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The humiliation of Anambra people
By Joe Igbokwe
SINCE May 29, 1999, Anambra State has been bedeviled with one crisis or the other. Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju's four-year tenure was almost lost to protracted crisis between the governor himself and his godfather, Sir Emeka Offor. As Governor Mbadinuju and his godfather struggled for almost four years for supremacy, the serious business of governance was left to the dogs. As a consequence of all this, Governor Mbadinuju became the only PDP governor in Southern Nigeria that was not returned in May 29, 2003.
Conscious of what happened in Anambra State during Governor Mbadinuju's tenure, the great people of Anambra State took an unprecedented decision on April 19 2003 to change the course of events in the state. But that decisive, comprehensive and eloquent political statement was criminally hijacked and stolen by a clique who claimed to have connection with Abuja. I participated in the April 19 and 26, 2003 elections and I know that APGA won 90 per cent of all the votes cast for the governorship, state assembly and national assembly elections. Anambra people cried and cried that their political decision was shortchanged but the ruling party, PDP kept quiet. They were asked to carry their complaints to the election tribunal and they did. Today, the tribunal is still sitting.
Shortly after Governor Chris Ngige was sworn in as the governor, hell was let loose. Governor Ngige and his godfather began a fierce struggle for power in the state. This writer saw it coming and alerted the nation that Chris Ubah is violating protocol in Anambra State, that he had always and deliberately arrived at functions when the governor was already seated or delivering a speech.
On July 10, 2003, a forceful attempt was made to remove the governor by Chief Chris Ubah and Co. That coup failed woefully and miserably too with some casualties. Remember the late AIG Ige of Zone 7, Umuahia. Chris Ubah and Co. went to Abuja High Court and tried to use Justice Egbo Egbo to stop Governor Ngige from parading himself as the governor. That process failed too. A certain element went to Enugu High Court presided over by Justice Nnaji to stop the governor again on January 2, 2004 but failed too.
Although Justice Nnaji declared that Dr. Ngige is no longer the governor, an Awka High Court countered the order. But Governor Ngige lost his security detail as a result of the Enugu judgement. Nigeria's Inspector-General of Police ordered the removal of all the security personnel attached to the governor. Since January 2004, Governor Ngige has been without police protection. Eminent Nigerians had pleaded with Abuja to restore the governor's security but all the pleadings fell on deaf ears. Governor Ngige had to make do with the local vigilante group.
On Wednesday, November 10, 2004, after a careful plan hatched in Enugu State, some 400 hoodlums in about 40 vehicles invaded Awka, Enugu-Ukwu and Onitsha to carry out again their fourth coup in the state. This time, the invaders went wild and mad. By the time the dust raised began to die down on November 13, 2004, Anambra State was lying prostrate. Lives were lost, government property ranging from TV stations, radio stations, state house, cars, etc were burnt down. Those who think Anambra problem is only the problem of Anambra people met their waterloo at Onitsha headbridge and Amansea - a border town between Enugu State and Anambra State.
Three or more luxurious buses belonging to people who may not be Anambrans were completely burnt down. Other Nigerians who were travelling to different parts of the country were held hostage at Onitsha headbridge and Amansea. It was a day when all the devils in Nigeria converged in Anambara State to wreck havoc. The humiliation of Anambra people was total and complete. It is left for Anambra people to decide whether to continue to accept this poison from these radicals.
Now that the fourth coup in Anambra State has failed, now that the PDP has suddenly discovered that the problem in Anambra State is no longer a family affair, now that blood has been shed, will the powers that be continue to look the other way? Will Abuja continue to pretend that this is a family affair? With the monumental damage to lives and property in Anambra State, will the leaders of Ndigbo still keep quiet? Can't the Igbo see that somebody is using the man-made Anambra crisis to get at Ndigbo in general? Can't somebody see that an attempt is being made to portray Ndigbo as troublemakers? Why did this bloodshed take place in Igbo land few days after the Igbo historic retreat in Asaba, Delta State? Is somebody trying to make Ndigbo look like dangerous people who cannot be trusted with power in 2007? Has it got to do with the politics of 2007?
Now, before the invaders landed in Awka and Onitsha to carry out their diabolical acts, the police had moved into the headquarters of the Anambra Vigilante Group and arrested all of them, taking away their matchets and guns. This was to prepare and soften grounds for their invaders. Again, this singular action has paved way for more fundamental questions: If you sack the local vigilante group that is providing temporary security to the governor, what do you want him to do? What did the police who sacked the vigilante group do when the hoodlums were destroying Anambra State?
How many of those invaders were arrested? How can you explain that an executive governor of a state is not without security when an ordinary businessman who is not an elected person, not a deputy governor, not a senator, not a minister, not a commissioner, etc is moving about with hordes of mobile policemen in a democracy? Who provided mobile policemen to Chris Ubah? There is nothing to suggest that a high level conspiracy is not fuelling the Anambra crisis for a purpose. I have no doubt in my mind that those who planned the November 10-13 mayhem in Anambra State were looking for one thing: State of Emergency!
I have warned before that violent waves from the Atlantic Ocean may hit Lagos first but there is no guarantee that Abuja or Awka will not feel the heat. Abuja cannot claim now that the heat from Anambra is not reaching it. No responsible government will see danger and not make an effort to prevent it. No responsible government will allow itself to be predicted rightly on the wrong side of history. What will Professor Chinua Achebe be doing now as his predictions and fears for his state have come to pass? He will be having a good laugh. No government with a sense of history will do this kind of damage to itself.
We are all living witnesses of how Governor Chris Ngige came to power. Yes, he came through the backdoor, in collaboration with Chief Chris Ubah and co, the Nigeria Police, INEC, SSS and other security agencies. We have attributed the disconnect between Chris Ubah and Governor Ngige as what happens when armed robbers succeed in an operation and what transpires thereafter when the loots are to be shared. After forcefully snatching the mandate given to APGA to run Anambra, the other gang is now complaining that Ngige is enjoying the loot alone.
An election tribunal has been sitting in Awka since 2003 and it looks as if they are not in a hurry to dispense with the case. If the powers that be and the tribunal wish Anambra people well, they should give the people justice by returning the stolen mandate to the rightful owner. This is the path to peace in Anambra State. Anambra State people will not accept forceful removal of the governor by an individual. Anambra people will not accept state of emergency because it is totally uncalled for and unnecessary. Those who are destroying Anambra state are insulting the Azikiwes, Ojukwus, Orizus, Ume-Ezeokes, Nwabuezes, Agunwa-Anakwes, Achebes, Emeagwalis, ZC Obis, Okadigbos, Soludos, etc. They are throwing mud at all of us but their hands will be dirty in the end.
I have told my friends from Anambra State that this cup will come to pass. It is a struggle between people with eyes and those without eyes. It is a struggle between the sick and the healthy. It is a struggle between the dregs, the charlatans and eggheads. But, be assured that this is a game the blind, the sick, the dregs, the charlatans cannot win. It shall be well with Anambra State, when the stolen mandate is returned to the owner, Mr. Peter Obi of APGA.
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