Anambra Guber: Buhari to give Obiano Soft Landing as Igbo Mandate Congress Calls for Fair Polls

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is favorably disposed towards giving Governor Willie Obiano OF Anambra State a soft landing in the November 18th Gubernatorial Polls in the State. This was the fallouts of the earlier audience the President granted Obiano on October 2nd at at the State House, Abuja. Igbo Mandate Congress, IMC, learnt from reliable security sources within the Villa and its friends within influential Arewa circles that there is a soft spot for Governor Obiano after the said meeting.

In the meeting of Tuesday October 2nd, President Buhari had told the Governor that he is more interested in Governors delivering dividends of democracy and not particular about the parties concerned and promised a fair polls. Though the governor’s aides have analyzed the President’s statement as political and devoid of any commitment, unknown to them, Buhari was impressed by the efforts made by Governor Obiano to bring peace and security to Anambra State especially in the face of IPOB agitations.

Igbo Mandate Congress learnt that the meeting of Buhari and Obiano was facilitated through a prominent family in Anambra State with close links to the President’s family. The family deployed its links with the Arewa Community to sell the Obiano alternative. The Governor’s visit was preceded by his Special Adviser on Special Duties and Secretary of Campaign Organization, Mr Primus Odili and his political Adviser Mr Chinedu Obidigwe embarking on advance trips to Abuja to before Obiano’s Campaign Flagoff to meet with some influential persons within the Arewa Community. These visits paved way for preceded Governor Obiano’s all important showcases with President Buhari.

Igbo Mandate Congress had confirmed that the All Progressive Congress APC had written to President Buhari and Vice President Osibanjo asking for their presence in the flag off of the APC Campaign in Anambra State slated for 12th of October but had not received confirmation yet of Buhari’s physical presence. However, APC is sure that Buhari or Osibanjo will grace the occasion .However, APC Governors are being mobilized to invade Awka on the election date with intimidating presence, enough to send the message that Igbos must return to the centre. Their presence with array of party chieftains is also to show that APGA is a lone party without brothers elsewhere in Nigeria. Funds are also being mobilized for Tony Nwoye, the APC Candidate to enable him prosecute an effective grassroots campaign.

Igbo Mandate Congress has asked Anambrarians to come out en masse and vote in the upcoming polls to avoid a state of chaos in the State. The Director General of IMC, Rev Dr Obinna Akukwe, while receiving situation reports of the state of affairs in Anambra State from chieftains of the group in Abuja yesterday expressed delight that those who want to stop elections in Anambra State has been disorganized. He called for free and fair polls and described the candidates arrayed in the leading parties as capable of turning the states around.