The ‘Ides of March’ is here as Soludo-Tinubu’s ‘MoU’ gets tested in Anambra today
All eyes are on Anambra today as over 2.7 million registered voters file out at the various polling stations across the 21 local government areas of the state to elect their new governor for a fresh term of four years.
Although there are about 16 political parties fielding candidates in the election, only about four of such parties are really in the game.
The battle is easily between the incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), George Moghalu of the Labour Party (LP); Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Jude Ezenwafor of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
But one interesting scenario that many Nigerians would be watching out for is the pattern of the voting. It would be interesting to see if the APGA and the APC had “fixed” the “match” to go in a particular direction.
This happens in sports competition, where officials illegally manipulate the outcome or course of a sports competition to achieve a predetermined result for personal gain. It is a form of sports corruption that can occur at all levels of competition.
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The reasons are obvious
For several months, Governor Soludo had moved from one local government to the other in the course of his electioneering campaign, soliciting the votes of Ndi Anambra for a re-election. He had also, during this period, made lots of controversial statements that raised eye brows.
During the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Awka in May this year, Soludo publicly pledged his party’s support for the president’s re-election in 2027.
He said that since his party had no presidential candidate, APGA would, not only queue behind the president in 2027, but deliver the state to the president.
He has continued to defend the endorsement. He said he had no regrets for publicly endorsing Tinubu despite belonging to a different political party.
It would seem that the president boosted the governor’s hope during his visit in May, making him to quickly latch on to what appears a dog game- “fall for me, I fall for you.”
While speaking during a town hall meeting at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka during his state visit, President Tinubu had declared support for Soludo who he described as his friend, brilliant man, smart brain and highly connected.
The president said that the gathering offered the nation another opportunity of celebrating diversity as well as maintaining brotherliness.
“To me, a reflection of our diversity is present here with the presence of the Progressives Governors. Our diversity will lead to prosperity. We have a solution because we have Soludo. I stood as a candidate seeking your votes during the presidential election. In less than 2 years since assumption of office as your president, I thank you for your encouragement and support,” he said.
While commissioning the new Anambra Government House, Tinubu had praised Soludo for the infrastructural developments in the state.
“Soludo is here providing a solution and that solution is in infrastructure and in carrying people along in the area of development.
“Well done, Mr. Governor, for reflecting the quality of governance for the people of Anambra,” he said.
According to him, “Anambra is achieving great heights. Building our tomorrow, today. A leader like Governor Chukwuma Soludo (is) placing Anambra on the path of 21st-century development.
“You are a good thinker; you are a solution provider. We can go places together. Building Nigeria. Building the future. Using technology to build and reflect good governance on the people. Promote investment. We must encourage good governance.”
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A move to impress or desperation?
In what many observers described as a decision taken not to offend the visiting President, Soludo had issued a ban on wearing political party uniforms at the Alex Ekwueme Square, venue of the event.
Alex Obiogbolu, special adviser to the governor on political matters, announced the ban in a statement.
“This is to inform you that everyone who is coming to Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square for the reception of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu today should be in mufti. Please, nobody should put on APGA clothes or Support Group uniforms,” Obiogbolu said.
Is Soludo celebrating too early?
In what seems like celebrating too early, the Anambra State chapter of the APC a few days ago discountenanced the notion that Tinubu endorsed Soludo against his own party’s candidate.
The state APC called Soludo a dreamer for claiming that Tinubu supports him, describing the notion as mere fantasy.
Anambra APC Chairman, Basil Ejidike, was quoted as saying that the address by the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, at the rally in Onitsha to round off the campaigns, was intended as a warning to the APGA government.
Ejidike accused APGA members of celebrating “false claims” that Tinubu ignored APC’s governorship candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, and Senator Uche Ekwunife, his running mate, calling it “a big lie.”
Governor Soludo had made a capital of the fair words the president spoke during the May visit, summarising the visit as a huge endorsement for continuity.
The ‘Ides of March’ is here
After months of selling their manifestos, the parties will today test their popularity in the state. The “Ides of March” is really here.
The “Ides of March” refers to March 15, a date associated with the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44B.C. The saying became popularised through William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, where a soothsayer warns Caesar to “Beware the Ides of March”.
Although this is the month of November and not March, it is a decisive month for Soludo and the APC candidate. Will the unwritten memorandum of understanding (MoU) between President Tinubu and Governor Soludo come into effect? Nigerians are watching!
