Okoye Romanus: 08034080699, udekwesili@gmail.com
Following the landslide victory of the Labour Party in Anambra West at the last presidential and National Assembly elections, members of other political parties especially All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) are highly apprehensive over the forthcoming State House of Assembly election.
In Anambra West, the present member representing Anambra West Constituency, Hon. Patrick Udoba, alias Ezego Anam, belongs to All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA). Ezego has done only one term and his supporters feel he deserves another tenure, claiming that he has had a sterling performance. But his detractors complain that he has not impacted the constituency.
They say that buying private vehicles and okada for his cronies and political associates does not amount to infrastructural development or execution of constituency projects. They alleged that he even takes orders from Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe, the outgoing representative of Anambra East/West Federal Constituency at the National Assembly; a situation many of his non- supporters find unacceptable.
A commentator in Anambra West Square platform, Chukwudumaka making reference to the precarious situation of APGA said, “The cancer that has ravaged and left APGA in throes of extinguishing is located at Room 9 Umueri/Aguleri junction (you know what I mean)…U-AYA/U-AWA.
“I can recall 21/21 loading slogan blackmail on this platform, not minding that power belongs to the people. No politician is a saint and we are not looking for saints among them. But decorum and a modicum of respect for the masses of our people.
“Where are our constituency projects from our state Assembly and House of Representatives members for the past four years. Have they had any Town Hall meeting with the constituents making inputs in their legislative agenda. Where is the connection between the electorates and their representatives? Rather our democracy dividends were Sienna buses,”okada,”anuevi” given to a selected few sycophants “otimkpus”).
“A representative who lords it over the masses is courting trouble. Every election is a payback period for every representative. It is a time of reward and make no mistakes about it. APGA has not done justice to ndi-Anambra in the last nine years and in particular ndi Anambra West constituency. This is the naked truth we must all live with if we are sincere with our conscience.”
Meanwhile, the supporters of the Labour Party candidate, Dr. Festus Chukwuemeka strongly claim that for the sake of equity, the seat should be conceded to the Igala zone. They point out that since the present Commissioner from Anambra West Local Government Area and the new House of Representatives member-elect are from the Anam zone, it will be normal for the new State Assembly representative to come to the Igala zone.
Another school of thought argues that the consideration should not be about the Political parties but the individual candidates competence, capability and qualifications. In the opinion of Chief Ossy Clement, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Ikechukwu Chukwudebelu, a lawyer, appears to be shoulders high above the others.
But in defense of their political party, APGA faithful argue that voting out Ezego Anam at this moment may not be at the best interest of Anambra West, no matter his records. According to them, the Anambra State governor and national leader of APGA, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has promised to kickstart the construction of roads across the local government area and may not be happy if all APGA candidates lost from top to bottom.
