he war of the primaries of the 2010 gubernatorial elections in Anambra State has been fought, won and lost. The intrigues that came with it were as interesting as they were remarkable. But they have all gone the other side of history and those to fly the flags of different political parties have been chosen. Twenty-five political parties have submitted the names of their candidates and running mates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It would be recalled that in the recent past, about fourteen political parties endorsed Obi's candidacy.

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In the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the crises especially the over-flooding of 47 aspirants in the race was a riddle too difficult to solve. To add insult to injury, there were different court injunctions restraining the congress that was meant to elect a candidate from among them. It was not until the president intervened that Prof. Chukwuma Soludo was selected so that the party could beat the deadline for the submission of the names of candidates given by the INEC. Right now, in the party, many nerves are still frayed at this decision by the PDP hierarchy. The latest development is that 23 of the gubernatorial aspirants have rejected Soludo's candidacy and threatened to go to court if the primaries are not organized to give everybody equal opportunity. But it does not seem the party is prepared to rescind its decision on this issue because they believe that none of the other aspirants has the qualities needed to dislodge Obi from the state Government House. That was why Soludo, from the day he accepted to pick the form, became the anointed son in whom the PDP became well pleased.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)'s lingering chieftaincy tussle, which has lasted for nearly half a decade and which was fuelled by INEC suddenly, took another dimension. Maurice Iwu, who ignored all court judgments in favour of Chief Victor Umeh's leadership and chose to deal with Chekwas Okorie's faction and went on to give him the necessary documents, suddenly became a good boy. He ordered Okorie to surrender the documents to Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of APGA who solidly backed Obi's candidacy and enjoined Okorie to go and reconcile with the camp Ojukwu pitched tent with. Ojukwu has since handed the documents to Umeh and Obi has filled the forms after recording 100 per cent victory at the party congress to become the flag-bearer. Iwu has completed the forms, thereby recognizing Obi as the APGA candidate. Funny enough, Okorie himself beat a volte-face when he later 'endorsed' Obi's candidacy, following INEC's advice to him for reconciliation. It is of interest to know that the same Okorie had in the recent past, 'expelled' Ojukwu, Obi and Umeh from APGA, a party he ceased to be a member about five years ago.

Ngige's Action Congress (AC) had no problem in the primaries if there was anything like that. His was a smooth ride to the candidacy of his party because in Anambra State, AC is Ngige and Ngige is AC.

In the primaries of the Progressive People's Alliance (PPA), nemesis caught up with Emeka Etiaba, the son of Dame Virgy Etiaba, the deputy governor of Anambra State. After some frantic efforts to seek nomination as the gubernatorial candidate of APGA and after actions, which seemed to be attempts to destabilize APGA for some selfish interests, he defected to PPA. He was confident of emerging as the party's flag bearer (or so they promised him). Unfortunately for Emeka, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, member of the House of Representatives beat him in the primaries to pick the ticket. Why Emeka's defeat is spectacular is that, though men and women are all human beings, it is still considered an anomaly for a woman to beat a man in any fight. Also, many now say that he has suffered the fate his family wanted Gov. Peter Obi to suffer in the hands of a woman through him. It was rumoured that as soon as the result of the primaries was made known, he ended up in an undisclosed hospital. Though no one can vouch for the veracity or otherwise of this claim, the truth is that he was badly hit by that development. His next move is not known as at now. But it is certain that his chances of bearing the flag of any party are hereby closed.

As things stand now and if the internal wrangling in the PDP about Soludo's candidacy does not displace him, the battle is obviously going to be between Dr. Chris Ngige of AC, Mr. Peter Obi of APGA and Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of PDP. All the other parties' candidates will be mere participants and their joining the race may not matter much. This will virtually set the war among the three local governments from where the major gladiators hail. Soludo is from Aguata, Obi from Anaocha and Ngige from Idemmili. Each of the candidates will expect a massive support from his local government, which will woo other local governments surrounding it to support its candidate. It is a type of politics the state is not unused to especially in some organized settings like institutions of higher learning. It may also move beyond the local governments to senatorial zones.

If the game is to be narrowed more, one will find out that Dr. Chris Ngige will definitely find it difficult to fit into the battle. This is for the simple reason that no matter what he believes he achieved during the period he lasted as governor, time and events have overtaken him in Anambra politics. Again, his antediluvian politics may not fit into the type that is expected of the duo of Soludo and Obi. Ngige is believed to be playing the politics of personality attack, lies, deceit and calumny. On many occasions, he claimed to have executed some projects his successor did to score cheap political points. Moreover, time sharply divides Ngige from Soludo and Obi who are under-fifty, and come from the corporate world with corporate ideas. This time around too, questions may have to be raised on the way Ngige joined the race and 'won' the 2003 election on the platform of the PDP, which rigged Obi out and installed him. Not only that, his alleged visit to the dreaded Okija shrine in the quest to be made the governor of the state may have to be resurrected and how he emerged from such apostasy to become a knight of the church may have to be further explained. The Anambrarians may have to know why, in the three years he lasted as governor, no health institution in the state was accredited in spite of his being a medical doctor. Questions on how he used the local government allocations when he was in office may also have to be raised. Even if all these do not work against Ngige, the PDP may use this opportunity to pay him back for having fought against the party and exposing the king-maker who installed him a governor through rigging. It is widely believed that the PDP may use all means available to make sure that Ngige does not succeed. However, nobody could take it from Ngige that he constructed some roads and exposed the enemies of the state after his agreement to work with them should they rig him into power. These may be a plus for him.

