road has been abandoned by Obiano's administration despite the heavy drop in Federal allocation as against what was being received when Obaze and his principal were in office. Mr. Obaze was told openly to retrace his footsteps and that he - Mr. Obaze is pursuing his ambition wrongly thinking that it is by attacking the person of Obiano that he will be saleable instead of telling the people what he has in the kitty to offer.
At this point, the meeting became rowdy as Obaze could no longer listen to the brotherly advice from Hon Nwasike who went further to berate Obaze for attempting to impugn the integrity of Anambra North People's Assembly that unanimously adopted Gov Obiano after a strenuous screening of all aspirants including Obaze. In an attempt to save his already battered image, Oseloka Obaze donated N50,000 for "refreshment" (in his words) and begged to share his campaign fliers which he was reluctantly obliged.
Until our political campaigns tilt beyond individual attacks, we may just be blabbing instead of harvesting votes. Very important also is the evident support of the people of Anambra North through respective town and local government association to the resolution of ANPA. With what happened at Ogbaru, one can imagine what would happen at other local government areas if not properly controlled.
As a way forward, ANPA must constitute another committee to help manage the ego of the subtly abandoned aspirants and to also help to shield the people from molesting them.
Ichie Okechukwu Uzoije writing from Ogbaru
The worry had lingered as panic gripped the respective camps. While Raph Okoye and team recoiled to reconsider their ambition, Tony Nwoye summoned an emergency meeting of his group and charged them to look before they leap. On the other hand, Chike Obidigbo empowered his only visible campaign strategy which is to double online assault against the governor.
Oseloka Obaze on his part ran home to garner the support of his local government but unfortunately he was bashed by his own kinsmen resulting to a mild drama few days ago at the Traditional Rulers' Council Hall inside Ogbaru LGA Secretariat, venue of Ogbaru Development Association (ODA) meeting, an umbrella body of Ogbaru communities.
Here's a bit of the story. Ogbaru is one of the seven local government areas covering over 40 communities that partook in the adoption of the incumbent governor as the sole candidate of the region through Anambra North People's Assembly, ANPA which is the apex socio-political voice of the zone.
Following the resolution of ANPA, Obaze had sought to address his people on his governorship ambition. When eventually he mounted the rostrum to speak, he told them that far from the impression being created about security, that there is no security in Anambra state. And said that filling the roads with soldiers is not security. According to him, he came to inform ODA of his governorship ambition come November 18th. He said that ANPA resolution cannot stand and said after all who and who made the resolution. Obaze instead of pleading with his people to support him went ahead to say that Gov Obiano failed ndi Anambra and ndi Ogbaru. He said that the N20million project is a fraud and challenged anyone that disagrees to tell him any community that has started or completed the project. He continued and said that Obiano abandoned Ogbaru roads and bla bla bla. He foamed that all the appointments coming to Ogbaru is going to Atani alone and rhetorically asked if Atani is the only community in Ogbaru declaring that Obiano is a misfit. He went on to sing how his family (the Obazes) became instrumental to the making of Gov. Obiano and said that everyone including Peter regrets putting Obiano in office. He said that Obiano's government is a failure in all aspects.
In fact he elated to run down Gov. Obiano's government and to subject the integrity of Gov. Obiano's administration to ridicule instead of selling his candidacy to the people. When he finished with his sweeping attacks and there were many hands up in the air wanting to ask him questions he refused taking questions, maintaining that he had come to address Ogbaru people through the body and will return some other time for interactive session.
At this point Mr Uzoije, the Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Ogbaru LGA Chapter, dammed his protocol of not being ready to entertain any question and asked him if his ambition is personal or for the interest of ndi Anambra and Ogbaru? He also asked him why Ochuche (Mr. Oseloka's town) was the only favoured town in Ogbaru under Peter Obi, then Obaze interjected saying that he is going to be selfless and boasted that he had discoursed his governorship ambition with Sen. Stella Oduah, Hon. Chu Chu Onyema, Hon. Somto Udeze, Rt. Hon. Chinwe Nwebili, Hon. Afam Ogene and Dr. Alex Ekwueme and that they are all in support of him.
At this juncture, there was uproar in the meeting and Obaze was informed that he cannot address such a large gathering of Umu-Ogbaru and raising the kind of issues he threw up without listening to one or two comments from the people. Obaze was pressured to agree for one person to make a comment but not a question.
Hon. Ben Nwasike, got up and said to him that when he was living in Lagos before he relocated home two years ago, that if the bus he boarded from Lagos arrives Uga junction by 6.00pm, that he could hardly find a vehicle going to Ogbaru because people were afraid of their lives because of insecurity but now, that as late as 11.00pm buses are still loading from Uga Junction to Ogbaru and said that the talk about no security is not true that there is firm security in the state which all can see.
Hon Nwasike continued and said to Mr. Oseloka, during Mr. Peter Obi's administration that it was only "you and your brother" that were in Ogbaru, from the same mother, the same Ochuche and that their ward, Ochuche/Ogbakuba Ward, had the positions of SSG, Commissioner for LG & Chieftaincy Matters, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Chairmanship of the party in Ogbaru LGA, among others and queried why he-Mr. Oseloka did not object to that arrangement and why then should he be against Atani who are not having the kind of key positions his Ochuche/Ogbakuba people had under Mr. Peter Obi. Hon. Nwasike said further that contrary to Mr. Obaze's remarks, that Gov. Obiano is a success story as there is glaring evidence to show that Anambra state is working under Gov. Obiano's watch.
Hon. Ben Nwasike went on to advise the obviously startled Oseloka that he (Obaze) cannot make progress by lying against Gov. Obiano in his bid to deceive Ogbaru people. At this point Obaze became agitated as the people in the hall applauded Hon Nwasike. Nwasike went on to advise Obaze to be constructive in criticizing Obiano's government that Obiano's security milestone and developmental policies have to be applauded for instance that night life has returned to Anambra and that Ogbaru is the highest beneficiary of Obiano's #20m project, receiving N320million of which many towns in the State have completed theirs and reminded him to visit Ossomala-Mputu-Ogwuaniocha road and Ossomala-Obeagwe-Ogwuikpele road among others to see that no road has been abandoned by Obiano's administration despite the heavy drop in Federal allocation as against what was being received when Obaze and his principal were in office. Mr. Obaze was told openly to retrace his footsteps and that he - Mr. Obaze is pursuing his ambition wrongly thinking that it is by attacking the person of Obiano that he will be saleable instead of telling the people what he has in the kitty to offer.
At this point, the meeting became rowdy as Obaze could no longer listen to the brotherly advice from Hon Nwasike who went further to berate Obaze for attempting to impugn the integrity of Anambra North People's Assembly that unanimously adopted Gov Obiano after a strenuous screening of all aspirants including Obaze. In an attempt to save his already battered image, Oseloka Obaze donated N50,000 for "refreshment" (in his words) and begged to share his campaign fliers which he was reluctantly obliged.
Until our political campaigns tilt beyond individual attacks, we may just be blabbing instead of harvesting votes. Very important also is the evident support of the people of Anambra North through respective town and local government association to the resolution of ANPA. With what happened at Ogbaru, one can imagine what would happen at other local government areas if not properly controlled.
As a way forward, ANPA must constitute another committee to help manage the ego of the subtly abandoned aspirants and to also help to shield the people from molesting them.
Ichie Okechukwu Uzoije writing from Ogbaru
