After the debate held on Monday, as organized by Arise News, it became an eye opener on what the candidates of Anambra state governorship election are bringing to the table. There have been many analysis on the performance of the candidates.

Many people may have concluded whom they will vote for or urge people to vote for. The candidates are all Ndi Anambra and in their right, have some objectives they would love to achieve should they win.

As you make up your mind, let me try to remind you what is at stake. I am not a person who dwells on the differences of parties or base my choice on party differences. To the best of my knowledge, until there is a change in perception and objectives of the parties, there are no ideological differences in the political parties in Nigeria. Rather, there are differences in the objectives of the individuals running on these parties.

If going by parties, I may query what and how the parties have fared with the governance of the state. PDP produced the governors from 1999 to 2007. Apart from the development strides with the marginal infrastructure by Gov. Mbadinuju and road network by Gov. Ngige, the party brought with it untold chaos and instability to the state.

APC has not produced any governor but given the performance at federal level, there will be no difference from the socio-economic instability felt across the nation.

APGA has brought stability and infrastructural developments to the state, from taking the road network to many towns to an international airport. In that case, APGA has pursued the objective to improve human and infrastructural development.

As many people have misgivings about Gov. Obiano and how he managed the affairs of the state, it boils down to the individuals and what they stand for and how they are ready to stand up for Anambra and Igbo people.

I don’t want to bore you with long tales of analysis based on individual candidates asking for our votes but I will want you to focus on the ability and the courage of each of the individuals to stand up and pursue what could be termed ‘Igbo interest’.

In this precarious time for the Igbo standing in the country and even in the world, having suffered exclusions and systemic injustice, Anambra should not make the mistake of choosing individuals who cannot bat an eyelid or even who would panic when they should lead and be at the forefront of assuring the people socially, economically, developmentally, culturally, psychologically, that they have the people’s back.

Anambra and Igbo people need no more weak men and women who are not strategic, courageous, emotionally and psychologically sound to lead the people and bring developments to the people.

The energy of the people must be channeled in the right direction towards self and community development.

To give the people a foundation and ‘wings to fly’, the home front must be made to work as that is the bargaining power to face any external infraction.

Looking at the individuals who stood for the debate, without any sentiment attached, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo displayed a full understanding of the Igbo situation and what must be done to energise the people and make the state work. He has also displayed bravery and with the right strategies to pursue, protect and defend the rights of Igbo people.

This is not the time to speak fine English or look good or the tested hands that lacked the courage to defend the Igbo people in a most practical way.  It is a time for brave, visionary men and women of Igbo land with political will to begin to take up the mantles of leadership and correct the leadership lapses in Igbo land.

Let us begin with Anambra state by electing Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of APGA.

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