Anambra Election: Dirty Politics & Campaign of Calumny has taken Over!

In the next one month and thereabout, Anambrarians would go to the polls, choosing who governs them for the next four years. The Anambra election is particularly important as it would set the pace as to what may be expected ahead of Nigeria's general election. The stakes are high, and all eyes are in Anambra as events unfolds and to see what becomes of this election.

The political players, their footsoldiers, allies and party faithfuls have gone all out with an aim to garner the much needed support of the masses, and selling of their candidates, the manifestoes and what may be expected if voted in. The polity and atmosphere in Anambra State has long been hitted up and it's become a hold no barrel approach.

Till this day, there are five seemingly leading players and candidates of five major political parties. The incumbent who is contesting for a second term in office - Willie Obiano of APGA, a serving member of House of Representatives - Tony Nwoye of APC, a diplomat of international repute and former Secretary to Anambra State Government - Oseloka Obaze of PDP, a former Minister of Aviation - Osita Chidoka of UPP, an established and successful industrialist - Godwin Ezeemo of PPA and a host of others. These are the front runners and one can be assured that one of these five will cruise home to victory.

It is pertinent to note quite clearly that while some are busy selling their manifestos, discussing issues that boarders Anambra State and hitting it hard where it matters, they also are dolling out loads of naira bills, a necessity in Nigerian political circle. While these are going on, it's sad to witness an unprecedented rise in dirty politics that is also playing out. Somehow, there has been name-calling amongst the major players and their foot soldiers, there has been campaign of calumny, there has been lies and deceptions, and as it stands, there seems to be no hope of stopping anytime soon. Sad!

One may choose to ignore the quite ridiculous and now habitual show of shame and exchange of words by the supporters of various divides, but when it involves the major contenders and key players, it raises much concerns and should bother everyone. There are reasons, taking into considerations the integrity of the major actors, their purpose, their training and more importantly, their reason for certain choice of words and how true those may be.

I for one have lived to believe that there are no greater injurious insult one may accept as worse than the triplet gravest of: criminal or thief, womanizer or murderer. These are very dirty and extreme words to use in defining anyone or any character. To me, it's no joke and apologies may not heal it, I squarely take it very serious, and fight it headon till the end.

The fact remains that name-calling, campaign of calumny, deceit and lies may work less or no wonder. It may pass for today, but as it has always been the case, it would surely backfire in the longrun.

In the last count, the APC Government while vying for office and for the presidency, they implored every class of lies, deceit, and propaganda mercenaries and arsenal within their reach in the long walk to victory. It worked for them, but today, in a radical turnaround of things, the times of lies has come and gone, while reality has dawned before us all. The negatives they pulled up against the past administration is hunting them, and staring us all in the face. They have become even worse than those before them.

In Anambra, in what has become simply, a shocking revelation and outburst, a lead contestant and a serving member of the Federal House of Representatives, Mr. Tony Nwoye had alleged that the incumbent Governor, Mr. Willie Obiano is a thief! As if that was not enough, Tony also called out the Governor's wife as a thief also. He claimed that there has never been any person that has governed Anambra State who has stolen even 5% of what Chief. Obiano and his wife has stolen. He insisted that they steal with reckless abandon, and have stolen the state to stupor.

Mr. Nwoye claimed that it was actually not the monies running into billions left behind by Obiano's predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi or the monies allotted to Anambra State alone that is been stolen that annoys him, but particularly, the monies meant for the Local Government authorities. He claimed that the allocation of the Local Government was the monies meant to reach particularly the lowly, the poor and those suffering lack and want. He went ahead challenging the Governor to an open debate on this incredible allegation where he claimed readiness to give him a run for his money.

In what has become an immediate response, the footsoldiers and media squad of the incumbent Governor, Willie Obiano has come all out to unleash a hitback at Tony Nwoye and maybe, beat him to his own game. They have alleged that the Federal House of Representative member is a bigger thief, claiming it takes only a thief to know one. They also alleged that Tony had remained a known cultist right from his time as an undergraduate till date.

The fan base of Gov. Obiano sounding even more determined to deal ruthlessly with Tony had also claimed that Tony was the leader of the gang squad that unleashed terror in Anambra State back in 2003 under the Dr. Chris Ngige administration, where Government establishments and properties where burnt down. They claimed that Tony had been a thug and has remained an unrepentant one, and so, cannot make anything out of leadership if elected, as he stands for criminality and all that is bad.

As a concerned Anambrarian, I am truly perturbed and yes, I am worried with these mind-blowing accusations and counter allegations. It means a lot, and if anyone thinks Anambrarians aren't worried or aren't asking questions about the integrity and the truth surrounding these accusations, then the person must be sick in the head. Ndi-Anambra are particularly bothered and do need clarifications to be made.

