DESIGNS AND PRINTING BONANZA !

UMUOJI LAGOS EMPOWERS THEIR WOMEN

The effort of Umuoji Improvement Union to improve the welfare of their women by setting up a skills acquisition center has started yielding results. On Sunday, November 17, 2013, the centre known as Umuoji Improvement Union’ Institute of Transformation celebrated the graduation of its first set of nineteen students.

While delivering an address at the graduation ceremony which took place at Umuoji Civic Centre, Olodi Apapa –Lagos, the president of Umuoji Improvement Union, Women Wing, Lagos, Mrs. Franca Akana, said that the idea of setting up the institution was borne out of the need to improve the lives of their women by equipping them with vocational skills in different fields of endeavor. She charged the nineteen graduating students out of the initial twenty-six that started the program a year ago to put their skills to work. “Go forth and excel’ she said. “Remember that the footnote on your certificates says ‘go for gold and be your own boss’”.

The institution offers graduates training in catering and hotel management, soap and laundry agents production, cake and pastries, events management and interior décor, home management, dress making, nylon making, among others. The graduates were empowered with working tools like Nylon making machines, Ovens, Deep Freezers, Micro Wave etc, others received cash gifts to assist them in their businesses. \

Also, the President of the Umuoji Improvement Union, Lagos branch, Hon. Nonso Ekpunobi, who doubled as the Chairman of the event and Special Guest of Honour, noted that the idea of the institute is in line with the federal government’s transformation agenda for Nigerian women. He said that the program is open to all women of all professions who may still want to acquire additional skills and training. “Put pride aside” he urged the women. “Avail yourselves the opportunity provided by the institute to enhance your potentials”.

He encouraged the Union to always think positively and continue to touch the lives of their women as this is one of the cardinal reasons for forming the Union. He assured them that the men will continue to support them whenever the need arises.

In her speech, the President of the Catholic Women Organisation, St Leo Catholic Church, Ikeja, Princess Sinatra Olu, who attended the occasion, advised women to take adequate advantage of the institution, acquire the necessary skills and be equipped to always support their husbands. She said that the vision is exemplary and noted that Umuoji is the first town to execute such program for her women. The union also used the occasion to give bags of food items and cloths to the widows amongst them.

Nigerian family cries out

By ROMANUS OKOYE

Right now, a thick mixture of agony and anger pervades the atmosphere in Anam, a community in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State. Residents of the community are sad and angry, alleging that their promising son, Godswill Udechukwu, was unjustly persecuted and killed by the Irish authorities in an Irish jail. And Godswill’s family insists that the Irish government must be forced to bring the killers of the young man to book.


 Godswill Udechukwu, a 32-year-old Nigerian, had left the shores of his fatherland and relocated to Europe in search of the proverbial greener pastures. He settled in Dublin, Ireland. There he met, fell in love with and got married to Natasha Gray, a 25-year-old Jamaican. And their marriage was blessed with a male child.

Although Natasha was said to have had a child for one Guy Mboze, that did not matter, as the new couple had an understanding about the older child. But like a mountain of quicksand, the family’s peace and love crashed. Godswill was, at a point, was given a suspended sentence for allegedly assaulting a Garda (Irish policeman). He later decided, along with his wife, to relocate from Dublin to London, to avoid more encounters with the law. He went ahead to London, while the wife was to join him later. Then a mysterious incident happened. Natasha was on February 18, 2003 found dead in their apartment at Royal Canal View, Royal Canal Bank, Philsboro, Dublin, according a police report. And Godswill was accused of being responsible.

In August 2005, Godswill was extradited from London to face trial. He was accused of using a hammer to bludgeon his wife to death. He was tried, convicted and given a life jail by Mr. Justice Kevin O’Higgins of the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. He has since died in prison. He told the court during his trial that he was not in Ireland as at the time of the incident. “Check the border post and the surveillance cameras,” he had requested. But the prosecution went on. And as he was convicted, he told the court: “I did not kill my wife. You would have seen my wedding video. I am innocent. I am jailed tonight because I am an African and I am a black.” But all that did not change the verdict.

