Come November 16, 2013, the governorship election will take place in Anambra State to elect the person that will succeed Governor Peter Obi whose tenure will terminate on March 17, 2014. The aspirants are already jostling for votes and talking of what they will do for the people of Anambra State if elected.

Those who spoke include Prince Chinedu Idigo (APGA), Mr. Oseloka Obaze (APGA), Chief Godwin Ezemo (APC), Senator Chris Ngige (APC), Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu (PDP) and Dr Ifeanyi Uba of Labour Party. Others are Chief Emeka Nwogbo (APGA) and Mrs. Uche Ekwunife (APGA).

Prince Chinedu Idigo, a lawyer from the ancient Aguleri royal family in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra North is contesting on the platform of APGA. According to him, service spurred him into the race.

“ My main consideration for seeking to govern Anambra State is service. I have over the years been considering what will happen when Governor Peter Obi completes his tenure. Actually, I started nursing the governorship ambition in 2009 but I realized that there was no vacancy in the Government House because it was obvious Governor Obi was going to win to continue his second tenure. And having performed so well in office, if a worthy successor does not take over from him, all the things he has done in eight years will lack continuity.
Soludo, Ogene, Odenigbo, Uzoh, Mrs. Ekwunife , Okonkwo, Ndubuisi and Ifeanyi Uba

Soludo, Ogene, Odenigbo, Uzoh, Mrs. Ekwunife , Okonkwo, Ndubuisi and Ifeanyi Uba

So I started making my plans and that is what is now being actualized. Obi has done a lot, but there still more to be done in the state. For instance, our urban centres – Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka need proper upgrading. One of our plans is industrialization, but the issue is when the investors come, they should have good return on their investments.

The environment where they are investing should also be made conducive and our cities do not boast of ideal places where they will live to carry on their businesses. We will embark on massive urban housing development suitable for such investors and such estates should have the necessary recreational facilities to make living enjoyable. We will not want a situation where they will live in neigbouring states while coming to work in our state.

Why Anambra North should produce next governor

It is an agreement reached in 2010 among all the candidates then that the next Governor should come from Anambra North. It is unfortunate that some people are saying that there was never such an agreement. Well, Governor Obi has promised to release the agreement at the appropriate time. During my consultations for this governorship race, I met a traditional ruler in this state who said there was such an agreement and that he is in possession of a copy of it. Since some respected stakeholders are saying that there was such an agreement, I expect our people to respect it.

Influence of money bags in politics

When people talk of influence, is it influence based on the money at their disposal? How many lives have they touched in the state? Throughout the years they have been in politics, what did they do for the people? That should be the question.

When we see somebody who has been in politics for years and the only tarred road in his community is the one that enters his house and the only nice building in his village is his own and whenever there is election, he spends billions of naira;, such a person cannot be trusted. Let me give you one example. There is this dispute about the oil in Anambra State and we have three senators.

The senator from Kogi State got up to say that the oil in Anambra State belongs to Kogi and none of our senators got up to challenge him. And today they want to govern the state they could not use their positions in the senate to defend. Our people know what to do with such politicians when it is time for voting.

Division in Anambra North

The reason for the North asking for a chance to produce the next governor is due to issues of marginalization. In Anambra North, there are other considerations, one of which is that Omambala area had been least favoured in the state in terms of development and appointments. It will be good if the next governor comes from Omambala area, which comprises of Anambra East, Anambra West, Ayamelum and Oyi. But if for any reason it does not come to Omambala, I don’t think we will go against the decision. What is most important is for the next governor to come from Anambra North.

Politics of food and money

Our experience in the field has shown that our people have become more aware politically and they are now asking aspirants what they will do for their communities rather than what they will do for them as individuals. So the perception has changed, especially in the most backward areas of Anambra State. The money bags can try using their money to influence the people, but the average Anambrarian will vote for the person he believes will work for the state. Those throwing money about are only making fools of themselves.

Soludo’s governorship ambition in APGA

The constitution allows Prof. Charles Soludo to associate with any group he wants at any time, but it is left for that group to decide if he should be trusted with their mandate. I don’t know how many members of APGA in his ward that he knows.

I must say that APGA is not a party one can just wake up and join for the purpose of contesting election and after the election, you ditch the party. It happened in Imo State. So our eyes are open. If he had come to hijack the party, our members will not allow that to happen. We have APGA members who have been toiling since 2002 to make the party what it is and I don’t think they will just watch as see the party hijacked by somebody.

Anointing by Governor Obi

I cannot deny the fact that Mr. Peter Obi is my friend. But he has never said to me that he will hand over to me. I cannot say that I am the favourite candidate of the governor, but if I am, thank God. If tomorrow he decides that I am his candidate, I will accept it with both hands. For now, he has assured us that he is not supporting anybody. He wants the best candidate for the party and for Anambra people.

