Our attention has been drawn to a publication on page 7 of Sunday Sun of 12th January, 2014 “Jega will jeopardize 2015 general elections,” credited to one Mazii Omife I. Omife, National Coordinator, Ifeanyi Uba Campaign Organization. Mazii Omife is said to have addressed a press conference and called for the sack of the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, to “save the country from further embarrassment after what happened in the Anambra guber elections.”

Ordinarily we do not hold brief for the INEC Chairman and would have dismissed the statement as the ranting of desperate and misguided elements had the group not gone ahead to call for the cancellation of the Anambra election results and advised “INEC and other relevant bodies not to go ahead with the swearing-in of APGA candidate Dr. Willy Obiano.”

No one is in doubt that Chief Willie Obiano convincingly won the Anambra gubernatorial election held on 16^th, 17th and 30th November, 2013 and is the Governor-elect pending swearing-in on 17th March, 2014. What is baffling is that in spite of the overwhelming evidence that the mandate was freely expressed by Ndi Anambra, some disgruntled elements have chosen to make spurious claims and disparaging remarks under the shade of innocuous groups instead of taking recourse to the law if they genuinely feel aggrieved.

It is on record that some aggrieved parties have gone before the Election Tribunal hence most of the issues remain subjudice. But suffice it to mention that there is yet no evidence that Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah who won in just one local government out of the total 21 LGAs has gone before any court to further his claims to the governorship of Anambra State. Instead, Mr. Ubah and his cohorts have continued with the uncouth conduct and reckless display of ignorance – a practice which dogged his election campaign, leading to the poor outcome.

It is instructive to note that Chief Willie Obiano has displayed uncommon magnanimity in victory by extending the olive branch to others who contested the elections to join hands with him in the interest of Anambra State. However, this statesman-like approach should not be mistaken for weakness by people who want to thwart the sovereign will of Ndi Anambra for their own selfish ends. The Governor-elect of Anambra State has made known his readiness to defend the overwhelming support he received from the voters before the constituted authorities. We therefore consider the call by the group comical, preposterous and cheap attention-seeking. Such brazen promotion of falsehood and tactless grandstanding does not belong to the realm of seriousness and we implore well-meaning Nigerians, especially Ndi Anambra, to ignore Mazii Omife and the drummers behind him.

•James Eze is Head, Media & Communications, Willie Obiano Campaign Organisation. Photo shows Governor-elect Obiano.

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