INEC Disappointed Anambra People - Says AA Governorship Sandidate

Governorship candidate of Action Alliance (AA), Okeke Chika Jerry yesterday for the first time x-rayed what happened during the 2013 Governorship election in Anambra state, saying that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disappointed the people of Anambra state.

Speaking during a press conference in Onitsha yesterday, Okeke said  ‘’To INEC, it is indeed a pity that you couldn’t give Anambrarians what they desired and this has saddened the heart of the peace loving people of Anambra State. Monies were shared at the polling units by so many political parties and you did nothing about it. This is against the INEC rule and the offenders were not punished. But what did INEC do about that? Parties that share money at the polling boot should be disqualified or banned from contesting election in Nigeria for five years. This is the best way to conduct election in this country. How powerful is the power given to this body called INEC? The federal government should give INEC more teeth to bite so that any election that does not go well enough should be cancelled.

AA candidate continued ,‘’Though the election is over and the wounds are still fresh, I advise my fellow contestants to exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship by the accepting the outcome of this election in good faith. If I am to speak the mind of Anambrarians, I will say, Ka anyi were ihe niile tara n’abali ka ha buru anwu nta. Mana ozo emezikwalaa! But thank God we Anambrarians are wonderful people. We are good at controlling our tempers. I thank Anambrarians for the maturity they displayed in their character especially the PDP, APC and LP loyalists. These parties presented wonderful candidates who are so important to this state. I and other contestants are equally wonderful people too. That Obiano won does not mean that he is the best; rather, he is the best of the bests. The true fact is that 23 persons cannot govern the state at a time, but only one. I understand that it is Obiano’s turn now. It should be another’s tomorrow. I therefore use this opportunity to congratulate Chief Willie Obiano for the victory and also congratulate other contestants for their wonderful performance and understanding. I also congratulate INEC for at least producing a winner. Congratulations also go to Mr Peter Obi for having a successor who will carry on with his good works in the state.

Okeke who is a publisher and has a serious printing outfit in Onitsha further said, ‘’Though I didn’t win the election but the impact I made at this first stage of mine shows that I will do well in future elections. It was a tough race full of challenges. I thank God, I ran the race to the end despite the fact that no single financial assistance from any individual or group came to me. Not even INEC or the government at any level compensated me. But to God be the Glory!

 ‘’I am aware that some people are not happy about the outcome of the said election based on the shortcomings of INEC in some areas, but I want to use this opportunity to thank God that the election was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere contrarily to the evil expectations of some people. At least a winner has emerged through the result declared by INEC and the best thing we have to do is to accept the outcome of the election in the interest of peace and begin to think of how to move the state forward. I am one person that believes in the supremacy of God. What God does not want to happen does not happen.

‘’Again, men who have fear of God should be appointed to work in government if only we want this country to move forward. People should not be appointed simply because they are the children of traditional rulers or children of political leaders. Appointments should not always be for compensation but on merit. Apart from being a youth, I am very close to the masses and they have told me all that they want from you. Hunger is too much, your people need food. There must be surplus foods in Anambra through your mechanised agriculture, our schools should be the best in the country and Anambra should be the home of industries. Let’s fight this corruption that kills our nation. That Nelson Mandela, Zik of Africa, Awolowo and Belewa are remembered today is not because of how many roads and bridges they built for their people but how positively their actions affected the lives of their people by way of freedom, education, employment, and independence.

‘’ People may one day forget that you once built road for them, bought them cars for them or even gave them money but they will never forget that you made them doctors, lawyers, footballers, captains of their industries, husbands of their wives and parents of their children. Since after the second republic, how many Nigerian leaders can measure up with the Mandela of South Africa whose praises the whole world sing today? My dream is to be like the Mandela and Zik of Africa or even be better than them in the course of offering service to my people. As the Light of the nation which we are, let’s make Anambra number one in education, number one in Agriculture and number one in sports. Let us use agriculture to improve the economy of this Nation. I and you, Chief Willie Obiano, share the same ideologies. We also look like father and son and we, working together will be a great advantage to the people of Anambra State.

