So when next you witness a larger portion of the igbo nation, especially those from Anambra state singing and chanting after Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige do not harbour the idea that these people are after his money because to the best of my knowledge, though a senator of the federal Republic of Nigeria, he has not enough to trow around. Like the 'nkenke enyi n'achu igw'enyi oso' that he is, he did reasonably well and as such has since begun to command the respect and reverence of his people.
Now the question is---why are other gubernatorial aspirants in the November 16 governorship election so intimidated by this 'Short man' that their strategy all these while is to move round the state destroying his campaign posters and billboards.
Before the governorship election of 2003, nothing was known of Chris Ngige. It was practically obvious that Anambrarians had known nothing of true democracy and could not in any way expect the dividend of democracy. The incubent governor had spent a larger chunk of first tenure appeasing his godfather and himself and then used the remaining part to fight his political stumble blocks.
Towards the end of that tenure it became obvious that the incubent was no longer the people's man. So as the next electioneering process began the people prayed to God for a leader and not a ruler.
Throughout the process no one heard the name Ngige until the last few week when he was trown up courtesy of a mischievous godfather.
The rest is now history but the buttom line is that in three years, inspite of all odds, Ngige was able to achieve what his predecessor could not achieve in four years and what his successor could barely achieve in eight years.
He struck the first and last punches that killed godfatherism in Anambra state and even in the warfare with the godfather, he was also busy dishing out the dividends of democracy that the people yearned for.
In the space of three years, Chris Ngige like the bushfire was able to eat his way into the heart of mothers, students, artisans, professionals, sports men and women and many more.
No wonder even long after his ouster as the governor of Anambra state, wherever he goes, people chant 'Ngige kanyi ge sooo, ma onejeje, mo na anana Ngige kanyi ga esooo'---we will follow Ngige whether he is going or coming.
The position in which Ngige past performance lifted him is clearly a threat to the aspirations of other candidates. Where would they begin to contest against a man of such pedigree and antecedents? Some have resorted to trying to buy the peoples conscience with money.
Ngige is not one whose political strategy is throwing money around. He knows that those who spent a fortune in campaigns would spend the first four years trying to recover whatever they have spent and the next four years for aggrandisement.
Other Aspirants know that the peoples love is Ngige's stronghold that is why they think destroying his billboards and posters would cast him from the hearts of the people, not knowing that out of sight is not out of mind.
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