AS ANAMBRA GOES TO POLL: VIRTUES OF A WOULD BE GOVERNOR

 For everything under the sun, there is a season, ala Ecclesiastes; Anambra state, is at the dawn of yet another season. After 8 years in office, the incumbent governor must hand over the mantle of leadership to another person, who is expected to steer the affairs of the state, hopefully for another 4 years or maybe even 8 years.

Ndi Anambra has been known for their ability to outdo other states in the southeast and indeed Nigeria as a whole when it comes personal enterprise and industry. The Anambrarian exemplifies the Igbo spirit of never-never  say die, industriousness, and individual motivation. Hence, unlike what obtains in other states of the federation, Anambra state was able to feature close to 50 aspirants as intending occupants of the government house in Awka; although party primaries whittled down this number to 23 according to INEC sources. Even with the first huddle over, voters in Anambra may still be at a dilemma over who to elect as their governor; over who is the right person to take Anambra State to the next level and indeed Ndigbo to their rightful place in Nigeria. For there is no doubt that Ndigbo are still marginalized in Nigeria as of today; and anyone who occupies the position of governor of Anambra does not only speaks for Ndi Anambra, but automatically speaks for Ndigbo not only in Nigeria, but worldwide.

Since the issue of deciding who occupies the position of the governor is entirely an Igbo affair, Igbo traditions and culture as passed down from generations to generations; from ancestors to the living; from parents to their children and wards; should be used as a yardstick by the voters to decide  on whom to elect to govern them for the next 4 years. Every society or culture as a matter of fact is known by or can be associated with certain values. The Igbo Nation from time immemorial have prided themselves with possessing the core  values of integrity, hard-work, family pride, justice, and communal aspiration.  Others values associated with the Igbos  include self-worth, bravery, solidarity and prudence.  While negative values such as greed, materialism, opportunism, falsehood are generally frowned upon and condemned. Of these core Igbo values, none is of lesser importance than the others. Anyone who mounts the leadership position of Anambra State must not only possess the above qualities, but must indeed be seen to have them in over abundance.

Of all the virtues expected from a would be governor, integrity may be the most important.  Integrity is strength of character; steadfast, resolute, having fibre; walking the talk, doing what was promised; authentic, straightforward, what's on the inside is displayed on the outside; open, honest and direct in their dealings with others; clear and uncompromised values, and clarity about what's right and wrong; committed, with the courage of their convictions; principled, honourable, fair, accountable and responsible; balanced, integrated, whole; self aware and self-reflective; mature and wise.  This virtue may be the most important, although this is not in any way to diminish the importance or relevance of others. However, the importance of integrity as an attribute of a would be governor of Anambra State cannot be overemphasized; former, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower underscored its importance when he stated: “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.”

Out of the 23 candidates whose party insignia appears on the ballot paper, which of them can be said to have scored a 70% mark or above in the above mentioned parameters?  Someone who renegades on an agreement cannot be said to be open and honest; someone who agrees to out-rightly sell Anambra to godfathers cannot be said to have strength of character; someone who admits going to Okija shrine with his bible has without doubt compromised his Christian values; anyone who supports the deportation of Ndi Anambra from Lagos can lay no claim to being matured and wise. A principled and honourable man will not hit below the belt, even if it means losing an election. Someone who had to surmount several stumbling blocks in order to get to his final destination can be credited with strength of character; the same applies to someone who keeps promises, no matter the type; not promising to do one thing and doing exactly the opposite,  once his objectives has been achieved.

Integrity can be said to be the base upon which other virtues are built. Without it, we lose our ability to stand up and be called men. In the olden days, our grandparents preferred to be poor, but maintain their integrity. When an elder concludes an agreement, he seals it by hitting his Ofo on the ground. No witnesses are  needed, no form of formal contract need to be signed, in fact all the paraphernalia of a modern society need not be present for an agreement to be properly enforced. And no one, absolutely no one dare renegade on an agreement for fear of the gods of the land.

Today, with over 20 gubernatorial candidates vying for the position of governor of Anambra state, how do you the voter determine which of them can be credited with integrity? Integrity can indeed be worn as a toga; for when you see a man who has integrity, it shows in everything he does, including his carriage. He talks the talk; and walks the walk. Everything about him exudes honesty. Some politicians have argued that politics is dirty game, especially in our environment;  while others are of a different opinion. Some of the candidates who have had the opportunity of sojourning in Europe understand and play politics just like the British. In everything they say, they are forthright, not just for the sake of winning election, but because, they are sincere and wants the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the people.

