Anambra At 20: A Dream Betrayed
Posted: September 23, 2011 - 20:11
By Oscar Onwudiwe
On the exact day of the sixth Anniversary of General Babangida’s administration, the good Lord moved him and his policy makers to carve out of an existing Anambra State (since 1976), a land area of 4.416 sq. kilometers to retain the same name “Anambra” as it was derived from a River in the area that is also a tributary of River Niger.

Babangida’s gift was to a people widely recognized for their industry and resourcefulness. A people who at the time had over 85 percent literacy level. A people with the highest number of notable achievers in Africa. A people equally blessed with material resources. Yes! On the 27th of August 1991, hope was born.

There was HOPE that the focus and core goal shall be on a sound philosophy for development. There was HOPE that Anambra shall feed herself and export to her neighbors through a sound program of agriculture; since God in His wisdom made over 80 percent of her land so fertile.

There was HOPE that the over 3000 medical personnel and doctors of Anambra extraction in the U.S.A and over 2,150 in the UK (sustaining the N.H.S) and many others all over the world would be mobilized to think home and contribute (in anyway) their patriotic quota to health care delivery for their kith and kin; for we all agree that Health is Wealth. There was HOPE that drinking water would flow after N680 million was allegedly expended in 1992 (a World Bank Project).

There was HOPE that rural electrification shall be Government business as against community contributions, bribe for light and a tool for political blackmail by the powers that be. There was HOPE that the infrastructure for industrialization would be laid to encourage production, create wealth by boosting employment for the highly skilled and ready to learn youths. There was HOPE for a crime free society.

There was HOPE that Anambra shall out-educate the rest of the states; that her secondary schools would get back the great reputation they had in the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s and even 1980’s. That her children would not only be educated but would also be tutored on the time-honored VALUES that created the numerous notable achievements of the National hero’s from Anambra state.

There was HOPE that Anambra state would have a state Capital that is second to none. There was HOPE that our markets would be modernized with good facilities and proper access roads built for our traders to get to their stores. There was HOPE that development would take priority over politics. After all, the Odumegwu Ojukwu who had the developmental vision that was expressed in his Ayiara declaration is from Anambra state.

The philosopher and the great visionary, Zik of Africa, who gave the economic blueprint that made the Eastern Region, the fastest growing economy in West Africa was from Anambra. The number of whiz kids from Anambra state is uncountable. Cosmos Maduka, who represents the great willpower of “I CAN,” is from Anambra State. The list is endless of people who burst the odds and moved from grass to grace. No, no, no: Anambra is not CURSED, rather she is too BLESSED. God can never forsake the descendants of ERI.

The success of the children of Anambra got to their heads and they became drunk on pride. They forgot the law that says, “if you are not humble, you would stumble”. Just like the rest of Nigeria, Ndi Anambra lost their values but unlike the other Nigerians, they could not manage the after math of that loss. They were unmindful of those who looked at their individual progress with envy. They were two naive to notice that many a time they stimulated the feeling of inadequacy in those who could not understand them; and this included their own weaker sons who were vulnerable to cheap values of unrighteousness.

These weak sons of Anambra were empowered by the enemy and their individual inadequacies to pollute Anambra with profanity. They considered it wise to sow lawlessness and filth and scared away from Anambra, the best brains. Then things fell apart even in the home state of Professor Chinua Achebe. Now Anambra is still scoring the usual “first,” but this time in everything deplorable.

I am an optimist and I know that “all things work together for good.” Our ways are not God’s ways! Anambra truly needs some beating into line. That is why God allowed the worst of us to take over and represent the best of us. They too have a message to deliver. It is not right but it’s okay that the State House of Assembly is as good as not being in place since 2007.

Checks and balances as a doctrine vital to democracy has been given a new meaning and governors now have absolute powers. Nobody talks about what they do with local government funds in their control. It may be acceptable in other cultures, but it is repugnant to justice in Igbo land. Igbos know that absolute power corrupts badly, and they would rather not lead anyone into temptation. Are members of Anambra House of Assembly Igbos? I wonder.

Igbos are different and Ndi Anambra are more different. Their Elohim never meant for them to thrive in unrighteousness. The purpose for the unsolicited creation of Anambra state in 1991 was in resonance with God’s plan. Anambra was to light the candle for others to find their way. Has that been done? Where is the hope to out-educate the rest of Nigeria when government plays politics with education? Is it right that over 747 of the primary schools out of 1,039 lay in shambles, whereas more than N3.5 billion meant for their renovation is left in the bank yielding interest for “God knows who”?




