By Cajetan Duke
It is heartwarming to hear that the national leadership of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has appointed His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma, the chairman of the party’s National Campaign Council for the 2021 Anambra State Governorship Election. This shows that the party truely understands the electoral and leadership value of Governor Uzodimma in the South East geopolitical zone nay Nigeria.
Contrary to the worthless irritation of enemies of the party, the choice of Governor Uzodimma for this strategic assignment further shows that his position as the political pointman of the zone in the current political configuration in Nigeria is not lost on the leadership of the party.
There is no gainsaying the fact that Uzodimma’s emergence has enhanced the fortunes of the party in the zone and also brightened the political future of the entire South East geopolitical zone in the national political calculus and discussions. One can say without equivocation or any fear of contradiction that Uzodimma has brought tremendous value for the party both in leadership, capacity and effective mobilization of quality human and material resources. Today, APC has become a popular brand in the zone with two state governors and many other critical political players on board, courtesy of Uzodimma’s sterling mobilization drive. Hence the Anambra assignment is not misplaced.
As the saying goes, to whom much is given, much is indeed excepted, Governor Uzodimma no doubt, is not oblivious of the demands of his Anambra’s assignment.
To my mind, the assignment must be a one point mission. “Go and bring your brothers to the table of national discussion and unlimited political possibilities”. The Uzodimma’s message is simple:There is time for everything, the Bible teaches. “A time to play solo and a time to collabo” For how long shall Anambra remain on the mount called APGA? Is it not time to move forward?” A time to collaborate! A time for national partnership.
For a long time, Anambra has remained in the darkness of self inflicted political isolation, which no doubt has negatively impacted its capacity to unleash the leadership potentials abound in Anambra State. Almost two decades, Anambra has been political landlocked, with attendant leadership suffocation and underutilization of human capacities. Of a truth, ndi Igbo cannot effectively prosecute their 2023 presidential project with a state like Anambra in an insignificant opposition party.
The November 6, 2021, is another opportunity for Anambra people to embrace a new hope and breathe a fresh air of unlimited political space and possibilities as they head to the polls to elect a new governor, that will strengthen the position and consolidate the demands of ndi Igbo ahead of 2023.
The inability of the proprietors of APGA to manage their microscopic size party is a clear indication that, indeed APGA as a political party may have outlived its usefulness, with nothing new to offer Anambra people in particular and South East in general, hence the need for the new platform, with great prospect for both Anambra and ndi Igbo.
In this election, the All Progressives Congress as the new political destination for ndi Anambra is clear and unambiguous as the epileptic and extinction bound PDP promises no better deal for the economic well-being and political prosperity of Anambra people and ndi Igbo than APGA.
As a time tested political strategist with track record of clinical finishing, Uzodimma’s appointment no doubt has sent fears into the spine of political opposition. But it’s important we make this distinction, the forthcoming Anambra election is neither a contest of political supremacy between political parties non individual political gladiators. It is a contest for the restoration of the lost political glory of the Igbo nation.
We will continue to pray that our people of Anambra will take advantage of this opportunity to nail all narrow and individualistic considerations of selfish political marauders at the cross of broader, genuine and collective aspiration of the Igbo nation.
– Duke is the Director-General, APC Media Centre