ANAMBRA POLITICS: A Tale of the Gladiators

Sequel to the elections of March 28 and April 11, Anambra Central would not only witness the great­est heat ever, but also record sur­prises. NKIRU ORJI reports from Agulu.

The intimidating crowd that stormed the Anglican Church premises in Agulu town, in Anao­cha Local Government area could pass for a political rally. With uniforms on display that day, passersby might mistake it for the State’s ruling party rally, the All Progressives Grand Alli­ance (APGA), but far from it.

The rally was actually a show of strength by the Peoples Demo­cratic Party (PDP) in favour of its Senatorial Candidate for Anam­bra Central District, Hon Uche Ekwunife.

To the PDP, the rally was in­structive as party chieftains and major stakeholders of APGA are to be welcomed into the fold of PDP as new members. They in­cluded members of former gover­nor Peter Obi’s Executive Coun­cil, ex-councilors and chairmen of the Local Government Areas of the Senatorial Zone.

Also present at the occasion was the Director General of Gov. Willie Obiano campaign organi­zation, Barr Joe Martins Uzodike who was recently kicked out from his position as Special Adviser on political matters.

Ironically, the venue of the rally is about a shouting distance from the home town of APGA’s National Chairman and Senato­rial Candidate of the party for the same zone, Sir Victor Umeh. It is also the home town of former Gov Peter Obi.

Expectedly, Ekwunife was ulti­mately endorsed as the candidate of the Zone instead of Sir Victor Umeh, their National Chairman.

Speakers that addressed the crowd dealt several verbal blows on Umeh whom they described as a tyrant whose alleged greed and inordinate ambition are un­limited.

Barr. Jeo Martins Uzodike told a story of how Umeh has contin­ued to hoodwink and pressurise Gov Willie Obiano to submission, alleging that the governor is un­der bondage.

“This rally could be described as the climax of the political ri­valry with no love lost between Ekwunife and Umeh who in the recent past were jolly good fellows in APGA,” a party lord told Daily Times.

Ever since the two declared their ambitions to run for the Sen­atorial seat of Anambra Central, it has been one trouble too many as each continues to trade words and counter allegations of violence and arson.

Umeh had earlier accused Ekwunife’s supporters of setting his bill boards ablaze and attack­ing his members, while Ekwunife acknowledged that Umeh is facing the consequences of all the things he allegedly committed against APGA members who are now pay­ing him back in his own coins.

This war has also been carried to the churches where they have constantly taken on each other in a bid to winning the support of the Christian community.

At every occasion that their parts crossed, it has been one long tale of attacks and counter attacks from each side of the divide.

Just a few weeks to the conduct of the National Assembly elections, political observers have been won­dering which of the two candidates would emerge the winner.

Also in Dunkofia Council Area where philanthropist and major financier of PDP in the country, Prince Arthur Eze comes from, Daily Times learnt that Umeh would find it difficult to dislodge Ekwunife.

In Awka North and South Coun­cil Areas, the odds still appear to be against Umeh, considering how the APGA primaries for the Fed­eral Constituency allegedly short­changed the incumbent, Chief Emeka Nwogbo who is now in All Progressives Congress APC.