Hon. Kennedy Mmoya, who spoke for the family, said from that moment, Godswill was tortured, harassed like an ordinary animal. “In fact, he was treated like a convict as soon as he was in the custody of Ireland. His grandmother died of shock and his own mother lost her sight when they heard of his imprisonment. Now he is dead too,” he lamented. Udechukwu’s family alleges that a lawyer, who was supposed to defend him, never discussed with Godswill, ignored phone calls and did not take time to study the book of evidence prepared against Godswill, even though he had been adequately advised to do so by the presiding judge. Both lawyer and client only met in court, according to the family. The family also said that Godswill was not allowed to contact the Nigerian embassy in Ireland.

Also, they faulted the composition of an all-white jury in a trial, involving a black man. They said none of the family members was allowed access to Godswill throughout that period, stating that one of them that landed in Ireland after a rigorous process of procuring travel documents was detained and sent back to Nigeria. The family insists that Godswill was kept in a deplorable underground cell and denied access to recommended drugs and meal until his health failed and he was taken to one ‘hostile’ hospital.

According to Godwill’s family, many members of the hospital staff were Natasha’s friends and that the hospital staff and management contributed towards Natasha’s funeral. Many of the doctors and other staff of the hospital, they noted, were not happy with Godswill, believing that he murdered their friend. The family believes that all those involved with the couple in one way or another should have been investigated, even as they insist that the police should have investigated the incident more, including using CCTV footages, DNA and forensic examination of all the materials found at the couple’s apartment.

The family has also expressed shock at a section of the Irish press that did not care to report objective stories, saying the reports misled the public and might have influenced the jury’s final verdict. The family says even the prison officials also manipulated Godwill’s drugs and meals. “Even when he took ill, they refused to take him to the hospital until the other inmates in the prison raised an overwhelming commotion. Sometimes, he was made to sign withdrawals from his prison account without justification. He was attacked and stabbed twice in prison, an act we suspect might have been engineered by those who killed his wife and also bent on getting him out of the way.” For these reasons, the family says the Irish authorities have a case to answer. “They gave Godswill a very unfair trial and conviction, and they manhandled him,” they insist.

The family’s demands include, among others, the re-composition of the jury, which must consist of blacks, and the re-trial of the murder case “even if on post-mortem with an attorney of our choice,” and an independent autopsy to find out the circumstances, surrounding his death.

They also insist that the CCTV footage of Udechukwu’s attack in prison must be produced by the prison officials to identify the attackers with a view to finding out their sponsors. The family wants a representative of Mr. Godswill Udechukwu’s family in Nigeria to be allowed to visit Mount Joy Prison and the hospital where he died.

They are also demanding that, while in Dublin, the family of Udechukwu must be given unrestricted access to his son, Jaydeen Godswill Junior. And finally, the family are demanding that the Irish Government should pay the full cost of atonement as well as bear the expenses of conveying the remains of the deceased to Nigeria.

ANAMBRA COMMUNITY IN RUINS

• As River Niger continues to unleash its fury… • Residents weep over loss of ancestral homes, farmlands, shrines • ‘We no longer have a place to bury our dead’

By ROMANUS OKOYE

At the moment, Anam people in Anambra State have every cause to lament. Their community is still buried beneath the rampaging floodwater from the angry River Niger that has been ravaging the land with unprecedented fury.

Everyone in the community – men, women and children – are now refugees in foreign lands where they have been cast out like fish out of water, left to rue the disaster that has left them completely in ruins. The older ones among them recall that the last time a near similar disaster devastated their land was in 1969. Then there was heavy flooding that washed away farmlands and crops in the fields. It also affected some residential buildings and disrupted social and economic life of the people in the interim.

But the present overflow of the River Niger, which has summarily sacked many communities, living along its bank, is simply incomparable. The community says never in its history has anyone witnessed such a colossal loss occasioned by the disaster. It is serious and its consequences would soon break on the entire state since the area is considered the food basket of the state.

The Anam people are counting their losses, which are unarguably many. They say the community’s many shrines and the deities that occupy the altars have all been washed deep into the wide, wide River Niger, leaving the bewildered residents wondering if there is anything left of their perceived powers. More than that, the floodwater has left them not even a single portion where they could bury their dead so that the departed could have their deserved rest among the ancestors. So, many people in the area and adjoining communities are downcast, suppressed by the enormous weight of the deluge that has left their once bubbling land desolate.

