Lagos — The initial tempo which heralded the 2010 governorship race in Anambra State, appears to have subsided. The usual noise, meetings and rallies as well as the diatribe by politicians in the media, which made the political atmosphere boisterous, seems to have fizzled out. This apparent lull in political activities in the state has variously been described by politicians as momentary circumstances, which they claim shape and dictate the tone of events. Charles Onyekamuo writes

At first, when this snail-speed response to the political momentum began to creep in, the excuse given by stakeholders was the case filed at the Supreme Court by Dr. Andy Uba, the gubernatorial candidate of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the 2007 general election. Uba had asked the apex court for a revalidation of his mandate obtained outside the scope of the constitution. The court had held that by the time Uba was elected as the Governor of Anambra State, no vacancy existed at the Government House in Awka, the state capital, going by Section 180(2) of the 1999 Constitution.

The court maintained this position in its determination not to revalidate the moribund mandate. However, expectation that the disposal of the suit by the Supreme Court would heighten political activities has been dashed. Since the Supreme Court verdict in April this year, lull has prevailed in Anambra, thus portraying it like one big geographical divide doomed to political extinction in an election year.

Again, the politicians cannot be beaten to it. They have another excuse - the gale of kidnappings in the state which makes the atmosphere insecure and unsafe for political campaigns. Though, there have indeed been cases of kidnapping, there are perceptions that the trend is being unduly exaggerated. This is moreso that the kidnappers are allegedly the creation of the politicians, who used them as thugs in the past to achieve their inordinate ambitions. Ironically, these former thugs turned kidnappers have now become hydra-headed monsters whose shadows now scare them.

THISDAY checks revealed that the politicians' excuse was a mere farce. There are other reasons than meet the eye and these reasons bother on the unseriousness and unpreparedness of many of these politicians some of who allegedly lack vision and the wherewithal to prosecute their dreams of becoming the governor of Anambra State - a state most politically beleaguered and traumatized since the return to civil democracy about 10 years ago.

As it were, there are about 30 names touted to be gunning for the governorship seat of Anambra State in 2010 from the different political parties except the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) which has no state office and few others which exist only when it is time to collect annual subventions from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Out of the 50 registered political parties, only six have secretariats in Awka or elsewhere in the state. Such parties include the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA), the Action Congress (AC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Congress for Democratic Change (CDC). The about 30 aspirants jostling to be governor of Anambra State are divided among five of these parties with the PDP having the highest number. In the race on the platform of PDP, are Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, Chief Samuel Ikefuna, Chief Kodilichukwu Okelekwe, Senator Annie Okonkwo, Senator Emma Anosike, Dr. Andy Uba, Prof. Dora Akunyili, Tony Nnaecheta, Emmanuel Efobi, Tony Nwoye, Emma Uchieze, Okey Muo-Aroh, Dr. Martin Igbokwe, Barr. P.O.K Odidka, Dr. Ifedi Okwenna, Chief Tony Ezeani, and Chuma Nwofor

In APGA, the ruling party, are the incumbent governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi and the son of the state's deputy governor, Mr. Emeka Etiaba.

The PPA has such names like Prof. Ilochi Okafor (SAN), Prof. Charles Soludo, the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank (CBN), Rev. Kenneth Chukwuemeka, Prince Eze and Mr. Ofili Nwosu, whereas, the AC and ADC parade a former governor of the state, Dr. Chris Ngige and Chief Ralphs Okey Nwosu. The CDC, though has a state office, but the place is more or less desolate because it is always under locks and keys.

The truth however, remains that while the PDP has on its platform, many contestants, majority of them have neither posters, campaign offices, nor any articulated programmes on how they will govern the state, should they be entrusted with the mandate of the people. They appear to have indicated their interest out of ego, in search of opportunity for other things that may surface in the course of the contest and make their indication of interest as an avenue to bargain for power. Those in this category include Chief Okey Muo-Aroh, Frank Anthony Igbokwe who has since defected to PPA to become the state Chairman, Dr. Ifedi Okwenna, Dr. Martins Igbokwe, Tony Nwoye, Chuma Nwofor, Tony Nnaecheta, Emmanuel Efobi and Emma Uchieze, Emma Anosike. In the PPA, there are Prof. Ilochi Okafor (SAN), Prince Eze and Ofili Nwosu, while Ralphs Okey Nwosu of the ADC, though said to be in the race, has nothing visible on display to suggest it.

On his own part, the ex-CBN governor, Soludo is said to have gone on vacation abroad immediately after serving out his tenure and is yet to take a definite decision concerning his ambition, while Okafor is still dilly-dallying and making consultations on whether his ambition would be realized in PPA or PDP. His ambivalence, it was learnt, became a source of worry to those who propped him up in the first place and he is said to be loosing their support.

But if some of these aspirants afore-mentioned are merely grandstanding, that could not be said of some others who have from all indications exhibited some seriousness, thirst and desire for the office of the governor of Anambra State and are campaigning across board, selling their programmes to the people with a view to winning their support; and the simmering crisis in the state chapters of the parties notwithstanding.

PDP flag bearer, Uba, who was declared winner of the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, had his victory thrown into the abyss by the Supreme Court which ruled in a suit brought before it by Obi in 2007, asking for the interpretation of Section 180 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.The court ruled that no vacancy existed in the Anambra Government House in the fist place. The Supreme Court judgment, threw Uba out of the Government House, and ordered the return of Obi to continue with his administration. He returned to the Supreme Court late last year to reinstate 'the mandate' given to him in 2007, but failed as the apex court again threw out the case, saying the suit lacked merit.

