Peter I Know, Paul I Know, But Who Is Chima Anyaso In Bende? Even The Devil Is Asking – By  Chetachi O. Nnaji (PART 2)

Peter I Know, Paul I Know, But Who Is Chima Anyaso In Bende? Even The Devil Is Asking – By  Chetachi O. Nnaji (PART 2)

Face Your Opponent. Leave Gov. Otti and OUK’s Tailcoats Alone.

A candidate cannot permanently campaign through the political identity of other people, because at some point, the candidate must step forward and say: “This is me.” And the truth is, Bende wants to know you.

Who is Chima Anyaso? I prefer he starts by introducing himself, before we help you do that with references of the spectacle we have viewed you from 2018 till date.

Chima Anyaso does not need Alex Otti to introduce him to Bende. He does not need OUK to introduce him to Bende. He does not need anybody else to fight his political battle for him. He needs to introduce himself.

Tell Bende who you are.
Tell Bende what you have achieved.
Tell Bende what you understand.
Tell Bende what you intend to build.
Tell Bende why you deserve the mandate.
And then, most importantly, demonstrate why you are better equipped to represent the people than the man currently occupying the seat. That is how a serious candidate makes his case.

Borrowed political battles may generate headlines, but they do not constitute a manifesto. Borrowed names may generate attention, but they do not constitute capacity. Borrowed influence may open doors, but it does not automatically earn a mandate. The people of Bende will ultimately have to decide, and the question of Governor Otti remains.

It is particularly difficult to understand the obsession with bringing Governor Alex Otti into a contest that has nothing to do with who will occupy the Abia State Government House. Governor Otti has his own political responsibilities, same way other politicians have their own elections to contest, and Bende has its own choice to make.

So why should Chima Anyaso continue trying to make Benjamin Kalu’s relationship with Governor Otti the centerpiece of his campaign?

If the argument is that Benjamin Kalu once opposed a particular political arrangement in Abia, then the question remains: what does that have to do with Chima Anyaso’s capacity to represent Bende in the National Assembly? Nothing.

The people of Bende are not electing a governor through the House of Representatives. They are electing a representative. They need someone who can legislate. Someone who can provide effective oversight, Someone who can attract development, Someone who can speak for them, Someone who can negotiate for them. Someone who can understand the machinery of government and use it to advance the interests of the constituency. That is the standard.

FACE YOUR OPPONENT.

Chima Anyaso and Benjamin Kalu are the two men seeking the attention and mandate of Bende voters, so, let the contest be between them. If Chima believes Benjamin Kalu has failed, show Bende the evidence. If he believes Benjamin Kalu has underperformed, show Bende the gaps. If he believes he is more capable, show Bende the capacity. If he believes he has a better vision, show Bende the vision. If he believes he deserves the seat, make the case to Bende. That is democracy, that is politics and that is the standard every candidate should be prepared to meet. There is no need to summon every political heavyweight in Abia into a contest for one federal constituency. FACE YOUR OPPONENTS.

Or have you forgotten how you used same OUK’s properties to secure huge loans from banks and it ended in courts, and all you said about him and the money? In your words “OUK likes telling people he made me, but I don’t owe him a shishi”, “I brought business for us to do, he didn’t make me“, do you remember those words? Today you hire writers to denigrate Benjamin Kalu by referencing events you know you are of no clean hands. We know Benjamin and how he started, and we know that he was a man in his full rights before knowing OUK, so yes OUK met him contesting elections not as a man seeking to be made by him. On the contrary, who knew you before you came for the hand of the daughter in marriage (targeting economic benefit as usual)? Using the man’s properties to secure loans only to turn around and join his enemies to fight him, that’s why they say “Never bite the hand that feeds you.” You have bit it many times, and see where it’s landed you. You think we forgot? Have you stopped using your in-laws properties to secure loans till date? We will ask the late Authur Nzeribe family, especially the daughter in Ghana and visit the courts where the matters are currently. This has been your known pattern and it won’t be long they will understand your gimmicks and the usual will happen for the third time.

So, Chima, Mr. Hilux Climber, let Governor Otti face the political battles that belong to Governor Otti. Let OUK face the political battles that belong to OUK. Let every politician fight his own fight, and let Chima Anyaso fight for Bende, because ultimately, the people are not voting for Otti.

They are not voting for OUK. They are not voting for anybody’s political tailcoat. They are voting for the person they believe can best represent them. So, after all the names have been introduced, after all the political alliances have been referenced, after all the attacks have been published, one question remains:

Peter I know. Paul I know. But who is Chima Anyaso in Bende? Even the Devil is asking.

Even the question seems to be asking for an answer; Introduce yourself. Present your record. Present your agenda. Present your capacity, and face Benjamin Kalu. Because this is Ndi Bende’s election. Not Otti’s. Not OUK’s, but for BENDE.

Leave the tailcoat alone.

Chetachi O. Nnaji
Bende Forward Initiative.