[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n spite of campaign of fear by our aggrieved brothers and some unknown elements, the Federal Government of Nigeria will resolutely conduct the November 6 governorship elections in Anambra state. The election is a test or a challenge the federal government will not fail to pass just like the last visit of President Buhari to Imo state. He arrived safely and left unhurt. The entire security intelligence architecture of Nigeria was in Owerri. Not even the most ingenious opposition forces showed up to stop Buhari. Anambra will be locked down and elections will hold and results and a new governor announced.
A night before November 6, 2021, an overwhelming contingent of Nigerian armed soldiers drawn from their cantonments in Onitsha, Asaba, Owerri, and 82 Division Enugu will form a ring around Anambra state as they did in 2017 when our brothers decreed “No Referendum, No Elections”. No vehicular movements would be allowed except of those conveying election materials. Well armed policemen from the neigbouring states will man the entire internal roads of Anambra states from midnight of Nov 5 till Monday morning of Nov 8 when the election results would have been collated and announced.
Perhaps the killings will continue after the elections until our land is left desolate and economically unviable to the happiness of our Igbo haters and outsiders.
Even though Igbo is one but I know that real Anambra people abhor shedding of blood needlessly. So, who are those Igbos killing us? Who are those killing the very people they profess that they are fighting? Who are those who through their actions are depleting the productivity of our state hence diverting our business people and customers to across the Niger? Our leisure and hospitality industry that have just started to pick up after COVID-19 scare would now die completely. Some who built their hotels in the East in the spirit of Aku luo Uno will now fall into debt trap. No sensible bank would grant loans to southeastern-based businesses because the optics of repayment are foggy.
The main victim of all these killings and fear mongering is Anambra economy. What is an Igbo man or Anambra man without the buoyancy of his business? Our men’s utu nkeni or sexual potency, which is attached to the well-being of their pockets, will suffer too. This will affect our wives and our sisters in their homes.
Let us receive sense.
Our brothers in IPOB should take over an existing political party as INEC may not register IPOB or any new party they form. They would thereafter vote in their trusted members into all the elective positions in the Southeast and those for National Assembly. This will give them a legitimate platform to push their cause. That was the purpose of Zik’s NCNC and Mandela’s ANC which were used to achieve Nigeria’s and South Africa’s cause and independence.
We should also respect the opinions or convictions of fellow Igbos that see a greater future in Nigeria despite our present challenges. They must not be killed or wiped out.
I pray that commonsense will prevail.
May the blood of the innocent Prof. Chike Akunyili speak to the conscience of those who have chosen the wrong route to achieve their cause in the mighty name of Jesus.
Anayo Nwosu graduated from University of Nigeria, Nsukka with a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology, Postgraduate Diploma in Management, and Masters in Business Administration. He is a chartered banker and member of the Nigerian Institute of Management. He is considered by his peers to be one of the best corporate and investment bankers in Nigeria.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