Hard work can be described as being able to put in maximum effort in all undertakings. Okee o buru uzor!  Dignity of labour!!  It does not mean the person has to be a superman, or have the ability to knock down a building with his bare hands. Rather it the ability to make each day count. The Igbo tradition places much emphasis on virtues of hard work. In the days when men were judged by the size of their yam barns, only those who are hard working can be able to have several barns filled with all kinds of yams. In today’s environment where lesser emphasis is placed on the size of a man’s barns, the success of a man in his chosen profession may serve as a yardstick to determine if he is lazy or hardworking. Some candidates who got to their position by being O! yes men, cannot be considered hardworking, despite their assumed success, rather such people are at best sycophants and praise singers who are just out to line their pockets, not minding what the vast majority think; and in this election, there are so many of such. Some of the candidates are confirmed swindlers and 419ners who are regular guest of anticorruption agencies of EFCC and ICPC. While voting, it is important to understand those who have godfathers, whom have helped them achieve their successes in life, and who they will sign over the coffers of Anambra state once they are elected.

The Igbos are by nature a very proud nation. The family unit is really important. Unlike other tribes, the Igbo man values his family very much. In term of the election, how does each of the candidates fare vis-à-vis his family (nuclear and compound)?  Questions to ask here include, are the family living together as a unit, or is the wife separated from the man? Anyone who cannot manage his family, without doubt cannot manage the state. What of the children? What examples are they setting for other children in the state? Are the children associated with noisy parties, smoking, drinking and partying everyday of the week? Or are they model students or model workers/businessmen? What of the extended family? Are they still living in penurious poverty, while their kith the governor to be enjoys stupendous wealth? What of the nephews and nieces, are they productively engaged?

From the foregoing, it is important to ensure that whoever emerges as the next governor, must as a matter of necessity, be an established family man. While the constitution does not stipulate these conditions, however Igbo cultures recognises that a man must be married before he can be considered for any position of authority. Most of the towns in Anambra state have recognised this fact, which is why any candidate for the position of a President General (PG) of a town must be a happily married man. Some of the candidates in this election are not even married in the true sense of the word; meaning they don’t even have practical experience on how to manage a family, not to mention a whole state. Again, some of the candidates although not officially divorced, but are not living together with their wives. Rather, they change women like they change hankies. Such people should not be considered as future governors of Anambra State.

Communal aspiration has always existed among the Ibos. Communal aspirations made Indirect rule by the colonial masters not to flourish in Igbo land, while it flourished in other cultures. This fact has long been recognized by the Igbos, hence ‘Umunna bu ike’ is a common war cry among the Ibos. How many of the candidates for governor realises this fact and what of have they done in this direction? While some of them endeavoured to invest in their communities in particular and Anambra in general, to help create employment for the youths of Anambra, others may not even know the direction to their villages, not to talk of knowing who is their traditional ruler. Anyone who aspires to the position of governor, must as a matter of necessity have an unqualified love for his people and their culture. For it is this love that will make him take decisions, even at personal cost to ensure the wellbeing of his people. This love must be exhibited in all things, not just because of the election. A candidate who fixed his campaign flag-off to coincide on the same date with the yearly Ofala Festival of Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha truly does not place any importance on Ndigbo and their culture. A candidates who supports negative actions taken against  Ndi Anambra by the government of another state or even the federal government cannot lay claim to loving Anambra, such a candidate  does not deserve the votes of Ndi Anambra. On the other hand, any candidates who uses his personal resources to sponsor programmes and activities aimed at the promotion of Igbo culture and language truly has exhibited an unqualified love for Ndigbo. A candidate who sponsors “Otu  Subakwaigbo” (an organization for the promotion of Igbo language and culture) shows a complete love for the Igbos and their language and deserves the votes of every Anambrarian.

Some of the candidates are laying claims to continuity. The questions to be asked here are what are they claiming to continue? Is it the over one year judiciary workers were on strike, or is the total ban on civil service employment conscientiously enforced for the past 8 years, or is it the ban on Local Government elections enforced to the detriment of Ndi Anambra? Continuity as a rhetoric is sweet to the ears, but, emphasis must be placed on what aspects of the incumbent’s policies and programmes the candidate wishes to continue; for there are many areas where the incumbent can be found wanting; and if the continuity refrain is sang as a whole, it means Anambrarians are again condemned to suffer the injustices and deprivations of the present in the future.

As November 16 the D-day is just around the corner, it is really imperative that Anambra voters should carefully sift through all those being presented as possible governors of Anambra State before casting their votes. Luckily, the Nigerian constitution allows for secret ballot, in other words there  is no fear of intimidation or harassment from any quarter. Anambra has long been recognized as a state of billionaires and rightly so; however, that does not mean Anambrarians should put filthy lucre above Igbo values in deciding their next governor. The time for action is now, the Igbo nation should rise up against all kinds of materialism and other anti social behaviours that are not in line with Igbo values and ethics. A society where money is elevated above integrity and core values is certainly heading for doom and extinction. Let us ensure the survival of the Igbo Nation by using  core Igbo values as a yardstick in deciding the next governor of Anambra State.