Is it right that for over seven years now no teacher has been employed to teach the children? There are vacancies for 8000 (eight thousand) needed teachers. Yet, it was only a few weeks ago that approval was given for a mere 900 to be employed. How true it is that health is wealth when the fewer than three hundred doctors working in government hospitals have been on strike for over seven months? What do the doctors want that the government cannot give? What attempts are been made to make them feel good and to stimulate that patriotic spirit in them?

It is not right, but it is okay that government cannot provide potable drinking water. We are after all in a Third World country. But how come Anambra sons, including some in government have big and beautiful shopping malls and plazas in Abuja, but the markets in their home land remain worse than they were when Zik built the biggest and most modern market (then) in West Africa in his home land?

In the past, wealth was based on the ownership of material things, but today it is based on knowledge and on the ability to use that knowledge. Singapore is there for us to see. Anambra State has in large quantity such mineral resources as clay and kaolin, pyrite, natural gas and petroleum, sandstone, ironstone, lignite, coal, gypsum, and bentonite.

In agricultural resources, the land is great for maize, rice, yam, yam bean, pigeon pea, cassava, sweet potato, melon, kola, castor oil, palm oil, plantain and banana – just name it. Nobody is talking about all of these and how to use them to attract investors to create wealth and provide employment for our youths. It is better to talk about how the governor fought to become and remain a governor at our 20th anniversary. The core goal is politics, and that is repugnant to development.

I used to think that great leaders were those who develop a compelling vision of the future, then motivate the people to embrace that vision and see it as their own that must be translated into reality. But today, it seems the new philosophy is a focus on image. Image is everything and substance is nothing. We no longer have a vibrant House of Assembly and no think tank.

All we have is some image-driven micro-manager with his praise singers and dogs whose only job is to abuse real or perceived enemies of their boss. We see today the worst case of personification of government. Little wonder that when our children leave school, they must leave the state in search of the proverbial Golden Fleece in other lands.

What qualifies any one to rule Anambra today is simply dependent on the size of his pocket and not the size of his vision, a sense of mission or even a passion to develop his home land. To be called “Your Excellency” is the goal. Here is a clear case of a people perishing for lack of knowledge. There is nowhere in the world that the elite class rule and you find development. To be wealthy, you must be selfish and greedy because is all about profit to self. To rule a people, you must have vision, compassion and totally driven by the spirit for public service and for the common good.

Zik and Okpara did not need to own a brewery or make a lot of noise before establishing one nevertheless a brewery was established and it created jobs. They did not own a cotton mill but they established one. They had the best team of ministers (as commissioners were called in those days). It was not about them, it was about the people. It hurts that most of the notable achievers we still talk about all grew in the era of good values. It is clear therefore that there is a correlation between good values and development.

So any true leader must first recognize that the biggest crisis in Anambra today is not roads, it is not the giving away of computers and buses or building of hospitals for ill-motivated doctors. It is the crisis of values. This calls for an inspiring leader who would stimulate the urge for Ndi Anambra to return to their winning ways. You don’t inspire good people by praising yourself all the time.

It is well and I remain an optimist. Every problem contains the seed of its own solution. If there are no problems there would be no solutions and progress will stop. I shall make no comments about our great elders who grew up and achieved with the aid of the values of selflessness, the values of being your brother’s keeper etc, but today they keep quiet and live outside their home state and watch the nothingness their grandchildren would inherit.

I respect them too much to notice their apathy. As long as they are recognized, it is okay by them. Their fathers never did so. I take solace in the fact that a few like-minds are prepared to ensure that Anambra would be great again. I am one of them. Are you?

2014 is not far away and Anambra must be re-energized with HOPE. Growing old is mandatory – but growing up is optional. Twenty years is enough for Anambra to decide to grow up and play the role designed by God for her. To light that candle is a task that must be done.

To the sons and daughters of Anambra with a sound sense of history, to those with the gift of sober reflection, I say Happy 20th anniversary. The best is yet to come. Hope is a moral imperative.

Onwudiwe is a legal attorney and national co-coordinator of Vanguard for Transformation


http://saharareporters.com/article/anambra-20-dream-betrayed

interesting

When you have a 3rd class graduate of philosophy as governor,how much more can you expect but mediocrity.
Anambra state is a disgrace to it's founding fathers.Peter Obi is an abject failure.