By Ultimate news
The love of a people for a ‘good’ man especially someone seen as incorruptible in political office can on several occasions, contrive assertions on him especially when a new political dispensation is being awaited.
Such situation sees the personality given unauthorised publicity to either stir the polity in anticipation or cause political rumpus to either heat the polity or create unfathomed suspense.
Posters of such persons’ intended or imagined political aspiration adorn initially, major towns and cities and depending on the reaction of the personality involved, such posters are withdrawn from public view or impetuously, gain access to smaller enclaves and streets.
His Excellency, Sen. Anyim Puis Anyim, Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) finds himself presently in this situation. The erudite, ebullient former Senate President and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, is loved by many across the country for his selfless service to his state, Ebonyi, Nigeria as whole and the international community. A man of high integrity, credited with empowering several youths and people from various strata of the society. This is not withstanding their various demographic distributions. He is a firm believer in one Nigeria.
The country is presently facing its biggest socio-economic travails. As is the norm in politics, a new dispensation, like the fabled quote of George Elliot in his iconoclastic literary work: ‘Silas Marner’, brings forth hope and forward-looking thoughts’.
Nigerians, who are already disillusioned with recent events, are already looking towards 2023 for the ray of salvation. Individuals who can perform the desired magic and re-set the country on the path of greatness have started to be projected. Posters with or without authorisation of the perceived aspirants are beginning to adorn available spaces. Throats now thirst for May 29 or June 12, 2023.
His Excellency, Anyim Pius Anyim finds himself in this befuddled situation. Posters of his anticipated presidential bid have been seen on the social media among other outlets. With the researches conducted by this correspondent, Anyim has openly disclaimed such posters.
A rebuttal from the bulldozing Iroko of Igbo land asserts that “my attention has been drawn to posters and stories circulating on the social media with one of them having the inscription of “Progress 2023…..Anyim Pius Anyim for President’ with my pictures on it”.
“I want to state very emphatically that I do not have a hand in those posters or campaign and did not authorise any such publications,” he said.
The distinguished former Senate President who assiduously led the red chambers on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from August 2000 to May 2003 and served the nation meritoriously as SGF from May 2011 to May 2015, said that as a law abiding citizen, he was fully aware that the present period was not for campaign towards the 2023 general elections.
“The government at the federal level has spent two years out of a four year term and is grappling with issues of governance. It should therefore, not be distracted,” he said.
Anyim in the public notice, enjoined the public to disregard such posters and publications as they were not from him.
Political watchers however view that the good people should start showing interest presently to ensure that Nigerians do not repeat the mistakes of the past while having the opportunity to pick the restorer.
Caleb Ogbonna, a political bigwig from Ebonyi notes that the Anyim who was the first democratically elected senator of Ebonyi South senatorial zone since the state’s creation should see the ‘poster antic’ as a clarion sign or call for him to serve.
“In this period when the clamour for the Igbo presidency is gaining supersonic momentum, prominent Igbo sons should start demonstrating the biblical submission of ‘whom shall we send’ and answer in the greater interest of the people, ‘Father, send me’.
With his achievements in politics nationally from 1999 and the rallying point he had continued to be for opinion moulders, leaders, youths , technocrats, economists, politicians among others in various segments of the society, Pius Anyim is eminently qualified to answer the ‘father send me call’.
And as the iconoclastic novelist, Samuel Coleridge wrote, “Anticipation is more potent than surprise”.
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