Anambra Elections Buhari, Obiano, ,Ohanaeze and IPOB Battle for Supremacy

Written by Obinna Akukwe

The undercurrents of today’s  elections in  Anambra State has promised to be a supremacy battle between President Buhari, Governor Obiano and Ohanaeze Ndigbo on one hand and Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB)  on the other hand. While President Buhari and the federal government has mobilized over fifty thousand security personnel, including twenty eight thousand from the police, fifteen thousand from Civil Defense and three thousand soldiers on standby plus men of the secret service, DSS, deployed from some states, you have over fifty thousand for a single election. The purpose of these security personnel is to ensure that IPOB does not succeed In disrupting elections in the state thereby boosting the morale of Biafra separatist agitations.

 

The Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano who is having tuning battle with IPOB in Anambra State. is on the same page with Buhari, but for a different reason.  While IPOB accused the governor of frequently inviting soldiers to kill their members, Gov  Obiano insists that he is protecting the state from hoodlums and criminals using IPOB as front to ferment trouble. While IPOB has vowed that there would be no elections in Anambra State, Obiano sees it as the work of political enemies who want to remove him from office through the back door using the separatist agitators as a front. Therefore when the South East Governors Forum proscribed IPOB, Obiano lent a willing voice.  

Anambra Elections: Buhari, APC Disagree over Governor Obiano

Written by Obinna Akukwe

President Muhammadu Buhari is still insisting that elections in Anambra State will be free and fair in line with the promises he made to Governor Obiano twice when the former visited him in Aso Eock, our contacts within the villa had insisted. The first visit to Buhari was on October 2^nd and was brokered by powerful elements within Daura  in Katsina State, the President’s home town who were convinced and induced that Obiano can be retained in Anambra State for security purposes. These elements helped broker the first meeting where Buhari told Governor Obiano that he is not particular about who wins the elections.

Days later, we were told that another more private meeting ensued between Buhari and Obiano and the sacked SGF,  Babachir was present. Governor Obiano raised concerns about issues bordering on INEC neutrality and change of security personnel and Buhari promised that nothing will railroad a free process.

Anambra Elections: Ohanaeze Youths, Igbo Mandate Congress Tasks Buhari, IGP on Free Polls

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth in Anambra State has tasked the Inspector General of Police on free polls in Anambra State. Speaking with the Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress IMC, Rev Obinna Akukwe at Awka today, The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council in Anambra State, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu said that despite the disturbing news of change of Governor Obiano;s Security aides, what concerns Ohanaeze is that the elections will hold in a peaceful manner in the state.

 

Mazi Okpalaezeukwu said that “the police should not use their might and presence to harass, intimidate or favor any candidate. The youth also should not provoke or incite  the police to acts of  violence and  mayhem  on voters Those who have PVC’S and willing to vote should be protected to exercise their franchise while those without PVC’S should stay at home to avoid trouble”

The Ohanaeze youth leader in the state said that Ohanaeze cannot come out openly to support any candidate in the polls but they are working with the relevant security agencies to ensure that Anambra State is not turned into a theatre of war. They also want to ensure that the people’s votes count.

Ohanaeze , South East Governors Lauds Ojukwu’s Courage Over Biafra

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has lauded the courage of Odumegwu Ojukwu before, during and after the civil war and tasks Igbo leaders on unity. This was part of the speech delivered by the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo on Tuesday at the Posthumous Birthday in honor of the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretariate, Enugu.

Chief  Nwodo lauded the late Igbo leader as a principled , committed and dogged man who stood and defended his people when it mattered most.

The Chairman of South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Dave Umahi described Ojukwu as a brave example of leadership in the midst of adversity. Speaking through the Commissioner of Education who represented him at the event, Chief Umahi said that the South East Governors are willing to do everything possible to keep the memory and spirit  of the Ikemba alive. He thanked the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Leadership Foundation (COOLEF) for organizing the event and promised the support of South East Governors.

Anambra Guber: Ohanaeze Denies Backing any Candidate, Warns Against Fictitious Groups ....Igbo Mandate Congress Supports Fair Polls

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has denied backing any candidate for the gubernatorial polls in Anambra State scheduled for November 18th. They have also alerted Governor Obiano of the existence of spurious groups bent on fleecing the Governor of various sums in the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

This was made known by the Assistant National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,Comrade Chuke Ibegbu while briefing the leadership of Igbo Mandate Congress, IMC. on the official stance of the foremost Igbo Socio-cultural group on the forthcoming polls .

Comrade Chuks Ibegbu told Rev Obinna Akukwe,Director General of Igbo Mandate Congress and chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo that “the primary concern  of Ohanaeze Nddigbo is for there to be free and fair election in Anambra State, The President General and members of National Executive Committee are concerned about free polls in Anambra State”. Comrade Ibegbu stated further that “ Ohanaeze has within its fold members of all political parties and as such cannot come out openly to support any candidate, however, it reserves the right to give direction to the Igbo race if the need arises and that direction can come through the President General , therefore anyone purportedly supporting any candidate without the clearance from Ohanezze NEC is only seeking for financial aggrandizement”