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Anambra - the Politics of Obasanjo's Visit(AllAfrica.com English Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Lagos, Oct 17, 2006 (This Day/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) --President Olusegun Obasanjo was in Anambra State last weekend for his first official visit since he began his second term in office May 29, 2003. Although the Presidential visit was at the behest of the State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, it however turned out a PDP show. Charles Onyekamuo, who has been folowing the trends in Anambra State, reports on the politics of the President's visit and its implications for the 2007 general elections For two days, President Olusegun Obasanjo traversed the lenghth and breath of Anambra state on an official visit, his first since the commencent of his second tenure in office on May 29, 2003. But it was not the first time he was visiting the state since the country returned to civil democracy in 1999. In 2001, the president had visisted the state at the tail of that year to inspect some of the projects which the then administration of Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju was able to put up inspite of his Administration's percieved ineptitude. Again, the president was to visit the state in January 2002 to flag-off the rehabilitation and dualisation of Onitsha-Owerri road awarded to Consolidated Construction Companies (CCC) Ltd. But it was during his campaign visit in March of 2003 that the president berated the then Governor, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju who was then denied the opportunity of a second tenure in office on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) for his administration's inability to pay workers and teachers salaries for one year. Teachers had been out of the classrooms on strike, pupils and students also remained at home as the school doors were shut against them, and the entire school system collapsed. The president who then addressed PDP supporters at the Alex Ekwueme Park in Awka had some harsh words for Mbadinuju who had defected to Alliance for Democracy (AD) which offered him a return ticket to the Government House, Awka. "Look at this one that called himself Mbadinuju. We offered him a safe landing which will enable him to be an Ambassador to Germany but he refused and joined the AD. Look at a Governor who cannot pay teachers, pensioners and workers in his state and or keep the school system running for almost one year now. "I will not be a party to him coming back and I urge Anambra people to reject him even in AD', he had admonished. Mbadinuju had since retraced his steps back to PDP. The fourth time the President was in the state was actually during the birthday ceremony of Chief Simon Okeke, Chairman of the Police Service Commission who turned 70 last January. Obasanjo was to use the opportunity of the event which took place in Amichi, Nnewi South Council area of the state, to relate his civil war experiences on the Biafran surrender which he said symbolically took place in the town on January 13, 1970. Obasanjo visit on October 13 was reminiscent of his visit to the state on December 7, 2007, prior to his trying to secure the second tenure ticket of his party, the PDP. There was widespread feeling in the entire south-east zone of the country then that Obasanjo's first term in office was not favourable to the zone. There was virtually no federal government presecence in the form of infrastrucutral development, roads and portable drinking water, power plants, or industries. This feelong coupled with Dr. Alex Ekwueme's resignation as Chairman of the Party's Board of Trustees (BOT) to contest the primaries of Aprial 19, 2003, presidential election's on PDP platform analysts said consipred to hasten the president's move to assuage the South East and pacify the people through the award of Onitsha-Owerri road to CCC then. The loss of vital votes of delegates from the zone to the party's convention which was to hold in Abuja in January 2003 was one possibility the president did not want to gamble with. The president's visit last week was just a recast of that scenario. Here is the state chapter of PDP emerging from the throes of disintegration and irrelevance. The former State Governor,Dr. Chirs Ngige who had a running battle with the Uchenna Emodi led executive factionalised it, and brought to his side, the party's former state Deputy Chairman, Chief Ivy Ifeatu Obi Okoye who chaired his faction. He instituted many court cases against the party some of which challenged the legality of the Uchenna Emodi led executive and his expulsion from the party alongside Ngige and other. But the suspension of the state executive by the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) which preceeded the appointment of Comrade Tony Nwoye led caretaker executive appeared to be the only elixir the party needed on its way to rejuvenation. The executive committee has since earnestly embarked on fruitful reconcilliation of all agrieved members of the party in the state including stake holders, financiers and members of the State House of Assembly. As a result of the Committee's work in the past 45 days or thereabout, disatisfied members