By Chidi Obineche
A surreal moment in the Anambra governorship election was the Live Television debate when appraisals and criticisms took the upswing. Willie Obiano held the wrong end of the stick, with the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Oseloka Obaze and that of the United Peoples Party, UPP, Osita Chidoka taking the shine ostensibly with an edge on talking prowess, substance and issues. But the resounding impact of Obiano’s subtlety, groundwork and affirmative presence was not lost.
For many pundits, he had the assured victory because he was gubernatorial. He trudged the wide space, he consorted with free spirits, he prowled with the kindred kings and clowns with showpieces on offer. He hooked on the people and got them to believe in him, he was in bed with a soothing feeling of elation cavorting with the late Ikemba, an undying cult- hero who kissed the dust begging in anguish to keep his memory alive.
He flirted with the flaming ethos of the people on what is distinctly theirs – Nkea bu nke anyi( This is our own) and it echoed and reverberated beyond the seas and up above the mountains.
It was a hard battle and the victory sweeter. It caused epiphany. It bagged pheasants. It was a summation of toil, grit and sweat even when some butter livered supporters of his thought it was going to be a stroll in the park. It enkindled Tony Abbott’s words that “You cannot win an election without a fight.”
He was a warrior and not a worrier. The stamp of the landslide in all the 21 local government areas, the immeasurable warmth and smile that go with it flows with the feeling that victory is in having done your best and when you have done your best you have won. His victory lays bare the reasons why many fall in battle. They wait till the hour of battle. Obiano gained his victory on his knees long before the approach of the election day. For close watchers of Governor Willie Obiano in the last one year, it was obvious that he set out at dawn to look for the black sheep. He took the gauntlet while there was yet an hour of daylight.
He was aware of the arduous challenge from a mighty federal power, a coyly godfather set-up, and a pragmatic constellation of star opponents in about 31 political parties. He knew. But he also knew like Bernard Williams that “that there was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope.” He took to heart the old saying that you “don’t take a rest after your first victory because if you fail in the second bid, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.” Not even the utterly ill advised but later overturned withdrawal of his security aides days before the “d” day dampened hope.
It enlivened it and foreshadowed a new diet. His victory came as the ken of common herd and is savoured as the acme of perseverance, hard work and testimony. It is the perfect exhilaration that may probably signpost a meltdown in opposition. Victory believed in him. He dreamt with his feet while his soul danced inside his body. Need I sum up with the words of Friedrich Nietzsche; “And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” Down there in the state of Anambra there is a hard- to- find alloy called guts. And he retains it in abundance.
He was born on August 8, 1955. His primary school education was at Holy Trinity Primary School, Onitsha, while he attended Christ the King College, Onitsha for secondary education. He studied at the University of Lagos and obtained a Bsc( Second Class Upper Division) in Accounting in 1979 and an MBA in Marketing in 1993. He worked in the banking industry and exited at Fidelity Bank as executive director. He is a recipient of several professional awards, among which is Distinguished Banker of the Year Award, 2012. He became the governor of Anambra State in November 2013. He is married with children