It is Time to Unite and Build Anambra State

Chinedu Maduabum

Onitsha, Nigeria

nedumaduabum@hotmail.com

 Sunday, March 14, 2010

The election in Anambra state has come and gone and very few anticipated the peaceful nature by which the election was conducted. It also took many by surprise the way the incumbent governor won the election so easily. And today we can proudly say that for once in this country, we had an election that many people could not find a good reason to oppose the victory irrespective of the fact that there are one court case or the other. It is indeed normal that after any election, the losers finds it hard to accept defeat and it is quite understandable. However, it is better to be defeated on principle than to win on lies that is why I am advising all and sundry to join hands and let’s make this state a better place.

It will tantamount to anarchy to have two masters steering one ship. Mr. Peter Obi has been voted in to serve another four years that will run till 2014 and we owe him our complete support and assistance so that he can take us and the state to another level. What we want in this state is to clean the mess that it is known for and the just concluded election was indeed a foundation to start. It pleases me when I read in our dailies or even when I travel, people saying that the election in Anambra is the best ever conducted in Nigeria as a whole. This is the kind of news we expect to be hearing from the state and not negative news. I understand the pains in loosing an election and the disappointment of not answering “His Excellency” but it can only be answered by one person at a time.

It will therefore be very constructive for the development of the state if we just come in and play our part, not to worry too much about what we did in the past and just see what we can do in the future for the betterment of our state. We have come a very long way to this point and I have no doubt the hand of the Almighty is in it. We have to seize this opportunity therefore and make sure that we continue on this formidable foundation. It is time therefore to embark on reconciliation.

We don’t have to fight each other. Sometimes I wonder why we have to go this far with one another in the name of power. What is this power by the way if not an emotionally charged word. When we possess it we call it influence, but when it is held by someone else we are content to use the ugly word. Yet there is nothing wrong with power; it takes power to get things done. It is simply the application of intelligence to force.

This is 2010 and all the noise about it is already three months old this march and yet we are moving on. So why can’t we move on thinking of positive things instead of negative things. Let us therefore unite this hour, this day and move our state forward. I know it will be difficult to convince those who have filled petition against the conduct of the election to withdraw but it is the wish of Anambrarians that we move forward.

I have lived in Onitsha for so many years to understand the dynamics of the society and this moment I can only say that those who go to court will only but continue to loose their credibility before the people of the state. Anambra people are contented with the outcome of the February poll and are ready to throw their support behind Mr. Peter Obi to take us to the next level. The people are ready to resist any form of manipulation in order to cancel the election not because they saw it as a perfect one but for once people could vote without being disturbed or attacked. It is a landmark and something that has never happened in the state.

I have to say actually that it is unfair that many people were disenfranchised during the exercise and one can easily say that the margin would have been wider or maybe either Chris Ngige or Charles Soludo of AC and PDP respectively would have won the election. I have sat down and thought over it and I have taken my time to look at some of the points raised regarding this disenfranchisement and there is indeed some element of truth that most of those disenfranchised were of the area regarded as Ngige’s stronghold. I took a timeout and went to Obosi, one of such places and most of the people I spoke with would have voted for Ngige but one thing that was uniform in their voices was that we should move on. For anything that happens there is a reason behind it.

It could well be that the reason is for Mr. peter Obi to continue from where he has come so far or maybe there is a better reason we may decipher in the future. Whatever the reason I think it is time we rebuild this state. Let us all join hands and move the state forward. Mr. Peter Obi should open a hand of welcome to all those who are willing so that together we can build our state. He may not be the best man for the post but predestination has put him there. I don’t even think Jacob was morally better than Esau but God choose him. So, there are things that happen that we can’t comprehend.

However, it is important for the governor to know that being too rigid even to his kitchen staff will not help matters and there is a saying that “too much of everything is bad”. The governor should understand that the way forward is to carry everyone along; not in the way of embezzling our fund but meaningful and constructive change. There is no doubt that posterity will judge Mr. Peter Obi if he spends another four years in solitary. The governor should understand better that the people of the state will even forgive easily Dr. C. C. Mbadinuju if he fails to deliver.

Hence, come March 17^th when the governor will be sworn-in for another four years, all eyes will be in the state to see how effective the governor will make those promises a reality. For what one leaves behind is not what is engraved in stone monument, but what is woven into the lives of others.

I wish you all the best Mr. Governor.