2015: Odua Squares Obaze In Supremacy War In Ogbaru

                           
Odogwuemekaodogwu.blogspot.com brought to you the war of supremacy in Ogbaru over senatorial ambition of Dubem Obaze and Steall Oduah:

If Ogbaru Federal Constituency wins its argument and be considered to field candidates for Anambra North Senatorial election having not produced a Senator since the creation of Anambra State, then the battle for that plum job will be between Dubem Obaze, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters in the immediate past administration of Anambra State and the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella-Ogiemwonyi, who has now shed her husband name for her maiden name, Odua.
The constituency has some support in its agitation to be allowed to produce a Senator, the first ever in Anambra North Senatorial district.
Before now, the bug of Governor Peter Obi’s initiative that power should go round had caught a group known as Equity Group which has membership across the state. That group led by Hon. Tony Ifeanya had campaigned that what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander.
It argued that every segment of the state should test power, courtesy, once again, of Obi’s initiative and insistence. It argued that were it not so, Governor Willie Obiano who was little known before the November 16, 2013 governorship election would not be governor today.
It said: “Specifically we support the zoning of the Anambra State governorship position to Anambra North Senatorial zone in the build-up to the last gubernatorial election which fortunately saw the emergence of Chief Dr. Willie Obiano. As 2015 elections draw near, we cannot stand aloof and be indifferent to the goings on in our country’s political firmament and our dear state, Anambra.
“The Senatorial election is one of the elections which will hold next year. In consonance with our emphasis on the principle and practice of equity, we hereby call on well- meaning persons and groups to rise to the occasion. We have in the recent past campaigned for the entrenchment and propagation of these ideals in the area of politics/governance in Nigeria in general and Anambra State in particular”.
According to the group, since Obiano comes from Omambala part of Anambra North, it is only just, fair and equitable that a senatorial slot should go to Ogbaru/Onitsha axis.
It follows that if that argument is won, as stated before, the battle will be between Obaze and Odua. And what may determine the outcome of the election, all things being equal will be record of performance and it seems that the two aspirants know this. While Odua served Nigeria as Aviation Minister, Obaze was at home as a grassroots Commissioner. Odua has been hailed as a great achiever in the aviation industry and many say she must have attracted other projects as an executive council member in Abuja where she was well respected. Her supporters in Anambra North district believe that she will replicate her achievements in the aviation industry if elected Senator.
But Odua bears the burden of ‘Abuja politician’ which most people of Anambra despise, because in the history of the state, they usually come down from Abuja when election approaches and having so much financial muscle embark on one elephant projects or the other and afterwards snatch the party ticket. But immediately after victory, they disappear back to Abuja and the voters never see them again until the next election year. Odua doesn’t seem to be in touch with home for most of the years she spent in Abuja and as Minister. Perhaps realizing this, she rushed to Ogbaru a few months ago with an aviation school project. This is in contrast to Obaze who has been synonymous with the governance of Anambra State in the past nine years. As a trusted Commissioner in Governor Obi’s administration who held sensitive portfolio of Local Government,
Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters he was given a free hand to run his ministry and he used that opportunity to transform the local government system to the extent that to date any one that passes through that system extols his achievements. He turned to communities and ensured that fund is allocated to them for road projects, thus ensuring that unlike before he came into office all rural communities are accessible all year round. Local governments in the state also made sure that each community got one outstanding or the other. As for traditional rulers, it was during his time that they acquired exotic jeeps, a gesture that no other state in the federation has been able to equal. Equity Group in a summary of Obaze’s achievements observed that: “As Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters in Peter Obi’s administration, Obaze initiated the transformation of grassroots. The result was the construction of several structures namely: new headquarters of Onitsha North local government, Onitsha South local government, renovation of all the local government headquarters and innumerable classroom blocks; construction of roads, provision of over 143 water boreholes across Anambra State, etc.
Also former local government chairmen in Anambra State have vowed to throw their support behind Obaze. Their coordinator, Hon. Goddy Eze said that Obaze having served the state diligently as Commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters when he transformed the local government system, he deserved to be rewarded with the Senate seat more so when it is acknowledged that he cannot disappoint the people. According to him Obaze is one person who can create “something out of nothing and who is a mobilizer and master strategist, it will not be difficult to see how he easily becomes the people’s choice. Obaze is somebody who should be emulated, a home breed and a man who believes that people should be happy while they work  “He is a pragmatic person. He initiated all the projects that were executed at the 21 local governments in the state. He initiated buying of security vans, bought jeeps for traditional rulers and built secretariat both for the traditional rulers and Presidents-General in the state”.
To crown Obaze’s achievements in office all the traditional rulers in Anambra North Senatorial district conferred on him a chieftaincy title of ‘Ife akachi’ meaning nothing is greater than God’ on June 28, 2014.
In their letter inviting him to accept the title, chairman of Anambra North traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Roland Odegbo wrote: “The Anambra North Traditional Rulers’ Council has observed with keen interest your numerous and remarkable contributions; both politically, socially, economically and otherwise towards the growth and development of the grassroots during your stewardship as the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters. As a way of appreciating your effort and spur you to greater height we have decided to honour and recognize you with a chieftaincy title. The Chieftaincy title is also in recognition of your patriotism and reformative leadership in the socio-economic development of the state, especially in the local government system, the communities and in particular, the traditional rulers’ institution.”

Daily Independent features written by Chukwujekwu Ilozue