Anambra State Non-Indigenous Stakeholders Association (ANISA) has said it will not support any political party that does not intend to protect the interest of its members after winning election.

Speaking to newsmen after its meeting in Awka, yesterday, the National President, Chief Great Ugwoke, lamented that experience of the past seven years had shown that, as soon as the parties won elections, they ignore its members, who helped them to power.

According to him, the group has set machinery in motion to mandate any party or candidate that wants the group’s support in future elections, beginning with the November 6, 2021 governorship election, to strike a bargain with it, including appointing its members into key political positions after the election.

Ugwoke observed, with dismay, the penchant of political parties and their candidates to promise to accommodate its members once they emerge victory, but fail to keep their side of the bargain.

To this end, he noted that ANISA would create room for political parties and their candidates to come for discussions on ways to get the support of the members and in turn appoint some of them in juicy positions.

Corroborating him, the National Woman Leader, Jane Nze, said ANISA, as an umbrella body of non-political and law-abiding citizens from the 35 states of the federation, and contributing to the development of the state, “boasts of not less than 70 per cent of residents in the state.”

Given the existence of its members in the 21 local councils of the state and the intimidating population of ANISA members, especially women, Nze said the association could mobilise and swing the electoral pendulum in favour of a particular party.

She vowed not to leave any stone unturned to ensure that women were adequately sensitised on their political and civic rights, for them to use their numerical strength to elect the governor and other leaders they desire.

The woman leader disclosed that ANISA was not a grab-and-go association, but one that wanted to be part of the desired positive change in the state.

A member of the group, Emeka Nwagbala, said ANISA was not sponsored by any political party or candidate, but would participate actively in enthroning a governor, who would help the members achieve the purpose for which the association was established, including bettering the lot of the members.

(The Guardian)