₦airaland Forum

Obaze: Is this Obi’s man for his job? 0
June 21, 2013 | 12:09 am
Politics
BY VINCENT UJUMADU
*SSG keeps mum about Anambra guber ambition
Governor Peter Obi has tended to behave like an apolitical public official while quietly undermining rooted political forces in Anambra State. With his exit date drawing nearer by the day, there are suggestions that he could be planting another seemingly apolitical man as heir.
AT a period when the many governorship aspirants in Anambra State are jostling for attention and trying to outdo one another with posters and other campaign gimmicks, one notable aspirant has been conspicuous by his seeming silence.
The Secretary to the Anambra State Government, SSG, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, considered by many to be Governor Peter Obi’s presumed heir has been largely mum. Like his principal, he is giving the impression that he is not a classic politician.
Gov Obi
Obaze, it would be recalled, was brought back by Obi from the UnitedStates of America, USA, where he wasa senior official at the United Nations, UN, to become the SSG. Since his return to Nigeria, the SSG, who hails from Ogbaru which is part of the Anambra North senatorial zone being favoured by his boss to produce his successor, has been engrossed in his work as the SSG despite his rumoured governorship ambition.
Given the well known impression that Obaze is nursing governorship ambition, it was not difficult asking why he is not yet campaigning and organizing meetings like other aspirants. Like a diplomat that he is, Obaze said it would be improper for him to jump the gun, insisting that he would only make known his ambition after the release of the guidelines concerning the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
“Many governorship aspirants are going about doing what they are not supposed to be doing. People have asked me about my political ambition and my position is that we must wait for INEC to release the guidelines for the election. I have taken cognizance of one thing because of whom I am and where I have been. I know that before we start electioneering, we must wait for INEC to give us the guidelines. So I am not going to make any pronouncement on the issue until the guidelines are out.
“Those who are putting up billboards and campaigning are actually violating the INEC regulation and that is why I want to appeal to people not to pressurize me to say anything that I am not supposed to say in order not to violate the rules. At the right time, we will sit down and I will tell everybody what my decision is.”
According to him, the large number of people that have shown interest in the race (at the last count about 32) should not discourage any serious aspirant, adding that the essence of democracy is that people come out to ask for votes and peopleare elected based on their records.
“It is assumed that you are good before presenting yourself and not to present yourself for people to findout if you are good. All those who are going to run the governorship election have their pedigree, but at the end of the day, it is the voters that will decide who becomes the governor.
Mr Obaze
“I maintain that the race for an election is like an Olympic Game where you present a lot of candidates and people are eliminated during the heats. It you run on somebody’s track, you are disqualified and at the end of the day, it is only those who run a clean race and get to the finished line that will win.
One thing is however very clear about Obaze’s governorship ambition and that is that his job as the SSG and chairman of the state flood rehabilitation committee for the resettlement of last year’s flood victims in the state, has enabled him to get acquainted with all the nooks and crannies of Anambra State. Indeed, he has become a household name in the state as he was at the head of the team that distributed relief materials to the over 60 communities that were affected by the flood. During that assignment, he brought his personality to bear on the people.
Besides, the political body language of Governor Obi indicates that the cap of governor could fit his SSG. For instance, while performing an official function in the state last Monday in Awka, Obi told stakeholders of the state that gathered at the Women Development Center that development partners are concerned about who will succeed him next year in view of the on-going projectsthey are executing in the state.
Obi said: “Their worry is that Anambra has come a long way in terms of partnering with international donor agencies and they have been expressing worry that what we have achieved in the past seven years could be wiped out in few months by a governor who does not have what it takes to interact with and attract donor agencies that have described Anambra as one of the most reliable states in the country in terms of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, MDG, in which the state has ranked among the best performer.”
Interestingly, INEC is expected to release the Anambra governorship election guidelines later this month and until then, Obaze will continue to keep mum about his ambition even if he is carrying out the campaigns behind the scene.

