A DISSEMBLING GAME OF HARDBALL By Ifeanyi Afuba

We are at a loss understanding Hardball’s mortal fear of an open and objective discussion of the purported N75 billion cash and investments Mr Peter Obi said he handed over to his successor, Chief Willie Obiano.
In two consecutive schedules on the subject in the November 23 and 30, 2015 editions of the column, announced with screaming headlines, the anchor studiously shut the door on a debate on the issues. In tandem with its tendentious headlines [ ‘Obiano vs Obi: Of incumbent and incubus’ and ‘Obiano vs Obi: The limit of bad faith’], the publication proceeded to pontificate on why the declaration of the Anambra State Government that it inherited N9 b cash and N35b investments from Obi was an act of vilification and sacrilege.
For these commentators of outstanding good faith, Governor Willie Obiano’s sins were two – fold. First, Obiano had committed a mortal sin by undertaking an audit of Mr Peter Obi’s handover notes. How dare he? ‘Obi left office in a blaze of glory so to speak showcasing a glittering performance and leaving a feat rare in this clime: not a dime of debt.’
How interesting! So because Obi left office with records of some notable achievements, there is to be no scrutiny of his stewardship; nay of documents received from his administration? And government is supposed to be a continuum! And what happens to accountability – the very essence of governance? Not a word on these defining parameters from 
The truth of the matter however, is that Mr Obi actually left a debt of N106 b for his successor out of which Governor Obiano has already paid N35b. For some curious reasons, this is anathema to Hardball.  It is a road that threatens Hardball’s preconceived position. Consequently, it is summarily blocked.
Instead, the column embarks on fulsome denunciation of the Governor for the temerity of questioning Obi’s handover notes. Obi has spoken and that must be the end of the matter for Obiano. Why, you ask?  The former was the latter’s benefactor! In the weird world of the self – anointed oracles, anything to the contrary amounted to betraying ‘a man who has been good to you.’
It is saddening to note that any enlightened mind could strenuously seek to trivialise the serious business of governance in this way. Which is fundamental – the health of the fabric of society or the ego of one individual member of society? In any case, the argument of a sponsor – recipient relationship is diversionary to the subject matter of N75 billion. It’s very introduction, let alone in such patronising terms that pervaded the referenced articles again underscores our thesis of a dread of confronting the contents of the orchestrated legacy.
This writer had written a rejoinder to the first of the offending piece by Hardball, in which the yawning gaps in the N75 b tale were highlighted.  Rattled by the pungency of the revelations, The Nation imposed a blackout on the piece which was severally mailed to it. But to have the real taste of bad faith, the reader is requested to carefully consider this entry: ‘Hardball had determined not to return to this matter again after last Monday’s intervention. But fresh information has generated fresh insights that must be revealed in the public court….’ How interesting! Hardball is desirous to share its fresh insights with the public but Hardball and The Nation will not permit the insights on the shortfalls of the N75b claim to get to the same public that they love to serve! For all of its 1000 word lectures on the matter, Hardball not for once engaged in an assessment of the merits or otherwise of the contents of the handover notes. Instead it busied itself taunting Governor Willie Obiano for contemplating the very idea of reviewing the said document.  It would not evaluate the contentious document and it would not ventilate interrogations on the subject – even when they are dictated by its own magisterial pronouncements.
Ndi Anambra are far too discerning to fall for Hardball’s wild goose chase. The series of sanctimonious outings on the debate is nothing but a carefully scripted decoy. Politically, this hollow intervention equates the parliamentary filibustering – when you keep on talking without addressing the needful issues. Artistically, there is the absurdist drama depicting characters who present many proposals, yet nothing gets done. Neither edifies Hardball.  
What manner of legacy is it in which you choke your successor with a debt of N106b while blasting the trumpet of a deceptive N75b handover? As if the established debts were not crushing enough, the Obiano administration is also coping with the burden of a significant pay rise for judiciary workers which the Obi regime committed the state to in 2011 but itself dodged the implementation for more than three years.