Obi and Soludo are said to be friends who share the same view of life. They passed through the University of Nigeria, Nsukka at the same time. Though they read quite different courses, they were close still. By then, Obi had become an international businessman, moving to and fro Europe as if it was just the hostel backyard. He refused to be drawn into the university politics in spite of the fact that many of his friends including Soludo and two of his serving commissioners were actively involved in it. He would rather offer them some financial assistance. When they graduated, Obi decided to settle in the UK and his friend, Soludo stayed back in Nigeria. Obi rose in the business world as Soludo rose in the academic world. Obi, though simple but with a powerful business acumen, became an owner of a vast business empire at a young age. In the same way, Soludo rose to become a professor of macroeconomics in his alma mater at a young age. Obi later ventured into the banking industry where he became the chairman of a flourishing bank and director of many others. Soludo later became the economic adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo. Surprisingly, Obi later entered into politics, which he had rejected in his university days and became the governor of Anambra State. Soludo rose to become the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He finished his tenure and decided to venture into politics and contest the 2010 gubernatorial election in Anambra state. That is where both friends are meeting to have a friendly hostility or hostile friendship. Each of them is confident that he will make an impact in the forthcoming election but it is good to point out that they all have some hurdles to jump in their preparations.

Soludo has had a successful career as a university teacher and the economic adviser to President Obasanjo. In fact, he was known to be a member of the Obasanjo's kitchen cabinet. But where he distinguished himself was in his office as the CBN governor. His banking consolidation is believed to have saved the country from the acute effect of the global economic meltdown. Though his attempt at re-denomination of the Nigerian currency met a stiff opposition from Aso Rock, he is credited with the minting of N1000 note, re-designing of the lower denominations of N5, N10, N20 and N50 notes and the introduction of the use of polymer for the N20 note. He is credited with the re-introduction of coins, which he also re-designed, though they have gone out of existence again. He also loves his people so much that he wants to be with them always. That is why he plays very active roles in realization of the Isuanioma Autonomous Community for which he also has in mind the erection of a state-of-the-art hospital in memory of his mother. The arrangements for this have been long concluded. All these achievements of Prof. Soludo will so much work in his favour during the elections as he will bank, not only on his local government but all the communities that wish to become autonomous as his becoming the governor will mean automatic realization of their dreams. They will vote massively for him.

However, not a few see Soludo's attempt at the governorship this time as not well thought. The popular belief is that whoever advised him to contest this time does not mean well for him. The best time for him according to political analysts would have been 2014, after the tenure of the incumbent governor. Another thing that surprised many is Soludo's choice of party. It is widely believed that Anambra State has suffered terribly under the PDP. A good number of the Anambrarians have become disenchanted with the party and have vowed never to vote any of its candidates to power in their lives. To complicate issues for the professor, the man in control of the PDP in Anambra State now is a notorious tout-turned-billionaire who is believed to have wreaked havoc in the state in not so distant past. His stock in trade is election rigging and installing 'zombies' who will be loyal to him by making them swear oaths of allegiance at the Okija shrine. How the professor will stoop low to take orders from a tout is what many do not want to give a thought. That is already considered a great minus for him. Many are of the view that it would have been better for Soludo to emerge as an independent candidate if the constitution allows that or join any of the less known parties than to stain his reputation in the PDP which is known for do or die politics. Again, Soludo's greatest problem will be his support for his village to actualise the status of an autonomous community from Isuofia town. This has so much made him unpopular among the greater portion of the town that the fear is that he may not even win in his hometown. His village, Isuanioma is too small to give him winning votes in the town. As many towns would want to remain united, they may not be disposed to have a governor that will be a threat to this unity by the creation of autonomous communities. Professor Soludo may only be banking on the rigging power of the PDP and the evil ingenuity of Eselu to get into power. But suppose Soludo is deposed as was done to Prof. Osunbor of Edo State? He does not seem to know that he is at crossroads. Whichever way he goes may be a problem. If he is rigged in, his integrity is at stake. If he is removed by the courts from power, his integrity is at stake. If he loses the election, his integrity is also at stake. Again, the recent brouhaha in the banking industry about the toxic loans and the sack of eight bank chief executives may raise further questions about the professor of economics. Did the issues crop up after Soludo's tenure or did he see them and merely looked sideways? So many people have wondered at this.

