Man’s life on earth is shaped by three major pillars – events, experience and character. Our character defines us while events of life shape our experiences even as experience also influences our character. The Russian novelist and moral philosopher, Leo Tolstoy, captured it succinctly when he said: “There is something stronger and more important than man’s will – the inevitable march of events.”
The appointment of Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah as Minister of Aviation in Nigeria was an event in Nigeria’s political history. Though the era ended on February 12, 2014, through the actions of those who prospered under the old order and couldn’t stand her guts in changing the status quo positively, her footprints across the 22 different airports in Nigeria stands tall for posterity. Though Oduah has been operating in the private sector and doing marvelous works for humanity, the opportunity given to her by President Goodluck Jonathan to drive the vision of the aviation sector showcased the excellence in her to the global world.
When she eventually put her heart into the ring to contest for the senatorial seat of Anambra North on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, her track records spoke for her that the people unanimously echoed that she was their undisputed choice.
But two spectacular things also happened during the electioneering process, which aided her sweet victory. Though Anambra State is controlled by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the party also fielded candidates for the senatorial seats in the state, the state government and the party, APGA, indirectly, aided Oduah to coast home to victory.
On December 28, 2014, the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, while reveling on the successes recorded by his administration since assumption of office on March 17, 2014 announced to the world that his administration had attracted $1.65 investment to the state within eight months in office. Governor Obiano also announced that Princess Oduah has been appointed the head of Anambra State Airport Development Agency for the proposed cargo airport to be sited in Umueri, Anambra State. According to the Governor, Oduah was chosen for the project because of: “her wealth of experience and track record of turning around the country’s aviation industry.”
The announcement was taken to be Obiano’s endorsement of Oduah for the senatorial seat, coming at the heat of campaigns for the general elections. The former PDP governorship candidate in Anambra State, Comrade Tony Nwoye, while speaking during a campaign tour of Princess Oduah to Anambra West communities on January 2, 2015 told people of the area to get ready to vote for PDP because Governor Obiano had already endorsed Princess Oduah for Senate. He told them that the governor knows that Princess Oduah is most qualified and capable of not only delivering on the airport project but also ‘fighting’ for all the interests of Anambra people from Abuja much better than the APGA candidate.
Another factor that worked in favour of Oduah for the senatorial contest was the intimidation by government agents. Her opponents in APGA, in a desperate bid to use government structure to swing votes in their favour ended up losing the votes to Princess Oduah. Dateline was March 23, 2015. Through the instrumentality of the state government, all the primary school teachers in government owned schools in Ogbaru Local Government Area were allegedly summoned to the house of APGA senatorial candidate, Chief Dubem Obaze in Ochuche Umuodu. On a Monday morning, the school pupils were left without teachers for a whole day in a system where the education system is already at the risk of falling.
The teachers were allegedly cajoled, intimidated and threatened with sack, loss of promotion and withholding of their salaries if they failed to vote for the APGA candidate. After hours of harrowing experience, the resultant effect was that the teachers left for their homes angry and decided to revolt. Even those who would have ordinarily voted for Dubem decided to vote for Stella and wait for the consequences.
An insider who was at the meeting disclosed that that the teachers vowed to exercise their franchise without coercion, after all, the Permanent Voters Cards remains their property and any adult has a right to use it as a personal choice.
The teachers, according to our source, said that they expected a passionate appeal from the APGA candidates’ camp and not to intimidate them. This action eventually played against the electoral fortunes of the APGA candidate in the election that at the end, Oduah polled 34, 388 votes in Ogbaru as against the APGA’s 7,747 votes. By this, Governor Obiano and the people of Anambra North really hearkened to the pleas of Robert Schuller, the American clergyman who admonished the people this way: “Choose the best and shun mediocrity. Mediocrity has a way of shriveling up enthusiasm. But commitment to excellence taps an incredible source of energy. Elect the best, no matter the price tag!”
