Mr Governor, keep your advice for yourself

There is a fundamental difference between advising the electorate and attempting to frighten them into political compliance. When Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo reportedly warns Ndi Anambra that “there are consequences for failure” if they vote against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, he raises a troubling question about the relationship between democratic choice, federal cooperation and the dignity of the electorate.

Mr Governor, with due respect, keep that advice for yourself. Ndi Anambra are sufficiently informed, politically conscious and capable of making their own choices. They do not need to be intimidated into believing that their political future depends on voting for a particular presidential candidate or political party.

Anambra is a state with a proud history of enterprise, education, intellectual independence and political awareness. Its people are traders, professionals, academics, entrepreneurs, civil servants and farmers who understand the realities of governance. They know that politics involves negotiation, alliances and competing interests. They also understand that an election is not a transaction in which citizens surrender their constitutional rights in exchange for roads, erosion control or other public infrastructure.

The governor’s argument appears to rest on a practical consideration: Anambra needs federal cooperation to address enormous challenges, particularly devastating erosion, deteriorating infrastructure and major road projects that exceed the state’s financial capacity. This is a legitimate concern. No responsible person would dispute the importance of cooperation between the federal and state governments. However, the need for cooperation must never be confused with a demand for political obedience.

The Federal Government is not a private organisation distributing favours to loyal customers. It is a government funded by public resources and entrusted with responsibilities to Nigerians across the federation. Anambra citizens are Nigerians. Their entitlement to fair consideration in national development cannot reasonably depend on whether they vote for the party occupying the presidential seat.

If federal cooperation is essential for controlling erosion that threatens homes, roads, businesses and entire communities, then that intervention should be pursued through evidence, negotiation, proper planning and responsible administration. The same applies to strategic highways and other critical infrastructure. These are matters of public necessity, not prizes to be awarded for electoral loyalty.

Would it be reasonable to suggest that citizens of a state should risk their democratic independence because their governor fears that choosing a different presidential candidate might complicate negotiations with Abuja? Surely, a governor elected to represent the people should be confident enough to negotiate firmly with the Federal Government, regardless of the electorate’s presidential preference.

Moreover, Ndi Anambra are capable of evaluating President Tinubu’s record for themselves. They can examine economic conditions, inflation, employment, security, infrastructure, the cost of living and the overall direction of national development. They can equally consider the merits and shortcomings of alternative candidates when the time comes. Their decision should emerge from their own assessment of the evidence, their interests and their hopes for Nigeria. They do not need anyone to make that decision for them.

Democracy means that citizens retain the freedom to disagree with their leaders without fearing that their state will be disadvantaged for exercising that freedom. A governor’s responsibility is not merely to secure political access to Abuja; it is to defend the interests of the people who entrusted him with power. That includes advocating for Anambra even when its citizens make choices that differ from his own.

Mr Governor, Ndi Anambra are not political children waiting to be instructed on whom to support. They are citizens of a constitutional democracy, with the right to think independently, ask difficult questions and vote according to their conscience. Your responsibility is to present your arguments, demonstrate the benefits of your preferred political approach and allow the people to decide. Their responsibility is to evaluate the options and cast their votes freely.

So, Mr Governor, keep pursuing federal cooperation, and building bridges with Abuja. Negotiate for erosion control, roads, security, jobs and economic development. Those are legitimate duties of your office. But when it comes to telling Ndi Anambra how to vote, keep your advice for yourself.

Ndi Anambra are informed enough to make their own choices. And whatever choice they make in 2027, their dignity, constitutional rights and entitlement to fair treatment as Nigerian citizens must remain intact. Anambra belongs to its people not to any political party, governor or president.
 

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