But still dissatisfied, Uba returned to the court, but suffered the same faith. He was also reported to have gone back to Appeal Court early this month, seeking to be declared governor-in-waiting. If his plans sail through, there will not be any election in Anambra come next year.

Nevertheless, Ukachukwu appears among the aspirants in the PDP to be well organized with an elaborate structure. His campaign structure, tagged the "Ikukuoma Initiative," seems to be rooted in every ward and local government area of Anambra State and has been traversing the nooks and crannies of the state to reconcile members and party factions.

He is a well known evangelist, philanthropist and consummate player and great mobilizer who many in PDP believe will be the man to beat in the PDP primaries given his political experience. He told THISDAY in one of the tours, that he was in the race to ensure the development of Anambra State and simultaneously create wealth for the state. He promised to build asphalt plants in three zones and as well register three different companies in that direction for the purpose of tarring Anambra State roads adding that he would get the doctors and other professionals to resuscitate the hospitals which he claimed were stagnant.

Ukachukwu also said his mission was to create jobs to stem the tide of employment, and ensure security, capacity building and empower the people. He also said that part of his programmes will include the creation of special care centres for widows and the indigent people in Anambra as a way of taking care of their needs.

Another aspirant and a former Special Assistant to former Anambra State Governor, Chinwoke Mbadinuju in Abuja and Kaduna liaison offices, Okelekwe, said the aspiration to lead the state in 2010 on the platform of the PDP was borne out of a desire to make a difference in his generation.

Okelekwe, a University of Jos-trained Political Scientist and businessman, told THIS DAY after meeting with his ward and local government constituents at Nibo, Awka South council area of the state, described as unfortunate, the way the people of the state have reduced the qualification for public office to only money with disregard for the character, integrity and intellectual capacity of the individual. While admitting that it was good to possess wealth, he added that there should be other primary factors the people should look out for.

He said his motivating factor was the desire to alleviate the sufferings of the downtrodden people of Anambra, who according to him cannot get formal education as a result of poverty.

"I want to reach out to this social category, through the instrumentality of the state, to stop our men and women dying because they can't provide N1,000 for treatment in the hospital; give hope to the hopeless, touch lives, create a conducive environment for learning in our schools so that our low male enrolment will improve and these boys who jump into trading very early will acquire some education, ward off ignorance before doing business. I believe that life's achievement is not measured by the amount of money you have," he said.

He expressed appreciation for the limit of private initiatives in the development of the state, bearing in mind the enormous challenges facing Anambra, which he said makes the state the obvious preferred engine of development at this stage of the state's-life.

"The state government has to be led by a new kind of inspirational and selfless helmsman whose visions and aspirations are in conformity with the yearnings of our people, the common good of the people over and above personal interest and work at the speed of light to achieve set objectives.

"We need a governor that will not exhaust scarce resources of the state to celebrate frivolous accomplishments, a governor who understands that the private sector is the engine room that drives any economic growth and therefore initiates an enduring partnership with that sector," he said, adding that he will build and rebrand the state's human capital, pursue the dredging of the River Niger, provide affordable and qualitative education among others.

Again, Chief Samuel Ikefuna is another aspirant on the platform of PDP whose programme looks very striking. He said he would construct a dam across Anambra River for round the clock energy supply so that factories will operate and employ hands.

"We can become the envy of Nigeria again and make the state financially independent. I am providing myself to do this with the discipline and expertise I acquired from project execution," he said, adding that he would provide adequate security to secure lives and property of the people as well as employment, portable water supply and a conducive environment for learning in schools.

Within the fold of APGA, the incumbent Governor, Obi is warming up for a second term in office. National Chairman of APGA, Sir Victor Umeh, said the party would present the governor for a second term and hence advised any other party man nursing the ambition to have a rethink. If performance is the basis for re-election, it will therefore not be difficult to advise other aspirants to terminate their ambitions for Obi to continue.

Obi's programmes on education, roads, schools, hospital rehabilitation, sports development, provision of security gadgets and vans as well as rehabilitation of the state's dead water board among others, stand him out as the man to beat in the election proper. Obi executed his unprecedented projects on the aegis of his Anambra State Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS). The strategy which seeks the simultaneous development of all sectors of the state's economy, attests to his administrative prowess. The Obi administration is reputed to have tarred about 350 kilometres of roads in the last three years.

However, a major challenge before Obi is division in the state's chapter of APGA, spearheaded by Obi's deputy, Virgy Etiaba and his son, Emeka, who is aspiring to seize the ticket from the well-loved Obi. Though Emeka admitted that APGA's administration in the state had been awesome and exemplary, he said he possessed the initiative to bring a fresh measure into the system and as well show that Anambra can work again.

"I want to make sure that all the facets of our economy in the state are working and that the school system can work. I want to show that the agricultural sector can be revived and that jobs can be created. I want to show that schools can be renovated. I want to go to the basics and that roads can be constructed at good prices and with reasonable speed," he said.

During his three-year year sojourn in government, before the Appeal Court invalidated his election and return Obi as the duly elected governor, Ngige, who is aspiring on the platform of AC dwelt mainly on road construction, upgrading of hospitals and prompt payment of salaries to workers. His followers believe that he will continue with and improve on such projects, if he secures the chance to preside over the state again. No other aspirant on the platform of PPA, CDC or ADC has come up with any kind of programmes for the people of the state so far, even though they had declared interest in the plum job.

However, despite the apparent lull in political activities and the seeming unpreparedness of some aspirants, a ray of light at the end of the tunnel, suggests great political campaigns ahead.