Anambra’s commendable developmental strides

 

The new Anambra State has come of age. It was carved out of the old Anambra State in 1991. And its history is chequered. It has witnessed both development and retrogression in diverse areas of development. And since the dawn of the fourth republic, save for Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju’s inglorious stay in office as the Anambra State governor, political leaders with political dexterity, sagacity and leadership qualities had taken turns to govern the state. And, expectedly they lived up to our expectations as they executed people-oriented policies and deeds that had positive impact on the Anambra state citizenry.

 

As the slogan of state is ‘the light of the nation’, they worked assiduously to make the state a pace setter in diverse areas. Anambra State’s slogan, which is “The light of the nation”, is a befitting slogan for the state given that the state has produced individuals who are pace setters and torch bearers in their various undertakings and careers. Is Anambra State not the home state of Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the freedom fighter and pan-Africanist; Chinua Achebe, the inimitable novelist of world acclaim, and father of modern African literature; and Chief Emeka Anyoku, the former common -wealth secretary general? And the winner of the 2015 maiden edition of the Nigerian maltina teacher of the year is Mrs. Rose Nkem Obi, who is a native of Agulu, Anambra State.

 

A state that teems with achievers of global fame is deserving of good and purposeful leadership. But we cannot gain say the fact that some past governors of Anambra State did well in diverse areas of development. Dr. Chris Ngige’s praxis in road construction and rehabilitation is laudable. But he was ousted from office via electoral litigation by Mr. Peter Obi, a prudent manager of financial resources. It was he that revamped and re-positioned our educational system by donating classroom blocks, computers, and buses to post-primary schools in the state. More importantly, he improved teachers’ welfare and facilitated the return of schools to churches for their effective management.

 

His successor, Dr. Wily Obiano, is consolidating on his performance; and he is offering us qualitative and purposeful political leadership. A sagacious and competent political leader, Obiano’s performance, so far, as our governor, has surpassed our expectations. But his success in office is attributable to the fact that he is familiar and well-acquainted with Anambra State’s multi-faceted problems and developmental challenges. Not surprisingly, he came into office with pragmatic programme of action on how to tackle Anambra’s problems and engender sustainable economic development in the state.

 

Not being unaware that the security of lives and property is linked to development, he mapped out strategies on how to rid the state of armed robbers, kidnappers and pickpockets. Little wonder, the first summit that was held in the state by his administration was on security.  Today, he has successfully put armed robbers and kidnappers, who used to terrorize us, to flight. And some of the buildings in which they always kept kidnap victims were demolished. Onitsha, especially the Upper Iweka area, which gained notoriety for being the haven of criminals, is now safe and destitute of undesirable elements.

 

As the absence of anarchic situation is a sin qua non for growth and the booming of economic activities in a state, investors, industrialists, and other business men have relocated to Anambra State. And they set up businesses and industries, which employed people.

 

Is Anambra State not on the rise, especially regarding the state’s giant strides in the areas of economic growth and infrastructural development? Governor Obiano built fly-over and pedestrian bridges in the state capital to ease vehicular and human traffic as the capital city used to be clogged up with vehicles during peak hours. More so, he repaired bad roads and constructed new ones since he is not unaware that motorable thoroughfares open up a state foe rapid industrialization and economic development. Now, we cruise in our cars on well-asphalted roads to our destinations.

 

Again, Governor Wily Obiano has been encouraging the Anambra people to embrace agriculture. The dip in global oil prices, which devastated our national economy, has underscored the need for us to diversify our economy. So, oftentimes, in order to boost their farming activities, Governor Obiano   gives rice farmers and other farmers in the state financial and material incentives. He has rekindled our interest in farming, again. And, yearly, during the yuletide season, bags of rice that are bought from rural farmers in the state are given as gifts to civil servants in the state’s employ.  More so, the state, which is engaged in mechanized farming and cultivation of vegetables, is exporting fluted pumpkin, spinach, and other vegetables to foreign countries. Anambra’s exportation of its farm produce to foreign countries has boosted and increased exponentially the revenue accruable into the state’s coffers.

 

Now, while over 27 states in Nigeria are insolvent, Anambra state government meets its financial obligations to its workers and even embarks on massive infrastructural development of the state. Anambra people owe the solvency of the state and its rapid development to the foresight and visionary leadership of Governor Willy Obiano. And Governor Obiano’s prudent husbandry of our financial resources has continued to keep our state in fine fettle, as to finance.

 

Governor Willy Obiano’s developmental strides cover diverse areas, ranging from agriculture to health, and to education. He has continued to lend support to schools in the state. So, expectedly, Anambra State record astounding and stellar performances in such examinations as NECO and SSEC, yearly.

 

More so, our modish and amiable governor Wily Obiano hasn’t neglected the health sector for he is well-acquainted with this axiomatic saying, “health is wealth”. And that’s why he did not hesitate to approve the free glaucoma eye-screening exercise for civil servants in the state. The idea of screening the eyes of civil servants for the detection of diseases in them was mooted by Dr. Mrs. Agatha Ifeoma Muoka, the most senior optometrist in the state ministry of health. Those diagnosed as having eye-problems were given free treatment and referred to hospitals for further therapy.

 

Dr. Mrs. Ifeoma Agatha Muoka superintended over the eye-screening exercise. The workers’ good eyesight is pivotal to the performance of their duties. Still in the area of health, the state government has been partnering with private organizations to refurbish hospitals and equip them with diagnostic and therapeutic equipment for efficient health-care delivery system.

 

Chiedu Uche Okoye