Essential Ndubuisi
By Pat Uchendu
It’s barely three weeks to go. Yes, to go about the most talked about Anambra State governorship election with it’s plethora of billings amidst the frightening state of insecurity never seen in the state nor Nigeria at large, as realities of different colours, real and worrisome issues stare at, and grip the state itself like a Sphinx. Or more, in what a musical group would call “All Eyes On Me”.
There has never been a time that the soul of a state is at tug between many interests than what my dear Anambra State is facing right now; we are talking about intense interests from the federal government, the state governor and what is left of his government, the people, Unknown Gun Men, political parties, IPOB, the security agencies, businesses, schools and specialist institutions, the churches, the natives/ non natives and even criminals. Yes, criminals are porting for real business as things become an all comers plaza in Anambra! Worrisome, worsening and widening!
As it goes, Anambra will test the country on many fronts and if the election holds, all the aforementioned interests will be on the edge, indeed on tripping edge. And if it doesn’t hold, it may be a case of the cost implications between keeping a person alive and, or the cost of burial/funeral. You find out that in some cases to keep one alive, even if he’s a very sick person, is cheaper than burying him. A one swoop expenses as it were. But Anambra will not be buried if only all the interests will mutually neutralize themselves as surprises may be the case and by leaving one finger on common hold by all the interests. And whose finger is that? Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC!
In the past weeks, INEC has been accused of plans to compromise herself on the impending Anambra election. Initially one thought that the rumours making the rounds were figments of sensationalism until the burst on INEC planning to launch her activities from Imo State, citing insecurity in Anambra State as her reason. When that exposé was revealed, I was surprised that it turned out to be true as INEC herself rescinded that decision.
Now again, another wild rumour is making the rounds that the Anambra election result is already pre-fixed. A very very wild rumour indeed. Do I believe that? Well, don’t ask me if I believe that? If you live in Nigeria, you can answer that. Or haven’t we heard and seen unbelievable and incredulous things here?
Only last week INEC released what it called the final list of the approved party gubernatorial candidates for the November election. How final that list was is under litigation before the Court because there’s a case initiated by the candidacy of Action Alliance party (AA) in the person of John CDO Ikeotuonye who is challenging that INEC decision.
As many interests are in Anambra State for this election, only two entities will decide what happens. It’s neither the people nor the parties. As for those to decide, one is heavenly and in God’s hands and decision. The other is earthly and has its headquarters in Abuja, manned and operated by humans. Humans of Nigerian makeup in Buhari’s administration. But if INEC will only answer to the makeup, as it’s created and, as an unbiased umpire, the result of Anambra State election may be an icing, or high octane fuel on a situation that is oozing out all characters of tension and potential conflagration.
We need to be wise with what happens to Anambra otherwise the foolishness of the Nation on vital things, huge and minute, may pose a very dangerous chapter on our already torn book of problems and national opprobrium.