who had defected to newly formed parties which sprung up in the last one year had retraced their steps to the party again and the party which lost the 2003 governorship elections to the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has bounced back to recognition and is now speaking with one voice. Prior to this reconcilliation, PDP members in the state Assembly were like outcasts. They were neither attending the party's meeting nor regarded as members of the party. They had because of the circumstances of their election and their shared fate with the former governor, Ngige, pitched tent with him especially after the failed bid to abduct him on August 10, 2003, by a group of mobile policemen led by the late Assistant Inspector General ( AIG) of police zone 9, Mr. Raphael Ige. The House felt that merely acted out a script from the seat of power in Abuja and passed a resolution condemning the role of the federal government in the abduction saga, while reposing confidence in Ngige's administration. Ngige's ouster by the Court of Appeal that sat in Enugu March 15, this year, which re-affirmed the decision of the lower tribunal in Awka to the effect that he didn't win the elections and ought not to have been declared elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) however put the lawmakers in a quandary and created a dilemma as to the way forward. Naturally, some of them who desired to remain relevant without letting their political star dim began to do one leg in and another leg out of the new parties and the APGA. The recent reconciliation with the state chapter was simply a leverage they did not want to let go as it restored their relevance politically at least in their constituencies. According to Nwoye, the Anambra State caretaker committee chairman of the party, "because there were no local government executive of the party, members of the party in the State Assembly were asked to be the party's acting chairmen in their various constituencies to whom members can rally behind to get solutions to their political difficulties". The party had also reconciled with fanfare the former vice-president in the Second Republic, Dr. Alex Ekwueme. With this blossoming relationship exiting between party and representatives it would seem that the House in a resolution No: ANHA/RES/2006/S.35 titled: "Appreciation of Some New Federal Government Presence in Anambra State," and caused to be advertised in the THISDAY edition of October 13, 2006, by the Clerk of the House, Dr. A. G. Ikwuaka who signed it resolved to appreciate the Federal government's approval of some major projects among others in Anambra State. The House's resolution passed on Thursday October 5, 2006 reads: "Whereas the Federal Government of His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, has always reflected the Federal character in the citing of Federal government projects in the country; and considering the fact that Anambra State has not been unfortunate in this regard, "Appreciating the fact that in recent times, some major federal government projects have been approved for Anambra state by the federal executive council; and whereas these major projects include the following: The Greater Onitsha water project supply rehabilitation scheme, water supply in strategic administrative and commercial cities in Anambra state, construction of second Niger Bridge and dredging of River Niger, award of Umana-Ndiakwu-Ebenebe-Awka express road; Oba-Nnewi-Uga-Ibinta-Okigwe road and Atani-Ogwu Ikpele-Ndoni road with a spur at Ozubulu. The House in its resolution also expressed appreciation for the release of N6.8 billion excess crude money to Anambra state, refund to party of the cost of federal roads executed by the PDP government of Dr. Chris Ngige, citing of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) branch in Awka, among others, adding that it further appreciated the fact that the Hon. Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Muktar Shagari has expressed in writing the fact that Chrief (Dr) Andy Uba, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the president has made tremendous efforts towards the realisation of Federal Water projects and other federal projects in Anambra State. "Be it resolved by this Honourable House as follows; that this honourable house hereby put on record the appreciation of the good people of Anambra State to Mr President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for initiating these projects in the state; "That this honourable house wishes to thank the Senior Special Assistant to the president, Dr. Andy Uba for facilitating the approval of these federal projects in Anambra State thereby demonstrating unalloyed and special interest in the development and advancement of his home state, Anambra and also ask him not to relent in his efforts to see that Anambra State enjoys the dividends of democracy', it said and called on Mr President to ignore what it called the antics of APGA government to malign PDP members of the state House of Assembly using the EFCC. The house had described the alleged antics of Anambra government as a product of jittery over the successful reconciliation moves embarked upon by the party. It must be reiterated that the house's resolution which formed the main