What do you think went wrong after watching the nigeria vs uruguay match ? Nigeria dominated the game,yet failed to win.....Your opinion and what you think Kechi should do in order to improve the team please.....

From volks to alaba int'l market is under lock down. All the shops there(even the ones in the street) are shut down. Which kind nonsense be this,see men dey go hungry cos of this*yawn*****

Lagos Markets Shut-Down In Honour of Abibat Mogaji

All the markets in Lagos have been shut down today,in honour of Alhaja Abibat Mogaji and to commiserate with the Tinubu family.

Alhaja Abibat Mogaji was the mother of Aswaju Bola Tinubu, the former Governor of lagos State, and the Iyaloja of Lagos (Head/President General of Lagos market women/men Association)


How is market activities in your area ?

How can one kill the american president if one wants to,with all this security details ? How possible can it be ? Just wondering.....

Are u saying with all this security details,assassins cannot get to him ? Cos i believe with every innovation in the security of a president,the enemy will too look for a way to penetrate the defences by all means(weak points). Cause/reaction....

Yes,is true.6 were gunned down.1 fall inside the swamp.The victims were suspected cultists too cos a gun was found on one,while a sword was found on another.The Ojo police evecuated the corpses.They were killed in a drinking joint in electronic section.

Pique mind dey for Shakira waist cos hip dont lie.......

This's total humiliation to Barca,even Shakira scoring own goal.Nawa oooo

And they will say south african soldiers are better than nigerians.Why did they pull out in the first place ? Thats something nigerian soldiers will never do....SA this,SA that..see the kind of humiliation they got from the rebel with all their state of art weaponry...let me not hear their noise of boasting again oooo....

Instead of Ngige to just declare his interest in contesting the Gov.post,he is busy blackmailling a gov that has already finished his tenure.Is that the new way of campaigning ? What does Ngige stand to gain from his outburst ? He should let peter obi be,after all he(obi) is not coming back as gov. Ngige should concentrate on how he will want to develop anambra state if he so much want to come back as a gov.

For me,i think is Manchester United because of officials favour for them.....

Which football club do you dislike the most ?

Am proud to be a giant. Great illya du hammer rep. Remembering the days Prof Ilochi okafor(SAN),Ikoro,yellow man,obiadada R.I.P,Makavilli etc. I so much missed and love that school......

After the foiled attempt to attack the president plane,two schools of thought have been debating the implications had such happen.While one thinks nothing will happen,the other thinks the country will go up in flame.In your humble opinion,what do you think will be the implications if the president is to be assassinated now ?

Cancer has claim another victim again.....R.I.P hugo

My fellow brothers and sisters,lets drop our tributes for the pope as he resigns. Thanks.

Pls help,how do i post a link of this news using a phone? Dont knw hw to do that. Thanks in advance.

Pls,hw do i post a link to a topic using a phone ? Like newspaper,articles from other websites.

He announced his intention to contest in the forth coming election in nnewi town hall meeting. More details shortly.

Wow,this is like an action film-24 series. So many secrets in............

Lock them inside the room 24/7,thats all. *winks*

Are u saying they are now sales boys ? Hmmmm....

Osaze is now going off the rail. Is it now his duty to be talking anyhow ? Did west complain to him about been hungry ? Beside,are footballers the only ppl that serve this country ? Mind u,we have other sports beside football. Any body that is in service to the country should always plan for his/her future retirement eg police,army,civil servants etc. Nigerians are nt the only country that engage in sports in the world. What special thing has other countries done for their sportsmen/women pls ?

Eastsidaz,thumbs up. Keep the light glowing. Proud of Anambra state-light of the nation.cheers

The coach has bag a CON award,while the players,MON. N10m 4 coach,N5m 4 the players,and N2m 4 the tech crew.

Why yobo no wan leave the cup alone,see as he just dey guide the cup closely.

Mod front page now please,thanks.

Wow,the igbos cultural troupe displaying nw. This is rich men

Cultural dances,follows by supporters club shows @ the state house

Ha,so civil defence are now musicians ? Na wa o