‘’To us, Obiano may not be the best but God knows why He allowed the victory to go to him not minding who gave it to him. All of us worked hard to win this election but the way it ended is strange to us all. It happened to us like a film. We all are blaming INEC for declaring Obiano winner but in one way or the other, we have to blame ourselves too forgiving room for that.
‘’INEC has its own blame, you, have your own blame and we have ours. Anambra State has over 4 million people but only about 1.7million people have voters card. What about others? Then, out of 1.7 million registered voters in Anambra State, only about 400,000 people came out to vote. What about 1.3 million registered voters? People were told to come out before 12.30pm for accreditation of voters, but I learnt some came out about 3pm. Whose fault is that? You want someone to be your governor but you don’t have voters card to vote him in. You deceived some candidates by collecting money and materials from them in order to vote for them but you voted for another person. Some did not even go out to cast their votes after having collected money from candidates.

‘’Today, those people are among those pointing accusing fingers on INEC for rigging the election. You have in mind to vote for Mr A but on getting to polling boot, you collected another money or even gala and voted for Mr B. Eventually if Mr B whom you don’t like is declared winner, you begin to accuse INEC of rigging the election or accusing the security agents of not doing their work. It is high time we began to work on our character. In fact, we have a long way to go in this country. Too many churches, but evil multiply everyday. Well, these are lessons we have to take back home as we prepare for the next election.
‘’Congratulations will also go to our amiable President for giving Anambra the most peaceful election. It is true that there is a tribunal set up for the aggrieved candidates but I for one will not patronise that tribunal. I have better things to use my little money for. I won’t go to any tribunal to challenge the result of the said election and I advise my fellow contestants not to challenge the result of the election because of the following reasons:

  People from Anambra North have been clamouring for equity, now that they have gotten it on platter of gold; let’s leave it for them, at least for now.   Anambra needs to move forward; therefore dragging a sitting governor to court is not good for this state.
Anambra State is known for changing their governors like clothes for one reason or the other. That is not a good record for us. Let’s us put that devil to shame this time around.
The peaceful election that produced Obiano has never been seen. Let’s wait and know why God allowed it to be so.

Okeke who has given jobs to thousands of youths and have sponsored football competition for years appealed thus , ‘’I therefore appeal to all those that have filed one court case or the other against the incoming government to withdraw it in the interest of peace and as a mark of honour to our brothers from Anambra North who have longed for such opportunity. I also specially appeal to the governor elect to carry his fellow contestants along so that together we can develop this state. I sincerely pledge my loyalty to you “His Excellency” and wish to work with you so that together we will be able to put smile on the faces of the suffering Anambrarians. As a youth, I know all that the youths need from you and I will assist you to impact so much in their lives. The insecurity caused by our youths, in Onitsha, Awka and Nnewi can be solved by only three E’s. Once these youths are Educated, Empowered, and Employed, the issue of insecurity in Anambra and indeed in Nigeria will be a thing of the past. Your government should involve youths in governance. Youths should be made commissioners, board members, PA’s and so on. By these, they will be carried along and feel belonged. That APGA won the election does not mean that all the youths that helped APC, PDP, LP, PPA, AA and others in their campaigns should be disregarded. These youths are Anambrarians! What is good for APGA youths is also good for the youths of other political parties. The winner takes it all is not always good for Nigerian politics. Youths should be carried along irrespective of their party affiliations. Youths should be involved in all levels of government, not only in political campaigns. Let’s give the youths, at least 30% per cent of all political appointments in Nigeria so that we can assist the government to move this country forward. Let the voices of the youths be heard in the government of Nigeria. Youths are great dreamers with great vision, we have great aspiration and we are very strong and energetic to drive our dreams. Daddy, we want
to work! Please engage us.