plank of another resolution it passed during special session it convened for the president on the last day of his two day visit to enable him address the house was a master-stroke of sorts for obvious reasons. For one, it was a signal to other aspirants eyeing the office of Governor of Anambra State on PDP platform who may be tempted to question Uba's antecedents, contributions to, relevance and or attraction of Federal Government presence towards the upliftment of the state since his ascendancy to the position of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Domestic matters since 1999 to have a rethink. Again, as a fall-out of the reconciliation between the party and the Assembly, PDP members of the house have by extension united with the party's national leader, President Obasanjo, whom they had in 2003 decried through a resolution for his alleged roles in the failed abduction of Ngige and the November 10-12, 2004, mayhem that rocked the state to its foundation. From all indications, the fence mending between the president and the Assembly which also passed a resolution adopting Uba as the party's gubernatorial candidate in the 2007 elections and the request to the president to release him to enable him participate in the processes leading to the said election appears to be a synchronized thoughts between the duo to the effect that bye-gone be bye-gone. The president and the Assembly by their actions are like telling other aspirants to position of governor on the party's platform to at least bury the ambition momentarily for now, and perhaps exhume same after eight years or so. And that is instructive. Reading the President's lips while addressing members of the state Assembly, one would notice in his commendation of the Assembly for demonstrating what he called "maturity and enhancement of the quality of leadership in the state," an unpronounced but mutual understanding that says I have forgiven your sins, be good boys and sin no more, if it will bring about party cohesion and unity with a view to ensuring its successful outing in the 2007 elections. Afterall, in this mutual political game, the president as the leader of the party even if he would not be eligible to stand for elections in 2007 needs the unity of members to deliver the party. In his philosophical wisdom however, the president noted their requests on his aide, Uba, and after his characteristic jokes over his desire to still retain him, handed the matter over to God with a promise to get back to them on the issue in due course. The political relevance of Obasanjo's visit was in fact manifest. It was not only to shore up PDP's sagged but rejuvenating image in Anambra State in the run to the general elections next year and perhaps get other aspirants to step down for Uba. That thinking infact appeared to have been confirmed by the Anambra State House of Assembly's new political direction of recent, and its action in adopting Uba as the party's candidate for the 2007 general elections. This new direction, THISDAY findings revealed, may even have informed the defection of minority leader and one of two of APGA members in the State Assembly, Mrs Njideka Ezeigwe to the PDP. The President himself appeared desirous to get his party back on track in the state and did not hide his feelings about it as he told a gathering of Anambra people which included the former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Central Bank Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, First Executive Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former Nigerian Representative to the United Nations, Chief Arthur Mbanefo, Senator Joy Emodi, Chairman, Police Service Commission, Chief Simon Okeke, NAFDAC boss, Dr. Dora Akunyili, Mrs Josephine Anenih (former PDP woman leader), wife of former Administrator of East Central State , Chief (Mrs) Chinyere Asika, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III of Nnewi among others that he would not support Obi for a second term in office in 2007. "I will campaign against you (Obi) when the election comes. I will support the candidate of my party who will perform if given the opportunity," he had quipped jocularly. While commending the ingenuity and brilliance of Anambra sons and daughters who had served this country in the past and at the moment, he said they were heroes and men of history. "Anambra is land of heroes, land of men of history, men of distinctions, achievers, accomplishments, reputation, honour, business what may have merchandize, land of opportunities", he said and wondered the created difficulties for the state in realising her potentials and putting forward its best in its administration. But he disparaged two former governors of the state, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju and Dr. Chris Ngige for not being worthy to have their names engraved in the scroll of honour given the way they administered the state. He noted that while Mbadinuju performed abysmally, a factor that made him refuse to have him renominated and had his hands raised in acknowledgement of his candidacy in 2003, Ngige in turn he said did not only rigged himself to office but fanned embers of hatred while sponsoring militant groups like the Anambra vigilance Services (AVS) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Soverign State of Biafra (MASSOB). He said they were illegal organisations. The president who spoke at the Holy Trinity Church field in Onitsha used the opportunity of the visit to dispel the insinuation that he hated the Igbos of South East Nigeria, saying "I don't hate any body", rather, Ngige's hatred for him he said made him not to invite him to the state throughout the 34 months he was in the saddle. He commended Governor Peter Obi for his efforts in maintaining peace and order and his other accomplishments in the last seven months. Obasanjo, while responding to the governor's requests for the Federal Government's commencement of work on Aftanit Ogwuikpele-River State road, Anambra West-Nzam - Kogi - Abuja road, completion of Onitsha - Owerri road, realisation of the dream of Oba airport and the rehabilitation of Enugu - Onitsha express way, pledged to get them accomplished where possible, but will commence work on them. He particularly pledged to commence work on the second Niger bridge of six lanes which will connect Onitsha and Asaba, the Delta State Capital. The President used the occasion to express his embarrassment over confessions by the former Governor, Ngige, and his godfather, Chief Chris Uba that the former did not win the 2003 governorship elections in the state, and therefore would not have been the governor. "I didn't know, I walked them out of my house. Elsewhere, there would have been outrage and the governor would have been removed," he said. He again dispelled the rumour that made the rounds a few days before his arriving the state that he was preparing grounds for Obi's impeachment, describing it as the handiwork of mischief makers "Governor Obi, I have told you that there will always be mischief makers. Not long ago, somebody put it out in the newspapers that I wanted to impeach Governor Peter Obi. What has Governor Obi done to me that I will impeach him. What power do I have as President of Nigeria to impeach any Governor. "I don't know how the Governor took it, but not long after that, the Governor came to me and I assured him that, "look, as far as I am concerned, I will work with you as long as you are working along the way I believe you should work", he said. He said he had pledged to support Obi when he visited him after his swearing-in and had reiterated that pledge by reimbursing the sum of N2 billion, being part of the money of the road executed by his predecessor. He pledged to pay more upon the Governor's submission of claims of roads done. Curiously, less than 24 hours after Obasanjo departed the state, indications emerged that Governor Peter Obi had been served impeachment notice for allegedly awarding contracts to his "aides without due process, Obi had as at the time of this report said that he had not been served the notice even as he denied the allegations leveled against him. It was also learnt that the national leadership of the PDP and the President were embarrassed by the action of the Assembly coming so soon after the president left the state, and less than 48 hours after he publicly denied at Onitsha, the state commercial nerve centre that such a plan was in the offing. As a source put it, the president felt that if a witch cried at night and a child died in the morning, people would naturally look towards the direction of the witch, adding that with the initial rumour and the president's denial, and now this plot to impeach the Governor, people will definitely think it formed the plank of his visit to the state and part of the politics to get his party capture the state in 2007. "So, he advised against it and dispatched the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Ali to go and talk to the party's members of the Anambra Assembly to rescind the decision. Beyond these however, Senator (Mrs) Joy Emodi (Anambra North) said the president's visit was a great opportunity, to the people of Anambra State and a good omen for that matter because it was his first since his second tenure in office. The president she said had the opportunity of witnessing first hand the infrastructural decay in the state and the erosion menace everywhere which he had promised to tackle immediately, adding that the president's promise to begin the construction of the second Niger bridge before the end of his administration was very gratifying. "I am particularly happy about it because it is in my zone and I am a great advocate of the construction of that second Niger Bridge." she said, adding that Obasanjo's coming raised the morale of PDP members in the state to a level that those who left hitherto are coming back and are ready to co-operate with one another to ensure its success in 2007. "His visit was a good opportunity for Anambra people irrespective of party affiliation to show love for the president. The people were thrilled and particularly happy with his jokes and promises to the state. I believed him (president). the most important thing is that he made promises and I believe he will redeem them", Emordi said. For the people of Anambra and the watchers of trends in the state, the import of Obasanjo's visit transcended the official and hinged more on politics. Copyright 2006 This Day. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). |