#AnambraDecide: Voters willing, ready to vote, IPOB no threat

Friday, November 17, 2017 7:40 pm

3. Vehicle loaded with voting materials on onward delivery to their locations

Jethro Ibileke/Awka

As the countdown for the much anticipated and crucial governorship election in Anambra state nears, voters across the state have expressed their readiness and willingness to exercise their franchise to elect their governor.

In its usual characteristics, TheNEWS Magazine went round some local government areas of the state to sample opinion of the people with a view to feel their pulse, ahead of the voting proper on Saturday.

While most are unperturbed and undeterred about a threat of a possible attack by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), but are willing to go out to cast their votes, a few others ere still sceptical about their safety. Not even assurances from security agencies could douse the tension from such persons.

To others, the deployment of thousands of heavily armed security operatives is in itself, a threat that could scare the electorate to their wits and inhibit them from coming out enmass to vote for candidate of their choice.

However, the general opinion remains that, IPOB or no IPOB, the people of Anambra are ready and willing to go to the polls on Saturday to elect their governor.

Below is a vox pop conducted with people of different background, across some of the local government areas.

Ijeoma Okeke (Orumba North LGA, an economics student of college of education who is helping her mother at her akara business.)

Ijeoma Okeke

“I want to vote so that I will be able to elect an eligible somebody that is going to govern us in Anambra state. I want a Governor that will know the needs of the youths, that will be able to help the youths, that will be able to create youth empowerment in Anambra state.

“Am not that scared about the threat of IPOB, but am concerned. Another thing that is races concern is the armed forces that are sent to the state. From what am seeing, so many people will be scared and may not come out to vote because of what happened in Aba.

“My advise to the candidates and their parties is that, it is not a do or die thing. It is not a must that you must get the post, the post is meant for only one person. By the special grace of God, on Sunday morning, the results will be announced, for the rest of them who will not emerge as Governor, they have tried their best, the next thing they should do is to fight for another thing that will favour them and that they could use to help the state.”

Mr. Chuks Ilozue, a journalist – Ndulukofia LGA.

“I expect a peaceful election. I believe that the election will be transparent enough, the police authorities have assured us that they will do everything to provide a level-playing grounds for the contestants and also provide security.

Mr. Chucks Ilozue

“As a matter of fact, am aware that the police conducted what they called operation show of force on Thursday, during which they went round the three senatorial districts of the state, urging voters to come out to vote and not to fear. So, I believe there will be a peaceful, free and fair election.

“I don’t have worries over any threat from IPOB. Election days are days people stay at home, there is no movement, so, where will the IPOB people come from? In the villages, IPOB are not there, thought there are pockets of communities where IPOB members are located, but I don’t see anybody taking a rush on his life in the name of IPOB, coming out to disturb voters, unless that person is a bloody fool.

“I will advise the candidates to take the result of the election in good fate, but you know that elections are characterised by malpractices and you cannot ask somebody who feels he observed certain malpractices not to complain. But where it is minimal,I will advise them to take it in good fate.

“To be honest with you, by my own analysis, I believe that the incumbent governor still has an edge. Besides that, APGA seems to be a creed in this part of the country, so it is difficult for the peopleto abandon it and embrace another political party. The only problem APGA has, is that Governor Willy Obiano has not performed. That is the only problem APGA.

“I think the PDP candidate, Obaze, should be the closest rival to Obiano, followed by that of the APC. But you know, this country where anything could happen, especially in this way APC is doing, no one can know what will happen tomorrow. But if you ask me, I will rate them APGA, PDP and APC.

Izebuke Chibuike – Oyi LGA.

“I will vote tomorrow because it is my right as a Nigerian to vote. I know Anambra election is not an easy thing because of the problem of IPOB that we are facing in the state. But am not scared that IPOB will disrupt the election because they are not a terrorist group. What they are doing is just to boycott the election. I believe in IPOB, am a fan of IPOB, but I will vote as a citizen of Nigeria.

“For the IPOB to stop their agitation, the government of Nigeria must correct the marginalisation of the Igbos, equal distribution of resources, make everybody a first class citizen, equal opportunity for everybody and remove nepotism and tribalism.

“My advice for the candidates, especially governor Obiano, he has tried . I think he is going to get about 50 percent of the total votes cast. I think in terms of infrastructure, payment of salaries and security, I think Obiano has done very well. But he is yet to make the rural areas feel the impact of the governance, so he should conduct the local government election if he wins a second term nd make the people feel the impact of the government.”

Sunday Nwankwo, (Okada rider) Awka south LGA

Nwakwo

“I wants to vote to elect a new governor. I don’t know about IPOB, all I know is that we must vote tomorrow.

“I advise the candidates to be prayerful nd peaceful. Whoever wins or loose should take the result in good fate.”

Mrs. Ubaka Chinelo, (house wife) Awka south LGA.

“I will vote tomorrow. I will vote because I am supposed to vote. My vote will count for someone that I will vote for. I want a Governor that will perform something reasonable in Anambra, a governor that will pay the workers, a governor that will construct all the roads.

“I am not afraid of security problem, because I know that God will interfere in this election. My advise to the electorate is that they should come out to to vote to elect a governor of their choice.

“To the candidates, I advise them that the election is not a do or die affair, especially those who says that the president is their own and so could do as they like. They should know that the president is a father to all of us. But whoever wins, I advise that he works for the good of the workers, the market women and the elderly.”

Ifeanyi Ogockukwu, Ihiala LGA, a business center operator.

Ifeanyi Ogockukwu

“I will remain indoors tomorrow untill I notice that everywhere is calm, because I don’t know how tomorrow will look like. My concern is that the way am seeing things, Anambra state election has not been like this before, so, I don’t know how tomorrow will look like. I better remain indoors until I notice that everywhere is calm. I advise others to also come out and vote for candidate of their choice, they should not sell their votes for anything.

“I want a governor that will listen to the people, listen to the poor when they cry. He should be able to know what the masses need. I advise the candidates to calm down so that we could have a free and fair election.”

Ngozi Okafor (Nnewi south LGA)

“I will vote tomorrow because I want the person am voting for to win. I want a governor that will listen to the peoand know the people’s mind and know what exactly they want.

“I have no any kind of fear of insecurity. I don’t fear for IPOB. One thing with IPOB is that they said they will boycott the election, by that, they want people to stay at home, meaning that if you go out, anything that happens to you, they are not accountable for it. I don’t believe that IPOB will interrupt the election.

“For some politicians, the election is a do or die affair, so people say that they will do everything possible to take it by force, even if they have to shed their blood, but election should not be ‘if I don’t win, I must die.’

“I advise all of them to take things easy. If you win, glory be to God, if you loose, glory be to God. For the voters, if you want to come out, you are on you own, if you don’t want to come out, you are on your own, it is a personal decision

Ngozi Okafor (Nnewi south LGA)

Mrs. Ngozi Okafor

“I will vote tomorrow because I want the person am voting for to win. I want a governor that will listen to the peoand know the people’s mind and know what exactly they want.

Photos: by Jethro Ibileke

1: Ifeanyi Ogockukwu

2: Mrs. Ngozi Okafor

3: Sunday Nwankwo