Soludo, Nine Other Billionaires Eye Govt House – TheNigerialawyer

For politicians in Anambra State, including the incumbent, Chief
Willie Obiano, it is almost as if the governorship election slated
for November 2021 would hold tomorrow, Independent report.^[1]

Across the major political parties, stakeholders are busy
working round the clock regarding who to support as well as
mobilizing their associates and foot soldiers.

Already two major issues, namely zoning and godfathering, are
gaining prominence in the various conversations about the essential
qualities of Governor Obiano’s prospective successor in two years’
time.

In November 21, 2017, against all odds, the incumbent governor
was re-elected for a second term. But the irony of what is
currently playing out in the state is that most of those who
contested against Obiano even in 2003 are still in the field
searching for the people’s mandate to be his successor in 2021.

Most of the political stakeholders believe that apart from
riding on the coat tails of former Governor Peter Obi to become
governor, Obiano has not displayed the political sagacity or
performance that could qualify him to implant a successor or become
a godfather.

Sources in Government House, Awka, explained that it was on
account of the general belief that the governor’s power of
incumbency was not potent enough to impose a successor that not
less than ten billionaires have indicated their interest to contest
the 2021 governorship election.

Prominent among the billionaires are those that contested the
governorship in 2013, including Dr. Andy Uba, Ifeanyi Ubah, and
Godwin Ezeemo.

Others that have so far signaled their intention to participate
in the 2021 gubernatorial poll include Dr. Obiora Okonkwo (PDP),
Dr. Godwin Maduka (PDP), Dr. Chido Nwankwo, Dr. Chinue Ozigbo
(Chairman of Transcorp), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo (APGA), Senator
(Iyom) Uche Ekwunife (PDP), Dr. George Moghalu (APC), Hon Chris
Azubogu (PDP), Johnbosco Onunkwo (APC), Stanley Uzochukwu (APGA),
Nicholas Ukachukwu (APGA), Tony Nwoye (APC).

But perhaps learning some lessons from Governor Henry Seriake
Dickson’s experience in the recent Bayelsa State governorship poll,
where the governor failed to produce his preferred candidate as
successor, Obiano is said to be widening his circle of political
contacts to ensure that his succession adorns the badge of
inclusion.

One of the strategies, according to sources, was the recent
setting up of Anambra State Development Plan Committee, led by
Prof. Charles Soludo. Speaking when he inaugurated the committee,
tagged Anambra Vision 2070 Committee, Governor Obiano said the team
was put together to design a 50-year development template for the
state.

While charging the members to do a thorough job, the governor
reminded them that “the task of the committee includes crafting the
Anambra Vision 2070 Development Plan that would also touch on
security of the state, determine critical milestones and success
factors in the plans.”

The areas of reference, according to Obiano, include defining
the mission and vision statements, identifying specific sectors of
focus, creation of broad objectives for the sectors, development of
programmes and strategies, and categorising them into short, medium
and long-term frameworks.

The governor disclosed that the committee’s report “would assist
subsequent administrations in the state in its development
drive.”

But no sooner had the governor finished inaugurating the
committee than the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
dismissed the contraption as an enlarged campaign committee to
canvass support for the committee’s chairman, Prof. Soludo.

One of the men on the 46-man committee regretted that it was
becoming obvious that the governor wants to impose a successor,
wondering why he should set up a development agenda midway into his
second term.

He said: “It does not make sense that such a bloated committee
should be set up two years to the end of the governor’s second
term. If indeed the governor wants to raise a developmental agenda,
he should first tell Ndi Anambra how far he has implemented the
Anambra Integrated Development Strategies (ANIDS), including all
the laudable economic development plans he enunciated in his first
year that have all been abandoned.

“Why should Soludo be made to chair the committee when he is
saddled with similar assignments by the Southeast governors and the
recent appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari as member of the
Economic Advisory Committee? No matter how he tries to hide it, the
fact remains that Obiano wants to be political godfather.”

Other members of the committee are as follows: Primus Odili
(Executive), Prof Kate Omenugha (Executive), Mr. Ifeatu Onejeme,
(Executive), Mr. Mark Okoye (Executive), Patrick Okigbo III
(Technocrat), Chris Okoye, (Technocrat), Captain Iheanacho Ebubeogu
(Technocrat); Capt. John T. Okakpu, (Technocrat), DIG Val
Ntomchukwu (Security Expert), AIG Okey Ezike (Security Expert), Mr.
Valentine Ozigbo (Transcorp, Hospitality Expert), Mr. Maduka
Emelife, (External Ndi Anambra), Henry Manafa, (External Ndi
Anambra), Hon. Chudi Offodile, (Political Class), Dr. Ikem Odumodu
(Technocrat).

Others are Joe Anatune (Technocrat), Dr Ndi Onuekwusi (Rep of
Anambra – Professionals), Prof. Idemobi, Nneka Ekwuozor, Professor
Uche Amazigo, Bryan Mezue, Dr. Uzochukwu Amakom, Engineer Emeka
Ezeh (former DG, BPP), David Onyinyechi Agu, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba,
(Technocrat), Mr. Mac Atasie, (Secretary), Amb. Emma Obi Okafor
(fmr Deputy DG, NIA), Dr. Emma Onyilofor, Amb Chudi Okafor, Dr.
Oscar Onwudiwe, (President of Aka Ikenga), and C-Don Adinuba
(Executive).

