By David Onwuchekwa
The ongoing campaign of calumny in Anambra State ahead of the November 8 governorship election is not only shameful but also a dangerous distraction from the real issues that matter to the people.
Instead of presenting concrete solutions, political actors and their attack dogs have reduced the campaign into a marketplace of insults and mudslinging. This descent into pettiness is an insult to Ndi Anambra, who deserve more from those seeking their mandate.
At a time when residents expect candidates to speak on how to fix roads riddled with potholes, how to equip hospitals and health centres, how to strengthen the education system, and how to tackle the unbearable rise in the cost of living, what they are being served instead is a bitter diet of accusations, counter-accusations, and name-calling. This is not politics of progress; it is politics of destruction.
The electorate are not fooled. They can see clearly that those who resort to character assassination do so because they lack clear programmes and practical ideas.
Ndi Anambra are politically sophisticated; they want to hear how each candidate intends to lower the tax burden on traders, support small businesses, expand social welfare, and create an environment where the economy can thrive. They are not interested in who can throw the dirtiest insult or coin the sharpest abuse.
It is a betrayal of trust when political gladiators and their handlers squander precious campaign time on calumny instead of giving hope through policy direction. Such antics only expose desperation and fear of genuine debate on developmental issues. What is at stake in this election is too important for Anambra to be dragged into the gutter by reckless talk.
Anambra is not a backward State where propaganda easily overshadows reality. This is a land of thinkers, entrepreneurs, scholars, and critical minds.
Any candidate who believes they can win votes through slander rather than substance should think again. The people are watching closely. They are weighing the conduct, the message, and the vision each contender is bringing to the table.
If the political class must be reminded: Ndi Anambra do not expect saints, but they expect decency, seriousness, and a sense of responsibility.
Campaigns should be about how to repair the broken roads in Ihiala and Aguata, how to address flooding in Onitsha, Ogbaru and so on, how to tackle insecurity in rural communities, and how to revive industries in Nnewi and other parts of the State. These are the burning issues that touch the daily lives of the people.
Those who fail to address them are only exposing their emptiness. History will judge such politicians harshly, because they chose to drag the State backward at a critical moment when bold ideas and purposeful leadership are most needed.
The campaign of calumny must stop. It demeans the political process and insults the intelligence of Ndi Anambra. The people deserve issue-based campaigns anchored on development, welfare, and justice. Anything short of this is a mockery of democracy.
The verdict of the people on November 8 will not only be about who wins or loses. It will also be a judgment on how the campaign was conducted. Those who play dirty today may find that Anambra voters are too wise to reward indecency tomorrow.
