Seasoned Management Scientists define a good leader as the one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. So, when the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, was quoted last week to have threatened that the federal government would impose a state of emergency on Anambra State over security challenges, rational thinkers did not fidget because they know that they have a governor who knows his onions.
Thus, realizing that there is no wrong time to do the right thing, Governor Willie Obiano left for Aso Rock, Abuja for a tete-a-tete with the father of the land, President Muhamadu Buhari. And indeed, the move paid off, justifying the African proverb that says, If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together.
Contrary to expectations by political desperadoes, who often deceive their lily-livered shenanigan followers that they daily dine and wine with the President, PMB told Governor Obiano one-on-one that his administration is committed to sustaining democratic ideals in Nigeria.
Hear Governor Obiano, quote “I was warmly received at the State House in Abuja by President Muhammadu Buhari. I reported the statement credited to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami on the state of emergency to him. The President assured me and Ndi Anambra that the federal government is not contemplating taking such drastic action. Rather, President Buhari said that the federal government would increase its support to security agencies operating in Anambra state to contain the challenges”. End of quote.
It is worthy of note that, according to Governor Obiano, President Buhari frowned at those who use his name and that of the federal government to intimidate Anambra voters. Obiano said, quote: “We also discussed the November 6, 2021 Anambra gubernatorial election. President Buhari assured me that he would not support intimidation of the electorates in any form, and promised that the federal government would support INEC and other agencies connected with the election to ensure they conduct a free, fair and credible Anambra gubernatorial election”. End of quote.
What the president’s assurance teaches every onye Anambra is that you have to go down a lot of wrong roads to find the right one. And the time to find the right way is now.
No doubt, the declaration by the Minister was a confirmation that politicians outside Anambra, in collaboration with their local minions are behind the recent spate of killings in the state to frighten people from coming out to vote in the forthcoming polls. This is a taboo against any Onye Anambra so involved. It is suspicious that a state that has, for the past seven years, enjoyed the well-deserved reputation of being Nigeria’s safest and most peaceful state, would suddenly turn into a theatre of isolated killings of about fifteen persons in a week, let alone contemplating a state of emergency.
Even at that, it should be argued that Anambra killings is not up to a fraction of the casualties the nation has seen in places like Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, Benue, Plateau, Yobe, Niger, Adamawa, Taraba, and others where terrorists have not only killed several thousands of civilians but also successfully attacked military formations and slaughtered soldiers and other security officers, And yet elections were successfully held in these states in 2019 and no state of emergency was declared.
Furthermore, the number of victims of the politically motivated violence in Anambra State are not anything near what the nation has seen even in such states as Imo and Ebonyi, controlled by the ruling All Progressives Congress. One wonders then why Malami has not considered a state of emergency in these APC-controlled states.
Suffice it to say therefore that no further evidence is required to demonstrate that certain ominous political developments in Anambra State were contrived to ruin the November 6 polls so that shenanigans could have an opportunity to impose a governor of their choice. But God forbid!
It is obvious that they hope to capture Anambra by all means and impose their lackey on a great, successful, robust and independent-minded people. But Ndi Anambra will never submit to that. A small clique of politicians will never impose on the people those Professor Chinua Achebe described as renegades who are committed to make Anambra a bankrupt and lawless fiefdom.
WRITTEN BY DR. NNAMDI NWADIOGBU
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