As INEC Puts A Date for the Battle for the Soul of Anambra State, Few Reasons Why Ekwunife Is Top Among Contenders
By Kingsley Ubani
With the announcement of November 6, 2021, as the date for the Anambra Governorship election, it is now exactly 288 days before Anambrarians go to the polls. Sequel to this, it is therefore expected that in the coming days and months, the argument and discussion on who becomes the next Governor of the State will become more intense.
While those who may argue for or against an Aspirant will do so based on personal conviction or interest. The life wire of every productive argument is facts rather than sentiments.
The indices or criteria for choosing an Executive Governor are generally known. But for each time the opportunity to make that choice, which is often once in four years comes, new criteria usually emerge. These criteria are usually influenced by how the State has been governed by the outgoing administration, and the present demand of the people of the State.
One does not need to be a mind reader to decipher the fact that in 2021 Anambrarians would want to choose a leader with a greater grassroots understanding. This basically means that one of the criteria that may inform the choice of Ndi Anambra, is the Candidate’s affinity to adopt a bottom-top approach in developing the State.
It is not out of place to say that politics of the grassroots is common in most political domains, but politics and political campaigns are only precursors to that which actually drives development – Governance or better put Good Governance!
I believe that the reason why in most settings, activities at the grassroots grow in political seasons and shrink after that, is that while many play politics of the grassroots, the ability, capacity and skill to translate this into governance that drives grassroots development seem to be reserved for a few.
It is no longer news that the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Uche Ekwunife, is in the race to become the next Governor of Anambra State. Aside her gender which obviously adds credence to her aspiration, Ekwunife’s antecedents speak volumes.
I have often described leadership as a process which involves learning and growth, and in terms of political leadership, experience, track records and antecedents count for much. If it didn’t, Anambrarians wouldn’t have much to complain about the current government. Senator Ekwunife’s capacity to deliver in office has been put to test not once, not twice. Somehow she has managed to live up to the often time, very high expectations.
As the resources of our dear State which is a microcosm of the Nigerian State remain even more limited in the face of a deadly pandemic, Anambrarians must choose a Governor who can identify 1-Our greatest need. 2-Those who are in greater need. This of course, does not require rocket science, but it takes experience and understanding of our developmental challenges as a people to achieve, an area Senator Ekwunife has proven to be very knowledgeable.
Ekwunife’s recent stakeholders’ meetings in the three Senatorial Districts of the State availed her the opportunity to state what she has achieved in her 18 months stay in office to the members of her party, the PDP which represents a glimpse of what is possible if she is given the opportunity to govern the State.
Part of her records were the attraction of an unprecedented 27 community development driven road projects. Several 3-bedroom bungalow projects for indigent local families. Erosion control projects. Borehole and Street lights Projects. Medical Outreach programmes. Capacity Building and Empowerment Programmes. Employment facilitation for the unemployed youths, etc.
A study on the siting of Senator Ekwunife’s projects and the beneficiaries of her programmes cum facilitated employments should leave no one in doubt of the capacity of the Senator whom many recently dubbed Madam Project, Oji Uno Eme Ogo, Ekwueme Et al to deliver purposeful leadership and reach out to the most vulnerable, as well as the developmentally troubled communities.
While history will be made with Ekwunife’s emergence as Governor, which will see her become the first Nigerian woman to through the polls occupy the seat many believe the time is ripe for women to show their mettle on and prove the onus of their managerial abilities, let me re-echo the words of the quintessential Senator, “I am not in the race because I’m a woman. I am running for Governor because I have the competence, capacity and capability to deliver the much needed development to Anambra State”. Quite frankly, even detractors cannot deny the truth in this statement uttered by the woman I like to call the Lady with the Midas Touch!
Add Comment