Anambra: Dishonourable Members All

Comfort Obi

The Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo is a tough man. It is difficult to know, looking at his face, how and/or what he feels about issues. The only time one can guess his feelings over an issue is when he speaks. But even that can be deceptive. A few times when he speaks, it is the opposite that he means. That is the verdict of my colleagues who claim to be “President Obasanjo watchers.”
They have examples to support their deduction. The first has to do with former Senate President, who is late now, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo. Everybody knew there was no-love-lost between the two men. But it didn’t escalate until the President went to “open” the official house of the Senate President. At the function, the President was all smiles. He even danced gaily with Okadigbo’s wife. After the beautiful dance, which photograph was splashed on the front pages of newspapers to show that “everything is okay,” the real problem began. The next day, security agents invaded Okadigbo’s residence in search of the Senate Mace. It took a dramatic scene by Okadigbo, who ran out of the house screaming: “Senators, Senators, democracy on trial” to repel them. But that marked the beginning of the end of Okadigbo’s tenure as the Senate President. “Obasanjo watchers” had since interpreted that party, and the dance, as “President Obasanjo’s farewell to Okadigbo."
There is a second example. Before former PDP chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh, was unceremoniously swept out of office, Mr President had gone to his (Ogbeh’s) house for a meal of pounded yam, prepared by Ogbeh’s wife. A few days later, Ogbeh was gone.
They also point at the suspended (or impeached?) Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose. Everybody saw this guy as a creation of the President. They saw him as his beloved son. They point at the number of times the President had visited Ekiti State. On each visit, the President had nothing but praises and commendation for Fayose. In fact, during the last visit, he was very effusive in his commendation. Fayose was grinning from ear to ear. Considering the President’s commendation, you’d think that Fayose’s second term had been guaranteed. But na lie. When a couple of weeks later the now suspended members of the Ekiti House of Assembly embarked on an illegality which swept Fayose out, neither the PDP as a party, nor the federal government, raised a finger. By the time the FG found its voice, it was already late. Fayose was a goner. Again, Obasanjo’s watchers: “The FG’s statement, through Bayo Ojo, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, was meant to mock Fayose.”
I cannot confirm this. But it is like “Obasanjo watchers” are all set to add another example to the ones they already have. This new one has to do with Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State. Obi had since he came to office, given the impression that he was an Obasanjo boy. He, rightly, told people that he was not going to be in opposition with the President. I found that very refreshing. In fact, a couple of weeks ago, he had let it be known that he was sure that the PDP would still be the ruling party at the centre. Obi was only being honest. He is not one to deceive himself. I mean, unlike others, he knew that APGA, his party, for example, would never win at the centre. If you ask me, Obi's posture is a classical case of one cutting one's coat according to one's size.
When President Olusegun Obasanjo paid a state visit to Anambra State – something he had not found in him to do since May 29,2003 – I was like that is a good sign. The President really likes this guy. But I don’t know now. The President was at his best when he visited. He praised Obi for the much he had done. But that seemed to be the end. In a moment that would have made most people collapse in embarrassment, the President told Governor Obi that he would not be the next governor of Anambra State. As if to rub it in, the President was quoted as, allegedly, saying that in Obi’s stead, will be Dr. Andy Uba, his Senior Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs. Incidentally, since 2003, Andy Uba’s name has been a recurring decimal in all that is bad in the state. Those who know insist that every action carried out by Chief Chris Uba, during the Dr. Chris Ngige era, was planned, and perfected by his elder brother, Andy Uba. It was the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau. Not a few people believe that behind the current crisis to destabilise the state is Andy Uba's quest to be the next governor. He cannot wait till May 29, 2007. The President’s alleged comments on Governor Obi is a punch below the belt. Forget the fact that the President had said that Obi could be spared if he jumped ship from APGA to PDP. I do hope Obi did not take that seriously. That may not give him back his seat. My take is that the President was not on a state visit to the state. He went to campaign for his party, the PDP.
Yet, the above is mild compared to what is happening in the state since the President’s visit. The state has been turned inside out, upside down. In Mr President’s shoes, I will be very embarrassed. I will curse members of the State's House of Assembly. Because, the deduction now is that he, allegedly, is behind Obi’s travails.
Personally, I don’t believe it. But a proverb in my place says: If you are not carrying something, don’t walk and/or behave like you are carrying something. The Anambra House of Assembly is controlled by the PDP. I was worried when I heard that the President held a “session” with them. Yet, what worried the “Obasanjo watchers” most was a beautiful photograph of Margaret, Governor Obi’s wife, toasting the federal government, along with the President, and Dr. Alex Ekwueme, while Obi held the microphone, smiling away. They interpreted that to mean that Obi is gone. It forcefully reminded them of the fate of Okadigbo, after Obasanjo’s dance with his wife!
They may be right after all. For, 24 hours after the President left, the (dis) honourable members of the House served Obi an impeachment notice. All appeals from everybody, including those from the best and most respected people in Igboland have been rebuffed by these people. Even the appeal (I hope it was) by the national leadership of the PDP has also been rebuffed. They are intent on sacking Obi. So, you ask, what type of party men are these? What type of honourable men are these? But I can answer the questions. We shouldn’t be surprised. Most of these men in the House had been playing the same game since the failed Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju administration. Usually sponsored by money bags, they hop from one state to the other perfecting plans to destabilise their state in the name of impeachment. Each time they are settled, they drop it. They were part of the reason Mbadinuju failed. He was busy settling them. During the Ngige era, they tried it. Once they began to get a share of the cake, they began to sing his praises and stuck by him. Now they are playing the same game. Everybody knows who is beating the drums for them. And why. The only reason they are “proving tough” is that Obi has refused to play ball. He has refused to empty the state treasury because of them.
Obi should stick to his guns. These are unpatriotic men. These are men without passion. They are men without honour. These are men who, like prostitutes, ply their wares to anybody who is prepared to pay. These people cannot have the interest of the state at heart. They don’t have the interest of the people at heart. They are cheap. Honourable men are not this cheap. Honourable members stay in their state and make laws. They don’t sneak in and out of hotels in other states like thieves.
They may be on top of the world today. But where will they be tomorrow? What is honourable about what they are doing? Every true Igbo should be ashamed of them and what they are doing. How many governors will Anambra have within a space of eight years?
My advice: Anambra people should rise in anger and curse them. Their desires are not honourable.