Ngige: The march to Government House
By UGONNIA PAT ANYADUBADU
Tuesday, October 27, 2009

THE SUN NEWSPAPER:



Anambra State of Nigeria is on the march again to elect the Governor who will succeed the incumbent, Governor Peter Obi on March 17, 2010. Preparations by the various political parties are gearing up. Political Parties have conducted their congresses and nominated or elected their gubernatorial candidates who will fly their flags in February, 6 2010 election.

One party and her candidate stand tall above all other parties and their candidates in many respects – Action Congress (AC). The latter was a child of necessity which came into existence as a result of the need to form a formidable opposition to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which has failed to guarantee good governance to the citizenry.

The protracted imbroglio between the then President Obasanjo and his Vice, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar also facilitated the marriage between the followers of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the factious Alliance for Democracy (AD) which gave birth to Action Congress (AC).

Action Congress, a nascent political party stood for 2007 election, as flawed as the election was in favour of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and even as admitted by the numero uno of the country, AC won Lagos State, the commercial nerve centre of the Nation and later Edo State through Judicial process.

It was also widely believed that AC would have secured Anambra State with Dr. Chris Ngige as its candidate if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had not illegally disqualified him.
Dr. Ngige as a law abiding citizen challenged his disqualification at the Election Petition Tribunal however before the said Tribunal could hear his petition the Supreme Court decapitated the administration of Mr. Andy Uba who was (s)elected because according to the apex court. Peter Obi had four year tenure at the government house which would end on March 17, 2010. With the release of guidelines for the election by INEC, political activities have been ignited and most of the political parties are embroiled in acrimony.

Take for example, PDP was unable to conduct her congress because of avalanche of court injunctions, it eventually settled for Professor Soludo, however, the problem remains as some of his co contestants have refused to recognize him. All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) is not left out as it is still engaged in fight to finish between Chief Chekwas Okorie, its founding father and Chief Victor Umeh. INEC has dramatically recognized Mr. Peter Obi in what it described as consensus candidate for the factious party. How this impasse will be resolve later is not the meat of this piece. Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) has many contestants like Emeka Etiaba, Chikwendu, Emeka Ezeh but eventually settled for Uche Ekwunife and other contestants still aggrieved. It is only Action Congress that is not embroiled in any crisis. Few months ago, the National Leadership of the party visited Awka and made a loud pronouncement declaring a vote of confidence on Ngige who flew the flag of the party in 2007 elections.

Recently, the party also organized her congress to elect her flag bearer in Anambra State governorship election. During the congress Dr. Chris Ngige was the sole candidate and unanimously elected to fly the flag of the party.
The peaceful conduct of this congress is symbolic and signifies the goodies that will come to the State if Ngige returns to the government house. It is also a radical departure from what was obtainable in other political parties especially PDP. Ngige was at the government house between 2003 and 2006 and his brief stay was revolutionary, a paradigm shift from the megalomaniac, kleptomaniac and maladministration’s of the past.
Needless inundating this piece with his achievements which could be likened to the litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary however, suffice it to say that Ngige brought governance to the people. It was Ngige who practically demonstrated the age long maxim of salus populi suprima lex meaning “the welfare of the people is the supreme law”.

Personally, I admire him more because of his selfless service and love for his people. When the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, notorious for his dictatorial tendencies (a fall out of many years of military experience) went after him (Ngige) because of his principled stand on issues he (Ngige) considered to be inimical to his people, Ngige refused to be intimidated nor cowed into submission. Even when it was obvious that his principle could cost him his governorship seat, he told his traducers that he was not born a governor. When the Federal Government with General Olusegun Obasanjo as the numero uno unjustifiably and contrary to the principle of Federalism withdrew his security, Ngige demonstrated his political pragmatism by forming a vigilante group that ensured general security in the State. On the third term saga Ngige was vociferous in his opposition notwithstanding his precarious position then.

Today, in appreciation of his dogged fight, altruism and good governance, he is being adulated. Among all the contestants, he is the most popular and acceptable candidate. I am also to add that he is the best choice for the State now. The State needs a person of strong character, charming, oratory and charismatic as a rallying point to consolidate on earlier achievement of Ngige and Mr. Peter Obi. Ngige fits into these descriptions above. Mr. Peter Obi tried immensely as a Governor but he is detached from the people, he does not have good voice which no doubt affects his oratory and his charisma falls below minimum requirement. Soludo wiil serve the State better and by extension the country in international organizations after clearing his name from the emerging crises in the banking sector.

There is also a moral question whether Soludo is rushing to the contest to clothe himself if he succeeds with toga of immunity because of on going audit of banks.
As Dr. Chris Ngige fondly called Onwa begins the turbulent journey to the Government House with his election as ACs flag bearer, one wishes him good luck. It is however incumbent on every good people of Anambra State to insist that his vote counts in deciding who governs the state.
Any attempt to reenact the electoral robbery carried out in Anambra State in 2007 in the name of election should be stoutly resisted.
Finally, INEC should ensure free and fair election in the State as a prelude to free and peaceful conduct of 2011 election. To all the progressive people of Anambra State, I say Aluta Continua.

•Mr. Anyadubalu
Lawyer writes from Lagos.

ACTION CONGRESS=DEMOCRACY FOREVER. Ngige we support u