Anambra Guber: Mistakes Of The Past On A Repeat, By Tobenna Obiano

The Mistakes of former President Goodluck Jonathan's handlers is happening again right before our very eyes.

Immediate past Nigeria's President lost ingloriously in his bid for a reelection, because his handlers threw caution to the wind, were busy chasing shadows, ignorantly had pride in vainglories, carried away by nonsensical endorsements and kept on and endlessly firing unwarranted shots on the opposition.

Today, ahead of the forthcoming November 18th Anambra State Gubernatorial election, the incumbent just like the Jonathan's time is also unnecessarily carried away. The Governor Willie Obiano's major handlers and his media team are clearly repeating exact mistakes the Goodluck Jonathan media crew and handlers made during the 2015 presidential general elections.

To all nooks and crannies of Anambra, all they do is to demonize, shame and ridicule the person of Mr. Peter Obi.

From every side, they keep reminding us that Obi made promise that he would never leave APGA and that APGA gave him everything and that he brought Obiano into governance and chose not to support him and that he didn't save any money as he alleged and that he is lately, demanding for N7billion from Anambra coffers and that Obi will be retired from active politics after this election and that Obi was allowed peacefully to go for a second term, why is he so wicked and wouldn't want Obiano to enjoy same peace and do his own second term and many more...

While they call out Obi, by whatsoever way, the magic or. miracle works for him, the man still keeps hope alive and even with the stupefying hate, the lies and the abuse on his person, like the beautiful flower, he keeps soaring and flourishing.

It's really unfortunate that people fail to learn from mistakes of the past. If all Government foot soldiers, mercenaries, allies and arsenals plus their attack dogs that are online who make up in vast majority, as cyber bullies and those often referred to as e-thugs are employed on demonizing the Obi man, that's simply a nonsensical approach and may not work this time. Infact, it will backfire, it already has.

One even wonders, with the way that the person of Peter Obi is being attacked, has he declared for African Presidency or Nigerian Presidency? Ofcourse not! If not, why all these?

You do not return allegations for allegations, lies for same, misinformation for same, attacks for same or frivolities for same. The intelligent knows that you return allegations for realities, lies for truth, misinformation for exact updates, attacks for sane management and frivolities for good radiance. This is being smart!

If I were to be a politician (which I am not and may never be any time soon) and amongst the Obiano team, I would have insisted on change of game plan. This choice of attacking Obi is clearly not working, for while he is demonized, like the Buhari time, he gains even more love, relevance and huge followership. It seems the Biblical stand of his name, Peter, the rock is truly helping him.

Lately, I have watched clips to where he stops at market places, comes to an event, joins Obaze on a camping tour and see, take it or leave it, Obi remains the darling and beautiful bride of ndi-Anambra. While he still has his tiny voice ringing like bell over the microphone, many applaud him and shower love. This is that kind of love that cannot be bought. It's true, real and unmatched.

The Obiano handlers to me are doing him a lot of deservice. To this day, they are in the forefront burner, where if they get their acts together and do the needful, mainly by selling their candidate and his good works, they would sweep through to victory, but their approach till this day to me, is just not working as it should.

They are in a better position to win the elections for while on tours, when other contenders would still be promising "I will or we will do this or that", to a greater percentage and in a higher chance, Obiano would have the liberty to showcase real deal, "my Government has done this, we have done that for your community or your people". This is a selling point that should help them, but rather than using that approach, the attacks are concrete and wholly centered on Obi.

At this juncture, it is pertinent to note that just like former Governor, Chris Nwabueze Ngige who till this day commands massive followership in Anambra, so also does Obi, who broke bounds and made history as the first two term Governor of Anambra and perhaps, the most beloved Governor ever produced in any part of Nigeria. Love him or hate him, he governed Anambra when we were almost at our lowest beam, during the dark ages and the flash of light that blossomed from his time in office would take more than cheap sabotage, unguarded utterances and the ridiculous approach particularly by writers crew, who their billing is somewhat now on a pay as you write pattern on social media to put him down.

It's not about Obi, just in case these guys are loosing it and are confused, the actual contender's name is Oseloka Obaze, a two time Secretary to Anambra State Government under Obi and subsequently, Obiano's administrations who also, just like Obiano was invited back from America to come help build the new Anambra State. Unlike Obiano who by the time of his own invitation was already retired happily and enjoying life, Obaze was still busy with work at the United Nations before it took two solid years to bring him home to the service of his people.

One of the major mistakes of politicians is to often sweep in the fantasy of their own world, where they are carried away by litanies of endorsements, praises, encomiums, garlands or laurels. Ofcourse, with the flashing of a few naira bills, any nonentity can buy loads of awards and other such laurels.

The litanies of endorsements maybe necessitated by the need to quench hunger, pay bills and manage other daily human needs, not necessarily because of true love. Even so, Anambra is one state where no one can speak for everyone and it holds sway. If an Igwe or President General or Bishop or Pastor chooses to insist on his people, the subjects or faithful or the led on who to vote for, well, it holds no water. Some of our local leaders, church leaders and community leaders are sadly, tactless, powerless and perhaps shameless, Igwes for instance are fathers, they ought to entertain everyone and not publicly endorsing anyone, but unless and only if they want to endorse everyone that comes their way.

Anambrarians always love doing it their own way. We will think from our head, interconnect it with our soul, judging by what we have seen, heard or felt before deciding. This is Anambra, and this is 2017, where people have become wiser and open to their own choices, not necessarily by the Nollywood-like epic movies standards of Igwe said this or that of the wood-ages of 1920s.

Even the praise-singers know their bidding and are only eagerly awaiting for their billings, but the thing is that politicians fail to learn. They mistake all these seemingly great recommendations and kind words coming from hangers-on, political profiteers, the jobbers and ndi-otimkpu as the reality of what's on ground. The worst misdoings of anyone is believing or taking hypocrites serious. They will blow all trumpet in the world, whilst deep down in them, they know things aren't right, yet choose the glory of the present and not speak up truth to power. These guys are like vampires (if there were to be anything like that), they milk from the system and are more than determined to suckle it until it drains entirely. As a friend and brother, I have nothing to gain or loose, Gov. Obiano should simply know that all is not well. I said so!

In the coming weeks, if the Obiano camp fail to face the major actor and choose to concentrate on the masquerade, they may, like the mistakes of the Jonathanians for the Buharians, be doing the Obaze camp a cheap cruise to victory.

At campaigns, before making promises of what to do if elected, as an incumbent, you have executed projects, sell them to the public knowledge.

The easiest thing to do in 2017 is a two way thing, either to help Obiano to victory or to lead him to catastrophic loss. The former is quite easier and I for one, can manage that long walk to victory even from the comfort of my room. Well, politics on hold for now.

Now, think deep and help yourself from eventual failure, take my advise and thank me later, or else, you may continue to cruise in the fantasy of your own world only to be rejected, retired, removed and replaced in the end. This is Anambra, they hold back no barrels and have no chills.

If the Obiano camp don't get to real work, a political tsunami would happen.