This Insult On Governor Obiano Has Got To Stop

VERY REV FR. BASIL ANUNOBI

Let me begin by saying that Governor Willie Obiano is occupying a position given to him by the people of Anambra in an election unprecedented. I’m not here to justify whether he is doing well or not, because that is left to Anambra electorate.

I am here to condemn in unmistakable terms the petty lies he is being smeared with in the name of campaign and election. Many weeks before the election, Obiano was accused of urging or should I say forcing the people of Anambra to vote for Buhari. This accusation had passed several weeks without any video on any media showing where he said that. As if that was not enough another issue arose that he wrote letters to all the civil servants to show evidence of voting for Buhari. Again no such letter has been posted on any media. Notice must be taken that the allegations mentioned seem to be coming from the same source and people peddling such rumours seem to have one thing in common.

While I’m not equally here to deny or affirm the truth of those accusation, I’m here to say :
1. Assuming that those allegations were true, the Presidential and National Assembly Election having come and gone shows that; if the allegations are true, the the Anambra Electorates are wise and refused to obey him. This is because Anambra State gave Buhari the least number of votes in the country including Adamawa. Again it is unimaginable that a governor who was so loved by his people as to give him a win in all the local governments should be ignored in such a way.
2. The Anambra South Senatorial Election has proven that Anambra Electorate cannot be swayed easily by lies or else how do you explain the win Ifeanyi Ubah in the Senate through YPP, Atiku in Presidential through PDP, House of Representatives; Ihiala APGA, Nnewi North /Nnewi South/Ekwusigo PDP, Aguata APGA etc.

The essence of all that I want to say is that there is no need peddling unfounded rumours and allegations against anybody. As the State Assembly Elections are coming up, I believe that the Electorate already knows where to vote having experience democracy for nearly twenty years. There is no reason to tell me what this person did or did not do when he or she went to the House. Tell me what you will do if I elect you. Our votes have started counting. Ifeanyi Ubah has shown what campaign should be with practical instances and was rewarded.

The State Assembly Elections have always been a different game from the National Assembly and Presidential Elections and I don’t expect anything more or less. The only thing that plays a significant role in every election is the cohesion of party members or otherwise and how far each individual has performed in his or her duties. Crucifying our Governor for supporting a particular candidate in a particular election or otherwise should not be used to distract us. It is his Fundamental Right and can never pass for an issue at all.

Fr. Anunobi is a priest of Catholic Diocese of Nnewi.