Campaign funding

I am really worried about the amount of money being thrown about by some aspirants. I think we need to have a law on campaign funding and spending. I will prosecute my campaign to the best of my ability and convince the people and tell them why it has to be me. If somebody spends so much to prosecute his election and he is elected, the first thing he will do is to recoup.

The ideal thing is that people should contribute a certain amount towards funding somebody’s campaign before he even emerges as his party’s candidate. During one’s consultations for the race, people should start contributing towards his campaign and if the person does not get a certain amount through people’s contributions, he should not be given his party’s ticket. This is because when you know that it is people’s money that made it possible for him to win, he will really work for the society. So this issue should be reviewed in the electoral act.

Oseloka Obaze, former SSG and aspirant in APGA: Why Anambra North should produce next governor

There should be a moral question for aspirants from Anambra Central and South senatorial zones still angling to become the next governor of the state because their zones have been occupying the seat since the creation of the state. It should be known that the people from Anambra North senatorial zone are not groveling for sympathy and attention, but seeking what should come to them rightfully, if there is justice and a sense of equity. Thankfully, there are many well-meaning people from the South and Central senatorial zones that support our cause, our dear Governor Peter Obi, being a leading example.

In the fullness of time, everyone will have to account for their political stand, since the issue at hand is both moral and constitutional. Such rotational issues are topical in Delta, Enugu, Abia, Akwa Ibom and Lagos states.

It remains a paradox, therefore, that those who say the governorship slot cannot be ceded to Anambra North in 2014 since there is no zoning, are the first to advocate that Presidency should be ceded to the Igbo nation in 2015. As I see it, the quest to bring the governorship to Anambra North is now a sacred mission for the people of the North.


Senator Chris Ngige, APC : There is no zoning arrangement in Anambra

“Since the advent of the present democracy, we have had four governorship elections in Anambra State and these were in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2010. In all of them, the people of Anambra North participated and contested for the governor of the state.

In 1999, the major contenders were Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Professor A.B.C. Nwosu, Chief Ajulu Uzodike, among others who were from Anambra South, as well as Senator Joy Emodi, Chief Frank Oramulu, Dr. Mike Areh and Chief Ozodinobi who were from the North zone. There were also contestants from the Central and we had Sam Okechukwu, Agunwa Anaekwe, Aneze Chinwuba, among others.

“In 2003, I came from Anambra Central. The incumbent governor, Mr. Peter Obi is also from the Central, while Uzodike and Okechukwu Odunze came from the South and North respectively. These people from the North are not weaklings. They contested and lost gallantly. I emerged as governor and when I was removed by the court, Obi from central was returned.

“In 2007, politicians from the three senatorial zones also contested for the office of governor, which was won by Dr. Andy Uba, but was stopped by the court. In 2010, we were all there, including Dr. Alex Obiogbolu and Senator Emma Anosike who are from the North. In all the elections, people from the North never said let us leave it for the people of Central or South so that we can have our turn later.

“We are not saying that our brothers from the North should not be governors because they have the right to the office. But people struggle for power as our brothers from the North have been struggling for it since 1999.

“If we want to say that we should start zoning the office of governor, we shall sit down and discuss it and decide which zone should start it, otherwise it will be undemocratic and will run foul of the Constitution of Nigeria if it is decreed that one part of the state should be allowed to produce the next governor.

“It must be made known here that we have been living in peace in Anambra and nobody had considered any part of the state as being superior to the other. In 1952, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who is from the present Anambra North senatorial zone, came back from Lagos and contested for premiership and ruled Eastern Nigeria for eight years before going to become the senate president and later governor –general and subsequently the president of Nigeria and other parts of Eastern Nigeria never complained.

“There was also a man named Ukpabi Asika from Onitsha in the present Anambra North ruled the old East Central State unfettered and we never complained. Similarly when the late Senator Chuba Okadigbo from Anambra North became the Senate president and number three citizen in the country, other senators from Anambra supported him as they did not argue whether he was from a particular zone. We therefore do not want this dichotomy to be introduced now in the state.”


Ifeanyi Uba: A fresh face in Anambra politics

Ifeanyi Ubah is about the only aspirant in the race with a new face and he believes he is the only remedy to transform the old face of Anambra politics and take care of the interest of women and the youths. In his manifesto, he promises his government can afford to give the women and youths the necessary sense of belonging in the State.

“ I am the right person to liberate Anambra people, to reposition Anambra State and to wipe tears from the eyes of the good people of Anambra State, the less privileged in Anambra, especially the women and their youths. I will bring down the dividend of democracy to the grassroot and transform the old face of Anambra State politically and otherwise.

Anambrarians don’t need to search further, the political messiah they are waiting for is here with us. So let all Anambrarians both home and abroad, especially the women and the youths come out enmasse and demonstrate their love and support for my aspiration by massively voting me and Labour Party so that they will get what they are bargaining for.

