In reaction to the allegation of electoral impropriety in the inconclusive Anambra governorship election levelled by All Progrssives Congress against the ruling party in Anambra State, All Progressives Grand Alliance, a chieftain of APGA, Mr. Beji Uba, describes the election as the best ever in Nigeria. He spoke with EMMANUEL OBE (Today’s PuncH) 1, What is your impression about the November 16 Governorship election? The November 16th election was the best election that Nigeria has witnessed. I say this not because it did not have its own problems, but because, for the first time, nobody was able to rig the election. Those who planned to rig where utterly disappointment because of tight security. I think some of them, especially Dr. Chris Ngige of the APC are making statements out of frustration for not having the opportunity to unleash their rigging machines as they planned. May be it was a Freudian slip for Dr. Chris Ngige to complain about the so many security agencies that came into the State, simply because all that they planned were thwarted. Tell me when having adequate security has become a problem? While I say this, may I remind you that shortly before the elction, Ngige was shouting of fake police and NYSC uniforms being sewed, those that knew him rightly predicted that for him to be shouting that meant that was what he was planning to do. Now, all the people caught during the election, including 181 persons from Osun State arrested in Imo State with fake ballot boxes, police and NYSC uniforms were all members of the APC. Going by events that transpired before the election, Dr. Chris Ngige should by now helping security people in their investigations. It appears he knows so much Still on my impression about the election, I can say that in terms of deployment of materials for the election and the conduct of INEC officials, I think there was a marked improvement to what it used to be. Though a few disgruntled elements led by the bad loser, Dr. Chris Ngige are crying and rolling on the ground, distinguished Anambrarians, the Chairman of ASATU, Dr. Innocent Onwubuya; Chairman of Ohaneze, Elder Chris Elumuno; Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife; Igwe Gibson Nwosu, among others who were active participants at the election have upheld its fairness . Has it occurred to you that only APC members are against the election? Suddenly Ngige who called Ifeanyi Uba a criminal debtor and Tony Nwoye a cultist during electioneering galvanized them into protest as their spokesperson. If the same rapidity with which he united them for a common purpose is employed to unite Igbos in the National Assembly to work for Igbos, he would not have been counted among Senators that did not propose a single bill since he went to the Senate. All in all, the election was the freest ever conducted. Security measures taken made rigging somewhat difficult. INEC also introduced some security measures that has made it difficult for people to rig. 2, INEC has declared it inconclusive. Do you think it is justified? What other justification are you looking for, when they have followed what the electoral law says? It is inconclusive but valid. Rather than disobey the law and offer enemies of democracy a reason to go to Court, it is infinitely better to have a supplementary election. We support it and will participate fully. Those who know Ngige will tell you that he is only building a case to justify his failure. By saying he is boycotting the election, he is creating the room to claim that he would have won if he did not boycott. The man is a terrible person. 3, Your party is leading in the so far received results. Do you think APGA can maintain the lead and eventually win? APGA as predicted is leading comfortably. Nothing will stop APGA as far as Anambra State is concerned. The people of the State see APGA as their own identity. What else do you want them to do? Join APC? This is not possible since our needs from the country are antipodal to their own. The other day, Igbos were celebrating the possibility of a National Dialogue, only for the leader of the APC to say that it was not necessary. How they we represent their position and what our people want? If Igbos voted the other way, it all means they have lost their sanity and are no longer worthy to be called the illustrious sons of their progeny. Why do I say so? No sane man can vote for a party that deported their people. The other day, Hon. Tony Muonago, speaking for APC kicked against the change of the name of Anambra State University to Chukwuemeka Odumwgwu-Ojukwu University. Is this the type of party that dream of winning in Anambra State? 4, INEC Chairman did say the election was messed up in Idemili North Local Government Area. Do you agree with him? Prof. Attahiru Jega is a man without cant; he is one Nigerian that has not been compromised. Those of us on the ground know that the election was heavily messed up in Idemili North, but it is just one among 21 Local Government Areas and cannot be said that the messing up of the election there was substantial to call for the cancellation of the entire exercise. Dr. Chris Ngige is from Idemili and his rigging expertise is directly related to the perennial problem that Local Government witness each time election is contested, within the Ngige Era. In 2010, he inflated the votes he got in the area by adding 10,000 votes to himself always in collusion with INEC officials. This time around, he planned all kind of rigging and magic which has become his trademark. Thanks to the Federal Government that security was water tight. When it was clear that he could not execute his nefarious plans, he, as usual, started crying. He is very good at presenting the picture of the victim, even when he is always the aggressor. Now, the problem encountered in Idemili North was inadequate and half hazard deployment of materials. We are sure that APC colluded with some people to take away those materials. We therefore advice INEC to call back those materials and if already thumb printed, as we suspect, we know the party that were thumb printed for I am happy Nigerians and the people of the State now know Ngige for what he is: a terrible human being, an unrepentant liar and an old man becalmed in bad and odd ways 5, The opposition, mainly PDP, APC and LP have called for the cancellation of the polls citing massive irregularities like missing names on voters register, diversion of materials and non-availability of result sheets. How do you react to that? Let me ask you one question; If tomorrow, INEC says that the result of the election was not properly counted and after recounting it was discovered that Dr. Chris Ngige of the APC won, what do you think will be Ngige’s reaction? APC and Ngige will carry Jega shoulder high as the best INEC Chairman Nigeria will never have again. What I am just trying to say is that what Ngige and his ilk are doing is the acute manifestation of bad loser syndrome. They are however insignificant when compares to Anambra people that have continued to commend the election as the best so far. Calling for the cancellation of the election is the only option available to them, since they cannot win, even if they join forces together. 6, The parties have accused APGA, INEC and the security agencies of collaborating to rig the election. What do you have to say to that? Would Security agencies rig in favour of APGA or the PDP? We are not strangers to Ngige’s rascality. When election was approaching, he was alleging all manner of crimes, even those he saw in his dream, against APGA. The wise Peter Obi and Willie Obiano ignored him and continued with their campign. Off course everybody in Anambra knows that whenever Ngige plans to commit crime, he will allege that another person was planning to do so. 7, Should your party win what kind of relationship would you have with the opposition? After victory, the only party we will recognize in Anambra is the congregation of men of integrity that are interested in the development of Anambra State. We shall work with anybody who has something to offer. We shall go the extra mile to preach to people to have the disposition to work for the State and not for selfish reasons or put up the type of character consistent with Dr., Chris Ngige, whereby he is at the National; Assembly at Abuja as Senator, without contributing anything or proposed any bill or even head any Committee only to come home at weekends to cause problem and lie against his Governor. 8, Did APGA work with the Presidency in the last election? I call on all Nigerians to work with the Presidency for the sole aim of the uplift of our country . Even when one is the opposition, he has to do it for the greater glory of our country. We must avoid what APC and people like Ngige do. Look at the Uke Tragedy; he was the one who personally sent text messages to some journalists to report what did not happen at the Adoration Ground, simply because he wanted to indict Gov. Peter Obi. He did the same thing reently by getting his Assiatnt to write news item that those protesting against the elction were shot at and killed, when nothing of such happened. 9, Any other comment. We call on Anambra people to remain vigilant at all times.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 07:41:06 +0000
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