Essential Ndubuisi
By Tai Emeka Obasi.
Ask any good politician in Anambra State and he/she will tell you that elections are not won on social media.
So true!
As much as that statement, for obvious reasons, pains me everytime it’s made to my hearing, I’ve come to understand it as a glaring fact. Facebook can assist you in advertising or promotions but believe me, most Anambra voters don’t vote based on social media propaganda.
Reason social media is not truly relied upon is that most times the writers know close to nothing of what they’re writing about. Somebody cooks up fallacy, calls one social media person, delivers the rubbish and they start sharing.
If you desire to write about politics, get closer to politicians, go to your ward, bend down humbly and diligently learn politics. Politics as practised on Facebook is macro in nature. Noisemaking!
The real politics that wins votes is practised at the grassroots. Never mind that Super Delegates were imported by the PDP to distort that pattern during the last primary election. As a politician, your structure is your investment. What you reap is how you manage the structure.
Around 6.00 am on June 27 morning following the night after the PDP primary election, I called Engr Chris Emeka Azubogu. He directed me to his hotel room and I was with him 30 minutes later.
I wanted to know how strong he was and he was expectedly far stronger than I was. He was instead consoling me and telling me that I should be happy that we all gave it our all.
“Don’t worry Tai. Let’s get ready for PDP to take over Anambra State. Thank God Anambra South won. So, let’s all go queue behind Val and go to Agu Awka,” Mr. Project told me.
I wasn’t surprised at how quickly he got over the disappointment of the very exhilarating exercise, despite many curves that should have infuriated an aspirant that campaigned as robustly as he did. I’ve known him well enough to understand the stuff he’s made of.
We discussed deeper and he told me that he held no grudge against anyone, not minding the way our fate panned out. He phílosophised that God always has a reason for every outcome of any event and urged me to prepare to give Val Ozigbo during the main campaign as much as my team and I gave him during the ended primary. Very significantly, he added that we didn’t make it was an act of God we, as members of his team, were not qualified to question the creator about.
At this time people were coming and we were increasing in number. After over an hour with him, I left, happy that I came.
Azubogu has never lied to me if he ever lied to anyone. I looked into his eyes all the time I was with him and believed every word he told me that Sunday morning. I had never seen him fail before and was astonished at how gracious he was while accepting every happenstance. And I loved him even more.
Question is, what changed, what happened that a man, a complete party man, who was the last man standing while all his colleagues abandoned the party in Anambra South at some stage, to ever make a public disclaimer based on the activities of the same party he always gave his all?
It is very wicked for anyone to manufacture that very atrocious fabrication that Mr. Project is a sore loser, who is only planning to leave the party because he was not given the ticket. How absurd!
Anything Chris Emeka Azubogu did not forgive, I don’t know of any other politician that could. If it was because of non consultation, then what is the meaning of CONSULTATION in politcal circles? That is the question.
But before I attempt to answer that, let’s get certain things clear.
1. I consider HE Peter Obi the best administrator in public office this country ever produced. For what he did for Anambra State in eight years of astonishing excellence as governor, I will support him till eternity. His excellent delivery is the price he paid for my services.
2. Engr. Chris Emeka Azubogu is the second Peter Obi I know in politics as long as delivering dividends of democracy to the people is concerned. What he has done for my consistency and beyond for ten years and counting is astonishing. For that I will also support him till eternity.
There is no better way to encourage other public servants to use people’s money for the people than such unalloyed support to both.
3. Nobody should ever try to bring Okwute down and I will keep quiet. Neither will I keep quiet and let Azubogu be messed up.
Funny enough, both of them share same specie of hatred – their successes and followership draw envy from unexpected quarters.
4. Both of them must be encouraged to be and continue being in elective positions for the great benefit of mankind.
If genuine development is your interest in politics, you can’t love either and hate the other.
The great Ikemba handed Mr. Project to Okwute as a son he’s well-pleased and needed to be a servant of the people in 2010. Same year, the same great Ezeigbogburugburu begged ndi Anambra to vote Okwute as his last wish.
Both great Anambra sons have not disappointed that great man with regards to service to his people he loved so much.
We must boldly support Okwute to any height but must be careful not to kill the career of Mr. Project while doing so.
Ikemba, a man who saw tomorrow in many aspects, was spot on with his belief in both adopted sons.
I can beat my chest to say I know both men well enough to declare or even swear that it will be to the huge benefit of Anambra State, ndi Igbo and mankind generally for both to always get to and stay in leadership positions, any route they decide to choose. It’s a win-win.
However, note that Azubogu has always seen and respected Okwute as his BOSS. Both men share HUMILITY like a second skin. I once dreamed of Okwute as president of Nigeria at same time Mr. Project is governor of Anambra State. In an ideal society, it could have been possible. With its possibility, our society would be very close to being perfect.
Hence, the worst thing I’ve read in recent times is supporters of both men trading punches on social media, even when both men share almost same kind of supporters. Such waste of energy is absolutely unnecessary!
Now, what is CONSULTATION? I will explain tomorrow. But while waiting for it, recall what I said above, “as a politician, your structure is your investment. What you reap depends on how you manage that investment.”