Among all the other ones , I am the only one with a new face that can transform and change the old face of the State politically and other wise. I am the only one who is being burdened about the welfare of our women and the youths. I am the only one who is having sleepless night concerning the neglect of the women and the youths. My priority will be on the women , youth empowerment and development if elected.

“ My Labour Party government will initiate so many programmes that will positively touch the lives of the youth and women of Anambra State. My administration will create over ten thousand jobs for the youth. Sports will also be a priority.

I will sponsor many youths to watch the Fifa World Cup Football Competition taking place in Brazil next year for the first time in the history of Anambra State. I will also sponsor the establishment of viewing centers for the world cup in all tertiary inistutions in the state. My administration will organise the first Ifeanyi Ubah Unity Football Competition against anti-social vices among the tertiary institutions in the state regularly.

This will be done through the office of the Bureau for Youths Affair which we will create. Through the Football Cup Competition for tertiary institutions, Anambra State will be able to mitigate not only cultism but other forms of anti social vices which students often indulge in. By engaging the students in such competitive football activities over a long spell, I will channel their minds and energies towards more productive ventures.

“Again entrepreneurship has become the buzz word in today’s global corporate milieu and is apparently the solution to the rising incidence of youth’s unemployment. In realization of this, Labour Party government under my leadership in the state will graciously approve the organization of a two day Youths Business Entrepreneurship seminar which the office in charge of Youths Affairs will do regularly from the youths drawn from the 24 LGAs on how to start and grow their own business and generally acquire entrepreneurship education to sustain their business ideas.

Through this Bureau of Youths Affairs, my government will equally undertake collaborative initiative with several youth-based organizations to draw the attention of the youths and students to the fact that they need to become more responsible and useful members of the society.

Precisely, I will partner with an NGO, the Alliance of Youths Against Crime in Nigeria Communities (AYACNC) to organize a one- day Law Enforcement Agents and Youths round-table to look at issues concerning the relationship between youths and the law enforcement agencies. I will always package a two day Agric – Entrepreneurship for over ten thousand youths in the 24 LGAs which dealt on teaching youths practical skills in fish farming, snail farming, grass cutters, soap making and confectionaries.

At both events, top level resource persons from both public and private sectors will be on hand to impact quality knowledge to the participants.

“This programme will make Anambra youths to grow their own business thus becoming financially independent and even employers of labour. If I become the Governor come 2014, I will disburse over N20bn on youths empowerment. Anambra youths should come out enmasse and support me so that I can fully implement my programmes for our youths who are the leaders of tomorrow.

“Under my administration in Anambra State, many women will emerge as Local Government Chairpersons and Deputy Local Government Chairpersons. I will will touch the lives of Anambra women positively more than any other governor in Anambra State.I am equally telling Anambra women to come out enmasse and throw their weight solidly behind me.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/anambra-2014-aspirants-bare-their-minds/#sthash.dB0vNnP3.dpuf

Ifeanyi is the last person we want to see a thousand yard close to Zik's Place (Anambra Government House-Awka).

Dude is a first class criminal..and does not know what governance it about. Well we will see how the clown will shit during debate..

Nna, which kind leaders una blessed with? Brazil ko, Cuba ni. I won't be surprised if una celebrate this.

This show the thinking of our leader in this country. Do this is also s campaign promise. God have mercy for Nigeria.

Nonsense. We talk about Economy and he is here talking about sending boys to brazil. Did you guys notice that brazil ppl are not even happy the huge money been spent for the structures. While the confederation cup is going on, the were busy protesting. Yes economy comes first of all. Ppl in brazil want to the govt to improve and you want to sponsor ppl to that same brazil or another brazil. Let me believe u are talking about the brazil in Akwa and Nnewi.

Of all the speakers, only Ngige, Obaze and Soludo make sense. The amatuer rogue, Ifeanyi Ubah, sounds empty and bereft of ideas. He is targetting our federal allocation. By now, Zik must be turning in his grave, feeling very uncomfortable that Ifeanyi Ubah, Andy Ubah and so on want to contest this election.

See manifesto!

I will sponsor many youths to
watch the Fifa World Cup Football
Competition taking place in Brazil
next year for the first time in the
history of Anambra State. I will
also sponsor the establishment
of viewing centers for the world
cup in all tertiary inistutions in
the state. My administration will
organise the first Ifeanyi Ubah
Unity Football Competition
against anti-social vices among
the tertiary institutions in the
state regularly.

these man is bereft of idea and manifesto!

See how local these so called contenders are, especially the one with the name UBA. Visionless when it comes to real development, but serious when it comes to how to become governor to loot and share and protect godfathers and pastors.

