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n American friend of mine once asked if I pray for the people that rule my country. "No," I quickly replied, but after thinking about it carefully I added, "I took a look at them and prayed for my people." In the same vein I had taken a careful look at the bunch now governing or seeking to govern Anambra state, and I have simply prayed for Anambra, for God to protect us from them all. Since January this year I have written several articles on Anambra governorship election scheduled for November 16th. Although I have refrained from endorsing anyone, I made it clear that Ngige remains the most popular, and on course to win the election if there is no massive rigging. Well, that election has now taken place, and as all other Anambra lelctions, is now wrought with complaints from most quarters. I often wonder why Anambra gubernatorial elections attract much scrutiny across the country.
The answer is not that difficult really. Anambra is indeed a very powerful state, one that has produced the likes of Zik, Ojukwu, Achebe, Ekwueme, Anyaoku, Okadigbo, and others. According to Central Bank figures, the state is responsible for about 31% of all cash movement in Nigeria. This is quite high for a state with a population of only 4.1 million according to Nigeria's 2006 census. According to El-Rufai when he was the minister for federal capital territory, more than 50% of all the hotels in Abuja belong to Anambrarians. According to President Jonathan last week, 60% of all the private jets in Nigeria are registered to Anambra state indigenes. It is home to Onitsha market, the largest market in West Africa. There are so many businesses and industries in Anambra and its people are better known as traders, but you'll also be surprised to know that according to Nigeria Bar Association figures, Anambra state has more Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) than any other state in Nigeria. The list goes on.
If Anambra is blessed with these many talents why has its fortunes been on the downside since 1999? Why is Awka the worst or among the worst capitals in Nigeria? Why have we ended up with the wrong leadership in Anambra, and why are the wishes of Anambrarians at the ballot boxes constantly subverted. In 1999, Prof. ABC Nwosu won the PDP primaries, but was replaced by the powers that be, Mbadinuju was put in his place, and he went on to become the governor. From day one he was fought by Emeka Ofor, who repeatedly tried to impeach Mbadinuju, but in the end was unsuccessful. The Uba brothers tried to control Mbadinuju, failed, and decided to remove him by denying him the PDP ticket in 2003. The same year, the people voted massively for Peter Obi, but the Ubas subverted that vote and installed Ngige who sat on this stolen mandate for 33 months.
Obi finally got his mandate in 2006 thanks to the Supreme Court, but he was soon impeached, and thanks to the courts again he came back. They again kicked him out prematurely in 2007 and Andy Uba, aided by Tony Nwoye, robbed us in a non-election and Uba moved into the governor's house. But the courts would step in again to bring back Obi. Fast-forward to November 16, 2013. Peter Obi, himself a multiple victim of election malpractice and injustice, has now presided over a gubernatorial election that appeared to be the most high tech rigged election in Nigeria. I used the phrase "high tech" because the era of ballot box snatching seems to have gone for good in Anambra. However, a lot of things still happen as long as you pay INEC officials the right price. In my own opinion, Jega may still be trustworthy in Abuja but he seem to have lost control of his guys across this country. The election in Anambra is anything but free and fair.
To be sure, when we talk about rigging, we are no longer talking about the old fashion rigging. These days, for a handsome fee INEC can customize your victory by disenfranchising your opponents at their strongholds. When hundreds of thousands show up and can't vote because their name is not on the voters list, it is rigging, especially when systematically tailored to negatively affect your opponents. Ultimately it affects the number of voters that actually vote. In 2010 gubernatorial election less than 20% of the registered electorate voted, this time around, it won't be much different. It is not that people are not turning up to vote, they are often told that their name is not on the voters register. On the surface this is an INEC problem, but if INEC is doing this in an arrangement with any political party, then it is a clear electoral fraud that can only be described as rigging.
In my last article, I said that it would only take God or massive rigging to stop Ngige from winning this election. I'm not quite sure that God had intervened in this, but a massive systematic rigging has surely taken place. Now, should I weep for Ngige or for Tony Nwoye, absolutely not! In 2003 Ngige was a benefactor of a stolen mandate, which he enjoyed for nearly three years. Tony Nwoye was very much involved with Andy Uba when they disenfranchised our people in 2007. If not for the courts they would still be at the government house Awka today. For these two candidates, the shoe is now on the other side, and I'm sure it hurts, especially when I see them crying on television. Nwoye who claimed to have checked the list only two months ago along with his parents and siblings and confirmed that their names were on it. Then they showed up to vote on the 16th and all their names have disappeared from the same list. It is wrong, very wrong indeed, especially when those now accused were once themselves victims of disenfranchisement.
As an Anambrarian, all I wish to see is that the collective will of my people are respected and that their choice be allowed to govern over them. This may never happen anytime soon, but none of the principal victims or candidates deserves my tears as they have once been actors on the other side. It doesn't make it right and I do not condone it. APGA have prevailed this time and for the sake of my state I wish them the best though my tears continues to flow for my people who remain the losers in all these.
