Anambra Is Not Imo: This Could Be One Of The Reasons

Anambra State parades the best brains both in the corporate world and within the political circle.

Ndi Anambra went for the best; the most prepared and qualified candidate for the job in the person of Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, not after pecuniary gains. In my beloved Imo State, people seem to place their individual interest above the collective interest of the State, I think since the return of modern democracy in 1999.

To the chagrin of many keen observers of Anambara politics, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, conceded defeat, sent out a goodwill message and called the winner of the November 6th, 2021 Anambra Governrship Election, Prof. Charles Soludo, to congratulate him. Is it not heartwarming? Such show of sportsmanship!

Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Productivity, a former governor of Anambra State and APC Chieftain under President Muhammadu Buhari’s led Federal Government, Dr. Chris Ngige, has also done the needful to congratulate Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

 Senator Uche Ekwunife representing Anambra Central Senatorial District under the opposition party, PDP, had also congratulated his brother, Charles Soludo.

Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, the Young Progressive Party (YPP)’s governorship candidate and Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, had also done the needful. Many prominent sons and daughters of Anambra State across party lines have identified with Prof. Charles Soludo on his landslide victory in the just concluded Anambra State Governorship Elections. Many thanks to President Muhammadu Buhari, who also demonstrated leadership by allowing the people votes and choices to count thereby, restoring the almost lost confidence many Nigerians have in our electoral umpire, the INEC.

Ironically, I have been reading some posts and comments why Anambra is not Imo. With the events of the recent past, Anambra seems not to be Imo for a number of reasons. Their politicians and  state actors seem to be broadminded when it comes to the affairs of the Light of the Nation.

I see a people, who delight more in the development and growth of Anambra State than their individual interest. To them, Anambra counts first, and should be placed above personal or party interest.

Just like in commerce and industry, Anambra politicians are more progressive in nature than their neighbouring sister state; Imo politicians.

Anambra politicians and businessmen think first of what they will do for the progress of their state unlike in Imo State; where a number of the politicians both elected, appointed, political jobbers cluster around the Government House for the meagre monthly allocation from the Federation Account. 

The plethoral and avalanche of goodwill messages that greeted Charles Soludo’s emergence as governor-elect of Amambra State, would have been a direct opposite if it were in my beloved State, Imo.

By now, those who lost out, would have started compiling their documents and assembling team of lawyers to head to Court for sustained legal fireworks.

If it were in Imo State, the losers would fight you from the Tribunal to Supreme Court. A case in point was the one between Senator Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Rt. Hon. Jones Onyereri of the PDP  and Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha of the APC during the 2019 National Assembly  Elections for Imo West Senatorial District.

You can see why Imo State produced ‘Supreme Court Governor’ and ‘Supreme Court Senator’. 

The above name, ‘Supreme Court’, always gets me laughing. May the Almighty God forgive Ambrose Nwaogugu, who is now in the APC😃.

Anyways, I am not against anyone who wishes to go to Court for a redress over what they may interpret as electoral flaws or manipulations by their opponents during the elections. But Anambra has set the pace for a paradigm shift in leadership, a kind of brand new orientation and political ideology in governance. Anambra State above party politics. And to the close observers, this is highly commendable and a good leadership template for the state actors in the South East if we truly mean well to develop our region.

Beyond and above all this, in Valentine C Ozigbo,  I saw a future for professionals in politics, not professional politicians. 

Let’s trust God that in the nearest future, our beloved Imo State shall begin to follow the political trajectory, sustainable policy, programs and projects transition from one government to another. 

Anambra State has joined the league of States in the world that have administrative direction.Economic stability through sustainability of good governance is the key.

I am proud to have married from Anambara State.
Congratulations, ndi Ogom -Anambra inlaws😃

– Njoku Macdonald Obinna 
Publisher, 4thEstate Reporters