ANAC

ANAC, ATLANTA, USA

In quiet and orderrly forum not very expected of an often emotionally packed debate for a presidential election of an African country, All Nigerian American Congress made history in Atlanta, USA as they hosted the first Presidential debate for Nigerian Presidential election, 2007. The surprise of the day was the aspirant from Imo State an investment banker, attorney and a guru of Nigerian political science, Mr. Godson Nnaka. The candidate who was campaigning in Nigeria until August, 15th, 2006, boarded a flight to the USA to attend the debate before returning to the road in Nigeria. From all accounts and as the exit poll shows, this articulate and laser beam investment banker, had the right statistics and vision for Nigerian at least until the voters in Nigeria can hear from other candidates. This man had a plan for education, corruption, Police failure, Electricity, Technological development and at least he could articulate them correctly. Akeem Bello of Oyo State was also on the mark on many issues, most practical in approach to solutions, but many doubted his ability to deliver, since up to now, he campaign has no significant presence on the ground in Nigeria. He had assembled many leading experts in Police Security, Agriculture, Health, Poverty alleviation programs, many of whom are American based, and his plan is primarily based on energizing the estimated 20-30 million Nigerian residing around the world to begin a biblical style Exodus back to Nigeria and commence a Marshall plan to develop Nigeria and sweep away corruption, bad police ethics and spun technological development. On the alternative he offers a diaspora voting program that would allow him thrust forward without the exodus but the voting will gain him the same result against the Pharaohs of Egypt on the ground in Nigeria. A good idea and an excellent one in that matter, that even the present Olusegun Obasanjo's government has seriously attempted to harness such gains from Nigerians abroad. Recently hosting the Leon Sullivan Foundation in Abuja, Nigeria, sponsoring the Nigerian Diaspora day, to mention just a few. However the skeptical Nigerian crowd, many of whom are De la cream of the Nigerian community and not themselves ignorant of the biblical themes, knows fully well that the Exodus style call was an act of God and are only willing to listen and wait for the plaques that would strike the Pharaohs of Nigerian society. The Corrupt entrenched system, Poverty, Wickedness in High places, Crookedness, lack of Patriotism, dishonesty, lack of apt to compete with the rest of the world, accepted backwardness, bribery, corruption, tribalism and nepotism as a way of life. These are the causes of Nigerian problems and like Pharaohs they are sitting on the throne in every State, City, Capitals in Nigeria. A Moses of God is therefore needed to cause God to inflict the plaques and command LET MY PEOPLE GO. Indeed Akeem Bello has a good program, its divine component would need performed acts of God's to materialize, which indeed is possible, but the group would have to wait on signs from the divine. Lastly but not the least Bolaji Osborne, the Itsekiri native of Delta State, has his whole strategy anchored on generating electricity in abundance for Nigeria as his single focus. Do just that and everything will fall in place, the energetic Delta native, speaking half way through in Nigerian broken English, just like the Edo-Deltan natives can do so well. The power generation program is not a bad idea, indeed its a high priority, however the group could not appreciate his strategy at achieving that goal through primarily nuclear energy, in a country that has not been able to properly organize simple waste disposal system for trash collection, talk more of the complex construction, management and maintenance of nuclear facilities, not to talk about disposal of such nuclear waste. His message was drowned in that ocean of nuclear confusion so to speak.

Many factors are however emerging in this debate and subsequent poll. The South South and South East produced some strong arguments for taking the mantle of leadership, while individual personalities of the likes of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, former Vice President Akhigbe and former Governor of Lagos State Maruwa has strong impressions on many Nigerians. Even in this diaspora group with strong affinity for Southern candidates and younger generation time is now movement, with high southern Nigeria influx into the diaspora, for Maruwa and IBB to poll so high is a testament to either the strong organizational elements already at work or evidence of their impression of some Nigerians in their past regimes. Vice President Atiku Abubakar, seems to have suffered a great deal due to his present disengagement with the present administration, former President Buhari suffered from lack of influence in the diaspora or just the old regime fatigue that IBB have managed to contain so far. Governor Orji Kalu seems to have been undermined by the good showing of Godson Nnaka as the candidate present from the South East, in this strong South East inhabited Atlanta audience. It would be interesting to see how Godson Nnaka, a new articulate South Eastern candidate without a record to defend as a governor matches with Governor Orji Kalu in future debates. Notable showing was the non interested or non declared loyal Economic Crimes Commission head Mallam Ribadu polling at 5%, that speaks a volume of the high price this group attaches to the anti corruption program of the present administration of Olusegun Obasanjo. However, Governor Odili, Pat Utomi and Akhigbe need to advance more into the public light on this journey. Though Akhigbe polled well due a perceived strong cluster of South South Edomites in the Atlanta area, these candidates would need more appearance to make their vision well known. The diaspora is still a far cry from leadership with 70 percent trust in non diaspora candidate. This is a reality check. The action is still on the ground in Nigeria. To win, one must master the reality to include Nigerian factor and making things happen on the ground in Nigeria. To succeed any interested candidate must find the winning formula and strategy on the ground. The question is whether the old dirty business of paying off chairmen of local government leaders can be contained by the cleaner and more arduous process of training younger and mold able compatriots, to help man the ballot boxes and cry fowl when the process go sour. This seems to have worked in few cases in many elections, as a matter of fact, the few non big money successes in previous elections today all happened with candidates who were able to Marshall and energize young compatriots to stand in the gap and fight fist for fist with the cash paying entrenched often corrupt local government officials. The real work that needs to be done, is getting the process clean and fair. There are more than 700 local government areas in Nigeria, many electorates are poorly educated, financially poor, earning less $10 a day, hence easily influenced by money. An army of public citizens defenders would have to be organized to go to work on behalf of honest and fair elections in majority of these local governments. A feat that is difficult but not impossible to pull through. Nigeria is ripe for this, with some international pressure and financial assistance, this can be a reality. The international community need to act now, as a clean Nigerian election would do alot to salvage world economic unrest in oil prices. A few dollars invested in the right steps now, would save us all, a huge headache on our dinner tables tomorrow. The activities of organizations like ANAC is the best step forward right now, this pressure need to start and continue to mount. The USA based ANAC with presence in Abuja Nigeria can rely on its outside American based comfort base to operate without fear of internal reprisal. ANAC knows Nigeria well and has operatives and can put operatives down in every local government quickly. This is just what is needed right now to get this fight for democracy on the go. The candidate needs to be encouraged to step out in faith for fairness and clean elections. If the process is made more difficult to be dishonest, many will invest early in a clean and honest process. Once the weight of investment tilt toward honest and clean election, dirty politics will begin to suffer. That already would be a win for democracy and clean elections.

We at ANAC are keeping the watch, we intend to continue the polls, and keep vigilant on the process. We call on the candidates to partner with us for true development of Nigeria, for clean, honest and corrupt free elections. This we pray by God's grace, Nigeria hope for eradification of crookness, re-instatement of uprightness as a preferred way of life, will be granted us in this dispensation according to God's will.. AMEN, AMEN. AMEN. MORE POWER TO ALL THOSE WHO LOVE UPRIGHTNESS, TRUTH AND EQUITY. LETS HOWEVER KEEP OUR WATCH OVER OUR HOME LAND PERADVENTURE, IT WILL BE GRANTED US AGAIN TO PREDOMINATE AND BRING PROGRESS AGAIN TO SUBSAHARAN AFRICA. AMEM.. AMEN... AMEN.