There is something about Tony Nwoye's accusation, "Obiano bu onye ohi". This is the beauty, or if I may, the radicalism of Igbo language, it does not beautify, beat-down or manage words, it comes out just as it is. English and ndi Oyibo have a way of masterly managing words, where they can interchange our "ohi" as "siphoned, misappropriated, mismanaged, embezzled, diverted, unaccounted for" and all those, but other words relating to criminality or thievery in Igbo even sounds worse, "ekperima, abanidiegwu, aka ntutu, ajo nwa, akalagholi" et al. Now, is Gov. Obiano guilty of the English words or meaning of our Igbo word "ohi", if yes, then Tony might be right afterall.

The fan base of the Governor, Willie Obiano have alleged that, "Tony is a cultist, a thug and a criminal". To this day, one may not have evidences to buttress if he is a cultist or not. However, the other words may sound true. Mr. Tony Nwoye as the PDP Chairman under the then embattled diminutive Governor Chris Ngige, was a major player in the polity of the state by his standing in their ruling party, and as a party leader couldn't call his people to order, what could be more. Somehow also, the way he sounds with reckless abandon alone may be those common qualities found from roadside "agberos".

Now, done with Tony Nwoye of APC and Willie Obiano of APGA, there has been attempts to drag in the candidate of the PDP - Oseloka Obaze, and one has kept a tab to see or listen to what plays out. The thing is, most times, the debate sounds sterile as nothing worth holding unto is discussed in the negative against him. The most people do is to attack his alleged godfather, who if it's true, then it means that thesame man was Obiano's godfather as well, talking about the immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.

There is something about the quintessential Peter Obi, something special that goes for him always. He is like the Biblical Peter, the rock upon which the new Anambra State is being built. He is more like the cat with nine lives, the more he is being fought, it seems that's the more he survives and pushes forth.

The allegation without prove that he demanded from his successor, the sum of N7billion has remained a wild goose chase with no rewards afterall, atleast till this day. The fact is, concerned Anambrarians would continue to query, "why would Obi demand for as little as seven billion naira from someone he has left in hard and local currencies about N75billion in cash and investment, the very first in Nigeria's political history". It simply makes no sense to believe Obi can demand that pittance, if he wanted to make demands.

Somehow, in a desperate move to attach Obaze, where no wrongdoing is found of him, mischief-makers channel their energies into attacking Mr. Obi who isn't actually a contender in the elections.

Obi who is a PDP stakeholder may be escorting Obaze on campaign tours, it doesn't mean or equate that he is now contending too. In politics, every party faithful would prefer his or her own candidate or political party to win. It doesn't actually write-off Obaze's chances. Infact, undecided voters like very myself would wonder, why not mention the shortfalls or lacks of Oseloka Obaze to me, not that of Peter Obi. The attacks and counter-attacks on Obi isn't yielding any fruit, it is infact beginning to endear people all the more to Obaze's side. If I for one, were to consider PDP, her candidate is Obaze not Obi.

One has watched from different sides, and if truth should be said just as it is, we must make it very clear that yes, APGA runs loads of propaganda politics, while APC uses a seemingly destructive medium, and the PDP isn't any better, their apologists involve themselves in name-calling too and this is why some players and discussants see it to look more like a vendetta mission, which the refined Obaze in particular, may never approve of.

To this day, it seems more like, it's only the duo of the supporters of Mr. Osita Chidoka of the UPP and the quintessential Godwin Ezeemo of PPA are those who still care about doing good politics, maturely and intelligently. Anyone who has listened to either of them and also, their followers and fans speak or write will be "wowed" on how much they know, how determined they are and how their teeming followership is pushing steadily against all odds on this long walk with hope to making it to victory.

Elections aren't war afterall. There is life after November 18th. We will remain Anambrarians, win or loose. I'm particularly startled and perhaps angered with the insults, cyber attacks and bulling from mischief makers against themselves. Somehow, I wonder, is this worth it afterall?

I have read persons who are friends suddenly turn to enemies, abusing and insulting themselves online. I mean able bodied young men and women that used to eat from thesame plate and drink from thesame cup. While they fight for their favorite candidates and political parties, these politicians have their own kids abroad, in sane havens where they enjoy life to its fullest and back home, we insult, ridicule, shame, abuse and are drawing sword against the necks of each other. These politicians that these young men and women are going extremes for, do they honestly deserve it? Obviously not!

I appeal to major players, steakholders, fellow young people and all apologists or fans to shelve their swords; the battle should be for the greater good of Anambra State, not to serve an interest or merely any paymaster alone. This style of politics laden with abuse, hips of insults, of lies, of propaganda and campaign of calumny has got to stop. If not, it will surely backfire.

Politics ought not to be a dirty game, it's actually a case of dirty-minded fellows who practice dirty style of doing things, that introduce their dirty-minded selves and attitudes into politics.

As I often say, as serious-minded young people, we may be lowly and poor, but we definitely aren't ignorant neither are we fools.

Politics will forever be a dirty business...but they shouldn't tak anambra state to be dia investments

Thats the point