Those singing Obiano’s applauses could be seen as those he touched their lives through political appointments and contracts.That nevertheless should show Gov.Soludo that while working for the people through social infrastructures, stomach infrastructures of his party members should not be relegated to the background. His inability to understand this could be responsible for the disdain attitude of people to his government which has been responsible for gains made by the opposition parties in recent times against the fortunes of APGA in Anambra state
By Uzochiwala Ifeanyi Ogwatta
With the amended INEC’s 2023 election calendar, the Presidential and National Assembly polls will come up on February 25 while that of the Governorship and State Assembly will be held on March 11,2023
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) which in November 2021 produced Gov.Chukwuma Soludo in Anambra state through a landslide victory is among the political parties which candidates are jostling to be voted into various political offices.
Things however seem to be getting sticky wicket for the ruling party in the state that it needs to step up it’s campaign and do so many things in order to maintain its strong hold on the state.
In just less than 15 months ago, APGA won in 20 out of the 21 local government areas of the state as seen in the last gubernatorial election.
The party from all indications is facing a lot of challenges to consolidate on its past records.
Such challenges include the emergence of the Labour party in Nigerian political space where the former APGA member and ex- governor,Mr Peter Obi is selling a lot of candidates for both National and State assembly seats as well as contesting for the office of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria .
Since Prof.Soludo got sworn in as the 19th governor of Anambra state,many politicians who worked for his emergence as the state Chief Executive are still in political limbo as to what has become of the product of their endeavor.Some of such people, including those who lost out in APGA primaries, uncertain of their fate in Soludo’s dispensation have joined other opposition parties in the state to put pressure on the governor’s party, the APGA.
More challenging also is the issue of the governor’s tax regime which the former managers of Anambra Revenue Windows, displaced by his government are capitalizing on to poison the minds of the electorates.Soludo has however listened to the voices of reasoning and has downsized the amount paid by some of the transport operators.Whether that will change the minds of those who are talking ill of the Soludo’s government as it concerns heavy taxation would be seen in matter of days ahead.
In all these, the opposition parties are not interested on the reasons the governor has adduced for some of his actions.
Gov.Soludo has told those who cared to listen that he met an empty treasury and therefore had to start running the government with austere measures.
He further said that maintaining a bloated cabinet with jumbo sized aides will not allow his government deliver on his campaign promises.
Gov.Soludo has however in the midst of destructive opposition to his government awarded contracts of more than 250 roads in his less than one year in office as well as employing 5000 school teachers along with other civil servants.
However, during the APGA campaign Flag off in Awka recently, his predecessor,Willy Obiano stole the show when the crowd at the venue sang his praises to the high heavens.
Those singing Obiano’s applauses could be seen as those he touched their lives through political appointments and contracts.That nevertheless should show Gov.Soludo that while working for the people through social infrastructures, stomach infrastructures of his party members should not be relegated to the background. His inability to understand this could be responsible for the disdain attitude of people to his government which has been responsible for gains made by the opposition parties in recent times against the fortunes of APGA in Anambra state.
Having observed the above, Anambra electorates should however note that considering the overall interest of the state, even as politicians hustle for lucres and crumbs from political parties and their candidates, failure to vote APGA candidates into the National and State Assembly chambers come February 25 and March 11 could cause a huge distraction to the current government in the state.
We are Anambra people before joining the political parties.
This article forms part of voter education our people need now so that we don’t create political crisis that would slow down the development of our dear state thereafter.
Though the waves being made by our brother,Peter Obi across the federation gives us hope on a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction,We can also be OBIdient at the federal level, but vote for APGA candidates in the state of Anambra.
A situation where we allow a non APGA legislator emerge from a constituency that has been in its bag since 2003, that Constituency has unknowingly created an impending frosty political relationship between her and the incumbent state government.
In Anambra South Senatorial district whose turn it was recently to produce the governor of the state,it will be counter productive to have a governor of our choice and elect a nonconformist member of the State and National assembly to work with the governor.
In Aguata local government area in particular where the governor hails from,it will be unfair to elect Soludo as the governor and support him with unfriendly parliamentarians from other parties other than APGA in the State and National Assembly.
That however demands that for a smooth administration in the state, governor’s party candidates should be voted into power come February 25 and March 11.
On the things expected from the governor which he has not done,let us believe that he hasn’t stabilized in office.
Being sworn in since March,2022 doesn’t mean that he has gotten his stability.
Only recently,part of the remaining feathers was added to his cap when at the APGA National Convention,he was returned as the party’s national leader,a position that would further help him paddle the party’s boat well.
Further feathers can still be added to his cap, for the strength of his office when we vote in majority members of his party in the State Assembly come March 11,2023.
When that is done, Soludo will have no more excuse to give since all what he needs to stand firm in office have been given to him by us.
Don’t forget that the present state legislature was inherited from his predecessor and a more robust approach to government activities would be seen when Soludo’s men take charge of the state assembly after the elections.
Uzochiwala Ifeanyi Ogwatta writes from 58 Oko road Ekwulobia.