This man should stop disgracing himself for Christ's sake. when will he realize he lost the election before the election. what an illiterate! Any Anambra person that wastes his vote on this man is a fool!

Someone help this man out

Can you give what you don't have?

"I will sponsor many youths to watch the Fifa World Cup Football Competition taking place in Brazil next year" ...Hehe!! See campaign promise abeg.
In a state Where the youths are unemployed??
In a state where crime is at its peak??
I can't help but lafff... Ifeanyi Ubah needs help urgently. A Governor to be, indeed.

You can imagine the trouble Anambra people will be in for in case this empty goon wins. GOD FORBID ! !! !!! So ten thousand jobs in probably 8years that means . . . Per year. Abeg some 1 help with the arithmetic. And sending boys to Brazil probably with some kilos of hard drugs. LOL

Lol! Laugh wan inflate my blokos. What a vacuous and intellectually comatose bumpkin this Ifeanyi Ubah is.

He is in the race to provide comic relief. That much I am sure of, and we appreciate him for taking up this 'very important' role in the run-up to the elections.

Laughing in FRENCH

Anambra......Home for All and for everything

yunglykmine: "I will sponsor many youths to watch the Fifa World Cup Football Competition taking place in Brazil next year" ...Hehe!! See campaign promise abeg.
In a state Where the youths are unemployed??
In a state where crime is at its peak??
I can't help but lafff... Ifeanyi Ubah needs help urgently. A Governor to be, indeed.

And you know this, how?

Ha!!!

What can I say?

God please save us from these folks with these kind of mentality.

Chris†Kid:


And you know this, how?

"No longer can men sit around under the shades of trees drinking fresh palm wine with friends. It is either they will be afraid that they can be kidnapped"- Godwin Ezemo, APC aspirant.
Same state where two human fresh heads were found some weeks back... Where is the Security plsss?
My point is.. Taking youths to the next world cup in Brazil shouldn't be a priority to any serious minded Governor in Nigeria.

OMG....that uba of a man belched that!!
I weep for Anambrarians

Anambula. Great people great ideas

The fact is that the clown Ifenayi Uba can only dream, but he cannot come 1000 kilometers to Zik's Place (Anambra Government House- Awka)

I bet you the fool cannot even win a common Council election in a state like Anambra filled with first class human capitals...

yunglykmine: "No longer can men sit around under the shades of trees drinking fresh palm wine with friends. It is either they will be afraid that they can be kidnapped"- Godwin Ezemo, APC aspirant.
Same state where two human fresh heads were found some weeks back... Where is the Security plsss?
My point is.. Taking youths to the next world cup in Brazil shouldn't be a priority to any serious minded Governor in Nigeria.

The Ezmo guy is in APC, so we do not expect him to say anything less. He will do anything to run APGA down. But I have one phrase for them, they are already failures even before the election.

Btw...Anambra is among the top states that enjoy security..courtesy of Obi strides. Those skulls you mentioned are as old as 5years or more, an enemy could have brought it from anywhere just to set the hotel owner up.

yunglykmine: "No longer can men sit around under the shades of trees drinking fresh palm wine with friends. It is either they will be afraid that they can be kidnapped"- Godwin Ezemo, APC aspirant.
Same state where two human fresh heads were found some weeks back... Where is the Security plsss?
My point is.. Taking youths to the next world cup in Brazil shouldn't be a priority to any serious minded Governor in Nigeria.

Your point is point is nonsense. You made a fallacious claim with nothing to back it up. Do you have any verifiable report from a credible source to prove that crime is at it's peak in Anambra?

Or is Ezemo that like to get drunk under a tree opinion now a statement of fact? I see the both of you are drunks no point wasting my time with you

Is dis not d same dumb f*uck dat distributed bags of rice in other to buy votes. I can't believe dat d new face of politics is play d primitive way of politics. I have always known dat dat name "UBA" will never bring anythin good to anambra state. Imagine "Brazil for World cup" dat is d only plan he has for anambra state, wif all d prospect. Where did dey dig dis caveman from?

Seun pls I beg you with whatever you worship to put this thread on front page. Nigerians need to see the type of clowns and jokers that are ruling us. Can you imagine this guy called Ifeanyi Uba insulting our collective intelligence. After the world cup what next "Mr Governor"? This guy and Sinator Yerima have so much in common.

what a disgrace of a contestant.Mr Sealadeal come and defend you man's speech lol

Ifeanyi Ubah is a bloody dreamer!!!!!!Ngige for Governor!

Someone should please chain this Ifeanyi Ubah of a person. He should not be allowed to make such primitive statements especially for something as serious as governing people.

How daft can our supposed leaders be? How would sponsoring youths to watch †ђξ world cup in Brazil affect †ђξ life of †ђξ common man? What a misplaced priority if you ask me!!! Sad!!