By Mimi Chiadikobi
Prof. Godwin Onu, Department of Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has congratulated the founding Fathers of Anambra as a State 33 years ago.
Onu, who responded to the opinion search of some journalists who sought for residents views as the state marks 33 years of its creation in Awka.
He said that the state has tried but was expected to have been better than it is if the political leaders had put in great interest in its developments than lip services paid to the state since creation.
“I want to see Anambra as industrial hub of the nation to be much better than it is, Anambra as the commercial centre of Nigeria desired more than what it has today.
“I want to see leaders who uses public funds at their disposal to create developmental infrastructures to boost business and create wealth for the citizenry.
“Anambra at 37 years should be flaunting quality roads network, security tightness,health care services to shun medical tourism, enabling educational environment across the senatorial zones,”Onu said.
The traditional Ruler of Awkeze,Anaocha Local Government Area(LGA), Igwe Chris Okpala, said that at 33 years the state has fairly done well.
He urged citizens to always partner the government to achieve their desired goals for the people of the state especially in areas of improved security watch to check mate the rise in kidnapping in the state.
Okpala urged the people to engage in acts that would promote peace and unit of purpose to achieve total sense of direction in the political will of the people , cultural values and religious principles that will be change agent.
“We need to understand the polity of the state to be able to direct our youths properly in areas of respect for tradition and values identified with Igbo’s as a race which is diligence and hardworking.
“We need to encourage activities to promotes our beliefs like local marriage ceremonies which supports brotherhood and all these brings in development but if such tradition are done outside the state it creates room for poor development,” Okpala said.
Mr Godwin Ezeemo, Philanthropist and industrialist celebrated the different roles played by the former Governors of the state since its creation out of old Enugu state on August 27, 1991 till date.
Ezeemo said that all the governors did their best to place Anambra to its present status in areas of education , road network, hospitals especially in rural areas.
“I am happy that we are moving up to greater heights, I congratulates former political leaders which includes the late Dr.Chukwuemeka Ezife,Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju.
Also Dr. Chris Ngige, Mr. Peter Obi, Chief Willie Obiano and now, Professor Chukwuma Soludo who is in charge of the affairs of the state and pray he sustains and over shoots the ladder of the past leaders to place the state on a map of steady progress.
He noted that previous governor’s played momentous roles in the development of the state that saw it to what it is currently that made the people proud to be Anambra citizens.
Ezeemo noted that Mbadinuju administration laid so many solid foundations like the construction of the State House of Assembly, Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre among others.
He said that Ngige’s administration focused more on road constructions and payment of workers salaries and opened eyes of the citizens to seek for good governance among others dividend of democracy.
Ezeemo said that Obi’s administration identity was Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS) which he used to lay many signature projects in the state.
He listed the projects to include the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Igbariam, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Amaku Awka, building of primary healthcare centres across virtually all the communities in the state as well as other projects.
Also he commended Obiano for the building of the Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri, International Conference Centre Awka, establishment of the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) among other legacy projects all the governors were unique.
Ezeemo said that Prof Charles Soludo’s administration within its two years has equally made a significant progress in road constructions, health care services, education among others, saying that Anambra has been blessed with focused and Committee leaders.
He said that never the less there are still rooms to fill in areas of youths developments and cultural promotions so that the key values are sustaining for the youths to build on for a greater Anambra.
“ Leadership is a continuum where areas of primary and secondary education, science and technology, industrialisation and political stability will be achieved.
“Present government need to pay more attention in the areas of security, as adequate security is the only thing that will bring in more investors in the state and prayed for the government and good people of Anambra state to keep soaring higher.
Mrs Patricia Anagor, a retired teacher urges the government to be more intentional in creating basic amenities in rural areas of the councils of the state.
Anagor said that citizens that dwells on rural areas were yet to enjoy basic amenities educational block room classes, libraries, functional health centres, recreation centres amongst others.
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