SATURDAY July 10, 2004, would remain an indelible and remarkable day in the life of Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, the Governor of Anambra State. That was the day he celebrated total victory over his political enemies, those who planned to abduct him and remove him from the exalted office of the Governor of Anambra State - at least, according to him.
This victory, in the reckoning of Ngige and his supporters, is particularly over Chief Chris Uba, his erstwhile political godfather, who even in the admission of Ngige himself, was the man God used to install him as the governor.
He has been fingering Uba as his greatest obstacle to smooth governance of Anambra State hence, the successful holding of the victory rally tagged “July 10, Anambra Liberation Day”.
The celebration was to mark the July 10, 2003 aborted abduction of Governor Ngige, barely 42 days in office from a very controversial election victory, an act which received national condemnation. It was allegedly masterminded by his now estranged godfather, Chris Uba.
The abduction was to be the first in the annals of political quarrels in the Nigerian nation.
Ngige was alleged to have resigned on July 9, 2003.
The resignation letter was adopted by the Anambra State House of Assembly.
Armed with the alleged letter of resignation, Ngige’s political enemies, allegedly used the late Raphael Ige, then Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, to effect his removal, an incident that turned out to be the famous failed abduction saga.
Since then, Anambra State has not known any political peace, especially in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. But for Ngige, he is in total control, thus the celebration last week of the victory day, was remarkable.
The celebration was a week-long affair. It featured a symposium where eminent personalities delivered lectures and solidarity messages. Constitutional Lawyer, Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) gave a lecture where he treated the topic “Necessity for Federal, State and Local Government Police,” while Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Ghana’s Minister of Integration and NEPAD gave a lecture entitled: “Nkrumah’s Vision for the emancipation of Africa and its relevance to the development of ECOWAS.”
In fact, that the minister from Ghana could be in attendance, and not just a minister, but one in the suggestive New Partnership for Development, NEPAD, President Olusegun Obasanjo’s project (it should be mentioned that the NEPAD idea was not his exclusive origination), was a master stroke on the part of Ngige.
Governor James Ibori of Delta State and his Edo State counterpart, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, graced the occasion where they gave solidarity messages. Though Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State could not attend, he sent a solidarity message.
In the letter addressed to Ngige and personally signed by Tinubu, he wished him happy celebrations: “I acknowledge receipt of your letter of invitation to the liberation day celebration, I sincerely regret that I will not be able to attend this auspicious event organised to celebrate the triumph of the will of the people and the strengthening of our democracy, owing to unexpected matters of the state which coincides with the date of the event and require my personal attention in Lagos.”
However, as the celebration was approaching its climax on Saturday, July 10, 2004, fears crept in following a stop-the-rally-order issued by Alhaji Shuiabu Oyedokun, the PDP National Deputy Chairman, South, and the chairman of Anambra State peace committee mandated to resolve the lingering crisis between Ngige and his estranged political godfather, Uba, which led to the July 10, 2003 episode.
The fear was that the police might be used to stop the rally billed to hold at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka. An announcement was placed on the network service of Radio Nigeria by the PDP to stop the grand rally, and the so-called Liberation Day.
But the Governor, determined to go ahead with his celebration, consistently announced on the State Radio that the celebration would go on as planned, arguing that it had nothing to do with peace moves being made by the party. Ngige had his way and the rally held.
The rally proper started with an Inter-denominational church service at Dr Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, venue of the rally. The church service was conducted by Bishop Chibuzor Opoko, the Methodist Bishop of Onitsha. Evangelist Sunny Okosuns with his band, was on hand to perform live. Other musical bands also performed.
The 21 Local Government Transition Committee Chairmen appointed by Governor Ngige, came with different dance groups to perform. Politicians who have their eyes on the chairmanship offices for the yet-to-be-conducted local government election as well as contractors who have benefitted from the administration, also came with their various groups. The occasion was a carnival of sorts.
However, some PDP governors did not attend.
Their absence was as a result of the controversy surrounding the rally following the position of the PDP on the issue. However, Benue State Governor sent one of his commissioners to grace the occasion. It was also noteworthy that members of the National Assembly from the state were also conspicuously absent at the celebration. Other notable PDP chieftains, especially members of the state caretaker committee of the party, were not at the rally, an indication that peace is still far from being achieved.
However, addressing the rally, Governor Ngige recounted the horrible experience he had in the hands of his abductors, describing it as a “horrendous” experience.
“Today is our day in Anambra State. This is an epoch-making day. I was involved in a horrendous situation. For three hours, I was held at gun-point but God heard our prayers.
The episode made us to be better equipped and spiritually equipped to move Anambra State forward. I have regarded that day as a turning point in my life. That is why the state House of Assembly made July 10 Anambra Liberation Day,” Ngige said.
After the celebration at the Ekwueme Square, Ngige embarked on a “Victory Drive” round Awka, the state capital. He drove in a long convoy, which included some members of the House of Assembly and his friends to the Government House, then back to town through Aroma Junction to Ifite road through the heart of Awka, down to his lodge where he treated his guests to a banquet. Ngige crowned the celebration with an award he gave to some Anambrarians, majority of whom were members of the State House of Assembly and traditional rulers.
Though the Liberation Day celebration went as planned by the state government, the state branch of the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, reacted to the celebrations, saying that there was nothing to celebrate as it was not yet Uhuru for the state.
“Democracy has been so battered that its principles are now being applied in a most despicable and negative circumstances, such as the so-called “Liberation Day”. It is extremely ironic that a cabal that murdered people’s conscience in the 2003 general elections in the state, is today organising a liberation day.
It is extremely sad that a group of criminals who signed away the state treasury during their pre-election bids for the purchase of the state, is today using the same tax payers' funds to organise a festival of idiocy.
“Since he came to Awka Government House through the window, Dr Ngige has not hidden his philosophical onslaught against all known principles of democracy, including respect for human rights and accountability.
The state funds are also massively being raided, hoarded, misapplied and misappropriated. By our calculations, over N400 million may have been squandered in organising so called “Liberation Day”, CLO said in a statement signed by its chairman, Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi.
But as far as Ngige was concerned, it was a day when he gained his freedom from the forces he described as evil.
