By Sebastine Okafor, Ph.D.
A few days ago, I saw media reports about the endorsement of a factional candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Enugu State Chapter, by 22 communities in Awkunanaw, and how his supporters were jubilating over it. I was pleased to see that the factional candidate was engaging with some of his people, who had earlier prayed for and endorsed the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) months before.
During the said endorsement, an ọfọ was given to him as a mark of blessing, which he collected as expected. I had to watch the visuals of both events to ascertain whether, in the presentation to both Nkanu sons, there was any issuance of a fake one, but there was none. I also watched the visuals again to ascertain whether it was an endorsement or a prayer, and I found out that the APC candidate was prayed for and received an endorsement, while the factional NDC candidate only received prayers.
Just as the Igbo adage says, “Anụ bụ ụzọ, na aṅụ mmiri ọma”. Going by that, the first candidate has already taken the blessings, while others that will follow are just mere portions that they will enjoy.
So, for all the noise about endorsement, there was nothing like that. It was a mere prayer, and many more of such will still come before the election. If you beckon on them, they will answer, just as churches will also and always do when anyone comes to them. They will welcome, accept and bless the person, and he goes.
While we are working for a better Enugu State through a viable opposition, it is also important that we do not sideline the principles of justice and democracy because one of the least things expected of a leader is to be just and fair to all. I wonder how someone who never emerged through any primary election would want to lead Enugu State. Tomorrow, if the court sacks him, we will start shouting, “Democracy on fire.”
No matter how you see it, there was no primary election conducted in Enugu State that produced him as a candidate. Since the matter is already before the court, I will refrain from delving deeper into the legal questions. It is, however, only a matter of time before the courts pronounce on the dispute.
So, prayers by the Awkunanaw clan do not mean endorsement. They are simply a request for divine intervention and blessings. We should therefore be careful not to turn every prayer into political endorsement simply because it suits our preferred narrative.
Politics is about people, but it is also about rules, fairness and due process. If we genuinely desire a better Enugu State and a stronger opposition, then we must be willing to defend democratic principles even when they do not favour our side. We cannot condemn injustice today and celebrate the same injustice tomorrow because it benefits us. The people deserve leaders who emerge through a process that is transparent, credible and acceptable to the law.
The court is already handling the matter, and I believe that justice will ultimately prevail. Until then, political supporters should reduce the noise, allow the legal process to take its course and stop presenting ordinary prayers as though they were formal political endorsements. The people of Enugu deserve clarity, not confusion.