Ex-SSG to battle Gov. Obiano for Anambra Government House seat in 2017

Oseloka Obaze, a former Secretary to the Anambra State Government, has indicated interest in contesting the 2017 governorship election in the State.
Obaze, who served as the SSG between 2012 and 2015, announced this in a statement in Awka on Sunday.
He hails from Anambra North Senatorial District, from where the incumbent, Governor Willie Obiano, also comes from.
Obiano is serving his first term of four years.
Obaze, a retired diplomat, said he was not comfortable with the quality of governance in the state.
He said in the statement: “I am interested in the 2017 governorship race in Anambra. A group of aspirants from different political parties including myself campaigned assiduously and collectively in 2013 to bring the governorship ticket to Anambra North.
“We funded the Let’s go North Campaign and rallied support for the eventual candidate from Anambra North.
“It was supported by former Governor Peter Obi, All Progressives Grand Alliance, members and traditional rulers.
“Anambra is not where it is supposed to be in Nigerian scheme of events, comparatively, the state is still lifting below its weight and potentials.
“Anambra North having secured that mandate must be allowed to complete its two terms.
“But if completing the full tenure is at risk, as many now believe it is, there can be no conscientious objectors to rejoining the fray in order to salvage that Northern mandate and uplift Anambra.”
Obaze promised to bring his 35 years experience at the United Nations and hindsight of having served the state government for four years as secretary to bear in bringing quality governance to the people if elected.
He said: “Hitherto, Anambra had been set on a solid foundation and trajectory to leapfrog ahead of every other Nigerian State, with Lagos perhaps being the only exception.
“We are not there yet, the state had been hijacked and it is presumptuous to believe that we will leapfrog, if we continue on the present course.
“Anambra politics is snappish, but such views are pervasive in the Anambra market places, tricycles, buses, pepper soup joints and indeed the grassroots.
“Those managing Anambra’s image in the media continue to sell the public a dummy, governance via media hype.”
Obaze was a governorship aspirant in the 2013 election in Anambra State, but did not secure the ticket of APGA.