Governor Peter Obi, no doubt, has touched the lives of Anambrarians in the way they have never been touched. Instead of tying himself to just one area like road construction as his immediate predecessor did, he introduced the Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS), a development plan for all sectors of the state simultaneously. With this, all sectors of the state have had a fair touch of the governor's good intention and vision. He is known to have ventured into those areas that ordinarily, no politician would dare venture because such projects would not be seen. An example is the Umeze-Anam-Mmiata road project presently being undertaken by his administration. For this, he is credited for not engaging in mere populist projects but ones that positively impact on the lives of the people. Obi is also noted for his transparency and accountability. He is believed to have the account of the day-to-day running of the state at his fingertips and does not believe in frivolous spending of the state fund. He is also known to be an adherent of the rule of law and a dogged fighter who has broken many jinxes, which had been considered impossible before he came on board. He was rigged out in the gubernatorial election of 2003 but he regained his mandate after three years. He was illegally impeached after about eight months into his administration and he returned after three months. When the INEC ostensibly showed him a red card by disqualifying him from contesting the 2007 elections, he went to court again and sought the interpretation of section 180(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This led to the June 14, 2007 landmark judgment by the Supreme Court, which sent the purported winner of the 2007 gubernatorial election packing from the government house and reinstated Obi. The apex court berated Maurice Iwu, the chairman of INEC for conducting an election when there was no vacancy. Though four years is not enough to rebuild Anambra from the ruins of misadministration of its past governors and administrators, the Obi administration has left more than visible marks of resurrection in the state. In spite of some obviously sponsored kidnap incidents to discredit the governor, it is a known fact that he has brought peace to reign in the state. Obi has copiously demystified governance in the country and given leadership the correct interpretation as service. Right now, he is the only governor that does not use the siren because he sees no need for it and he believes that everybody has equal right of the road. He has also expelled touts from the state and changed the slogan of the state from Home for All to Light of the Nation. He differentiated himself as principled when he refused to contest the 2003 election on the platform of the PDP because in conscience, he could not work with the characters that controlled the party. That is the trap into which his friend has recently walked. Obi is also special among other politicians because he plays politics without bitterness. He rarely attacks his political opponents verbally or otherwise even when they strangle him with criticisms and his simplicity and humility are simply disarming. With the power of incumbency and the numerous achievements of Obi, he seems set to break the jinx of governors not going beyond one term of office in the state.

However, Obi still has some hurdles to jump. Those beautiful works he did for the good of the masses have also become his cross. He is often accused by the politicians who had before his advent fed fat on the coffers of the state as not carrying them along, that is, he did not open the state treasury to them. That is what being a politician means in Anambra State before Obi came in. For this, they have vowed to stop him from emerging a second time through the INEC and its chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu. Again, some people are not happy with Obi's speed in carrying out his numerous projects. They believe he has done very many projects with a slow pace and that the results normally come when the people are tired of groaning. Another thing that may hamper Obi's ambition is his audacity to dislodge the institution of touts and touting and their expulsion from the state. He also expelled some other militant groups like the MASSOB, NARTO and AVS when their activities became unbearable to the state. This has angered the touts who had hitherto been on payrolls of different masters, as they believe that Obi, instead of using them for thuggery like other governors, stopped their means of livelihood. This was why the members of MASSOB attacked him on 3rd July this year in Enugu during the funeral of Chief C. C. Onoh, former governor of the old Anambra State and the father-in-law of Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. They wait for this election to show their annoyance to the governor especially when they hope to be 'employed' by other candidates as thugs. On another note, the recent politically sponsored kidnap and robbery incidents in the state may serve the purpose, for which they were initiated, that is, to pull down the Obi administration. His opponents decided not to be impressed by the huge resources he has expended on security in the state.

The Anambra gubernatorial race seems to be an interesting one. By its posture before the primaries, INEC seems to have decided to accomplish the task it failed to accomplish in 2007 by handing the state to the PDP. This is what all Anambrarians have to resist. But if a level playing ground will be provided for all participants, Anambrarians will be offered the opportunity to choose their candidate even if for once. They will have to choose between what Chris Ngige did not accomplish for them as a pretender to the governorship seat, the great achievements of Peter Obi as the duly elected governor and what Chukwuma Soludo will promise to do for them if he is elected as governor. The mistake our people made in the past was playing the politics of the highest bidder. What has such profited the state? It has rather left the state in a deplorable condition which only honest and committed leadership can reconstruct. For now, only Mr. Peter Obi has displayed this rare courage to honestly undertake this reconstruction and do away with the political vampires from the beginning. Everybody has to think about the past, look into the future and see whether it is necessary to change the winning team. Can the state once more afford to bear the stranglehold of some unscrupulous godfathers on the state? Anambrarians have to think well to make the right choice. This is not the time when money, name, party and place of origin should be allowed to take over our sense of judgment. Let our conscience and what we see on ground be our guide in the choice we make. Whatever choice we make will go a long way to shape our destiny as a state.