However, checks by The Guardian showed that while Governor
Obiano seems to be sticking to his verbal promise to support Soludo
to take over from him in 2021, his wife, Mrs. Ebele Obiano, has
indicated open preference for Chief Stanley Uzochukwu to pick
APGA’s ticket.

Despite the perceived divisions within the governing All
Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), PDP has insisted that Obiano’s
50-year Development Plan Committee is meant to usher in the
governor’s preferred aspirant, Soludo.

In a statement by its state Public Relations Secretary, Nnamdi
Nwangwu, PDP noted that although it sees nothing wrong in planning
for both short and long terms, “what the party finds worrisome is
the intention of the planner and, in this case, the antecedents of
the planner.

“The fact that the very bogus committee of 51 persons is headed
by Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who is widely believed to be Obiano’s
preferred aspirant to emerge as the candidate of APGA in coming
2021 gubernatorial race in the state, completely gave the intention
away.

Also a deeper look at the antecedents of Obiano gives the whole
plot away as another form of jamboree and showmanship aimed at
hoodwinking the people further.” Picking holes on the committee,
PDP further lamented that if the same APGA administration valued
planning, “how come they dismantled all the plans inherited from
preceding APGA governments for eight years? “What happened to the
UN Habitat plans for Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi painstakingly procured
by Mr. Peter Obi from the UN Africa headquarters in Kenya, and
already being implemented, handed over to Obiano to follow as part
of continuing the same APGA government?

“What of Anambra State Industrialisation handbook, painstakingly
prepared by the preceding APGA government of which, very
articulately, mapped out steps to industrialise the six industrial
estates in the state?”

PDP concluded that APGA and the incumbent governor “know that
they have destroyed all the goodwill they built in the first eight
years that guaranteed the second eight years,” stressing that that
goodwill has been destroyed in the second eight years.

Although APGA secured just one House of Representatives seat, it
boasts of retaining formidable grassroots presence in the 177 towns
and 21 local government councils of the state, which it said would
guarantee the party electoral triumph in the governorship.

WHILE Governor Obiano enjoyed the goodwill of his predecessor
and benefactor, Mr. Obi, to win the 2013 governorship election,
which was predicated on the introduction of zoning, he fell apart
with Obi and other crucial stakeholders, including leaders of
Omambala Union.

Despite the fact that the battle for zoning was stoutly fought
in 2013, Obiano mounted the saddle and sidelined Anambra North
Stakeholders, including Dr. Chike Obidigbo, who was the zone’s
consensus choice for the governorship ticket.

In his acceptance speech after his election in November 30,
2013, tagged ‘Sustaining our Steady March to Progress,’Obiano said:
“I stand here tonight in the shadow of history. You made history
when on November 16 and today you cast your votes in favour of
APGA. In doing so you have affirmed the life-long struggle of our
great father, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. You also upheld his
view that our people should preserve our heritage through one
united political roof. Ndi-Anambra I want to thank you for
honouring the memory of late Ikemba.

“In voting Dr. Nkem Okeke and I as Deputy Governor and
Governor-elect, you have also expressed your wish that the
tradition of excellence, which my brother, His Excellency Governor
Peter Obi, has entrenched in Anambra State these past eight years
should be sustained. I wish to assure you that Nkem and I are ready
and adequately prepared to expand the boundaries of our development
and place Anambra State on the map of rapidly advancing states on
all parameters of development.

“Nkem and I are fully aware that after Governor Obi’s glorious
reign, Anambra can only advance to higher glory. As inheritors of
this tradition of purposeful leadership, we shall dedicate
ourselves to a life of service. Our administration shall be
responsible and responsive to your needs.

”But despite those lofty sentiments, Governor Obiano took his
political battle against Obi to another level during the 2019
presidential poll, when he mobilized moral and fiscal support for
APC and President Muhammadu Buhari to spite Obi who was PDP’s vice
presidential candidate.

The endorsement of APC by APGA in the last general election led
to further division within the party, which ended in a series of
litigations that hindered the party’s national convention.

Although attempts are being made to resolve the various
leadership crises in the party to ensure that APGA does not repeat
Zamfara State’s mistake of APC, stakeholders in the state have
continued to agitate against zoning and godfathering.

Some of the opponents of zoning, including Dr. Obiora Okonkwo,
maintain that aspirants should show interest based on their
pedigree and vision for governance, stressing that merit, capacity
and competence should guide the election of Obiano’s successor.

But on APGA platform there are those insist on the sustenance of
zoning, particularly Prof. Soludo, who declared in 2017 that
Anambra is not broken and needs no mending. As preparations for
Anambra 2021 guber poll gain momentum, some aspirants in APGA say
Soludo is banking on zoning due to a pact with the governor.

Sources disclosed that it was in response to reservations
expressed about Soludo that the governor’s wife decided to throw up
a rival from Anambra South in the person of Chief Uzochukwu.