By Romanus Okoye Politically, all seem not to be well with Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State and the council may be the loser in the present political arrangement in the state. This is because apart from one special assistant and a member at the State House of Assembly (legislative arm), no indigene of Anambra West occupies any executive position both in the state and the federal level. As it is now, the representatives of the area at the state executive, Senate and House of Representatives are from Oyi and Anambra East Local Governments Areas, which are in the upland part of Anambra North Senatorial Zone while Anambra West is like a peninsula, separated by water from other parts of Anambra State. Sadly, the local government is a beautiful bride when it comes to state politics, but they hardly reap significant benefits in terms of appointment from supporting other political blocs from the Mainland. For instance, in the entire Anambra State Civil Service, it is hard if not impossible to find senior officials who are from Anambra West local Government Area. According to Barrister Victor Nwakasi, an indigene of the area, “it is on record that the Local government has never produced a permanent secretary. Professionals are also in short supply. In Academics, the local government’s only famous representative is a former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Political representation might seem the most improved but when compared to the other communities in the state with similar human and natural resources, it still lags behind with a great mileage between her and the least political town in the state. These amongst others are the human, political, economic, social and environmental challenges facing the area. Anambra West Local Area is underdeveloped is an ‘understatement’, development is only about to happen.” Worse still, during the last cabinet reshuffle by Governor Peter Obi there were unconfirmed reports of petitions from individuals in the area against indigenes penciled down for executive appointment. As a result, no indigene of Anambra West is a commissioner in the present cabinet of Governor Peter Obi. Additionally, the federal projects in the area especially the Otuocha-Ibaji-Lokoja federal road may have been abandoned and the contractors may not return to site so soon; because there are no people at the centre to speak about the viability and urgency of the road. However, political observers noted that the problem of the area is lack of representatives from the area, who understand the area’s problems. They believe that if the dream must be realized, people from the area must be appointed into executive positions, in addition to the political leaders from the area putting the interest of the people above self and speak with one voice, not minding the political parties they belong to. In line with this opinion, a worried indigene told this reporter that the absence of unified purpose and interests are a battle that must be won if the mbammili area must rise above the myriads of developmental problems suffocating them despite all the efforts of Governor Peter Obi. The source added that the pursuit of personal agenda by the political godfathers has been the dividing point and more confusing factor even to their followers; thereby making it difficult for them (the followers) to make informed political decisions at the right time. For instance, people are still bewildered over the court cases that followed the election of a member to represent the area at the state House of Assembly; which started with the removal of Hon. TonyCollins Nwabunwanne and replaced with Hon. Victor Okoye via a court order. And now, Hon. Ojukwu Obakasi has gone to court demanding the interpretation of section 109(1) (g) of the constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended; which states that: “a member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House if being a person whose election to the House of Assembly was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected; provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.” Consequently, this move is interpreted as an effort by the political godfathers of another power bloc to unseat the incumbent House of Assembly member-Hon. Victor Okoye. In fact, one may say that the riverrine area may be undergoing a kind of political renaissance. But is it for good or bad? It could also be recalled that in 2011 elections, two candidates from the area Hon. Ralph Okeke and Prince John Emeka Jnr. contested to represent the zone in House of Representatives and the Senate respectively but for some reasons lost in the final analysis. And political watchers are of the opinion that the failures may not be unconnected with the in-fighting between the political power blocs. Meanwhile, the people are saddened and frustrated with what many of them described as poor political leadership that is more self-indulgent than service-for-the-people. Speaking about the political disunity in the area, Hon Ralph Okeke, a former two-term House of Representatives member, said that in-fighting, lack of patience and quest for political supremacy and control within the old power bloc and between the emergents and those who call themselves “new architects” political power blocs in the area is the bane. He stated that “envy by some political newcomers” in the area cost him the seat at the National Assembly. Historically, Hon. Okeke explained that it was evident from historical indications that the people of Anambra East do not like supporting candidates from Anambra West. “Igwe J.C. Emeka was a political colossus in Anambra State and Nigeria in general but despite his political dexterity and permutations, he never won an election in the domain of Anambra East” he said. “Igwe John Emeka cleared the way and laid the foundation for political awareness and development of the area. And the result was that a lot of other people from the local government attained enviable political heights in the state and federal level-people like Chief Emmanuel Nnachor – a two term local government chairman of the old Anambra Local Government, Rt. Hon Benjamin Ekwealor – former speaker of the old Anambra State House of Assembly, Prince John Emeka Jnr-a former minister of Water Transport, Prince Chinedu Emeka – a former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, including him (Hon. Okeke) and many others.” However, Hon. Okeke advised that people must understand that looking at the peculiarity of the circumstances in Anambra West, the political leaders cannot afford to be “politicians” rather they should see themselves as “missionaries.” He explained that politicians aim at protecting and pursuing selfish interests all the time while missionaries are service motivated. He averred that the people of Oyi and Anambra East can afford to be politicians because by the virtue of their geographical location they have some basic amenities in place which the people of Anambra West do not have. Furthermore, Hon. Okeke regretted that there are lots of discordant voices now unlike the era of Igwe J.C. Emeka, when the people of Anambra West spoke with one voice. He stressed that Igwe understood the system better and how to relate with political opponents; even though some people may not appreciate the enormity of what he did for the area. The honourable member said that he was disappointed that some people he supported during the senatorial election did not reciprocate the kind gesture when it was his (Hon. Okeke) turn to be voted for the House of Representative. In addition, Dr. Emma Ude Akpe, an opinion leader in Anambra West said that Igwe Emeka was a rallying point of the area’s politics when he was alive, and it will be difficult to fill the vacuum created in the whole of Anambra North senatorial zone by his demise. He blamed the politicians for remembering the people only during elections and advised the electorate to hold their representatives at all levels accountable for their actions and inactions. Also, Barrister Nwakasi said that apart from lack of physical infrastructures and human capital challenges, the political development has been slow due to lack of awareness. “These infrastructural facilities and poor development state did not breakdown over time, they were never in place from the word go. Increased awareness in present democratic dispensation has also raised the level of political intolerance and strife. Intercommunity relationship has been unstable with occasional but violent inter communities crises. There is lack of proper delineation of boundaries, eroding cultures and traditional values, insecurity, kidnapping, poor utilization and exploitation of agricultural resources, high infant mortality etc.” Generally, it was acknowledged that the present administration of Governor Obi is trying it’s best, although more is still needed. But the people and their leaders must be ready to work as one. To some, the present situation in Anambra West is a welcome development; meaning a change in the pattern of politicking in the area. While few see it as a funeral of people’s political ambitions in the area against all the achievements of the politicians in the past; in addition that change should be gradual and not tumult. 0
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