But a young man identified as Alex Chinedu is having a sad reflection on the loss of his people, which he said was total. “My people have lost everything, their entire means of livelihood – everything we had laboured for all our lives,” he lamented tearfully. “You can’t imagine that people who for many years have been living in their homes and supplying food to others are now the ones living in refugee camps and begging for food; this flooding is simply a catastrophe.” Chinedu, an indigene of Anam resides in Lagos. He rushed home when news broke that his community and the entire Anambra West had gone under water, as the roaring floods had sent the people packing, damaging valuable economic and personal property. He wanted to see things for himself. He told Daily Sun that he was shocked to see that his ancestral home had simply vanished.

“Right now, everyone is struggling to gather the bits and pieces of their lives,” he said as he reflected on the magnitude of the disaster. Chinedu’s current posture mirrors the mood of every Anamite (as the people of Anam proudly call themselves) both at home and abroad. A distraught man in his late fifties told Daily Sun as he soliloquised: “Truly, this is not the best of times for our people and everyone in Anambra West.” Then like a man truly under torment, he roared in anguish “What! With this ugly situation, trouble has come. Hunger is right here. It is just at the doorsteps. Our people, until now, were the suppliers of food to the entire Anambra State. But now, we have become refugees in other lands. This flood has turned us into dependants. This flood has left us bewildered. It has destroyed our farmlands, economic trees, houses – everything that we laboured to build in the recent and distant past.

Indeed, our future is bleak; only God will help us.” Ordinarily, most places in Anambra West, also called Mmbamili, experience flooding yearly between the months of August and November. But this year’s flood came earlier than the normal time. Ironically, the floods used to be a blessing for the people of Anam because in the past, it used to leave rich deposits of alluvial soil, which makes the land fertile for agriculture. Besides, each time the floods arrived, they brought with them all manner of fish which the fishermen sold for huge profit.

But now the entire picture is different. Those who have good memories say it was only in 1969 that flooding of this year’s magnitude happened. But it could not be compared to the level of disaster that has sent the people into refugee camps at General Hospital, Umueri, Unity primary school, Umuoba Anam, Father Joseph Secondary School, Aguleri and Holy Trinity, Onitsha.

Ironically, while some people are bemoaning the loss of their means of livelihood, some are equipping themselves for a bumper fish harvest by the time the floods start to recede. Hunters in the area are also having a field day, the reporter learnt. They are busy counting their blessings as animals displaced by the flood are virtually walking into the hunters’ hands. But a widow who painted a more pathetic picture of the woes of the Anam people said: “The situation is so bad now that it may be difficult to find dry land to bury any dead bodies should deaths begin to occur.” Meanwhile, all the churches and schools in communities in Anambra West Local Government area, including Onono, Umuikwu, Umudora, Aniachalla, Oroma Etiti, Ukpo, Umuenwelum, Umueze Anam, Nmiata, Iyiora, Umuoba Abegbu, Oboro-Otu, Nkwo-Oji, Nzam and all their neighbours have been submerged. This has brought church services, schooling, farming and other human activities in the area to an abrupt end. “The only place we can meet for church service is at Umunta in Umudora Anam,” one man said.

Right now in Anambra West, there is no drinking water. The floodwater has polluted and overrun the local stream from where the community fetches its drinking water. Even the pipe borne water facilities in the area has been submerged. A farmer in Anam who identified himself as Ogbuefi said food crops like yam seedlings, cassava sticks, melon seed, maize; pumpkin pods and others kept in barns for the next farming season have either been destroyed or washed away by the raging flood. He predicted that food items would be scarce and very expensive next year.

Community leaders in Anam are calling on the relevant government agencies and corporate organisations to come to the aid of residents of the flood-ravaged areas. They call on the state and federal governments to ensure that the money pledged by President Goodluck Jonathan is spent on mitigating the suffering of the affected residents. An official of the Anam Town Union said the area contributes close to 50 per cent of the food consumed in Anambra State. He said urgent steps must be taken by government to prevent food scarcity in the area next year.

Anam people celebrate new yam festival

By Romanus Okoye

Apart from Christmas, Otite-Anam, is the most well-regarded festival in Anam, Anambra State. Otite also known as IwaJi (New Yam festival) in Igboland is celebrated in August every year.

Usually, the date for the celebration in Anam, Anambra West Local Government, Anambra State is fixed by Okpokolo the ruling age grade. They meet to examine the Igbo lunar calendar so as to ensure that it holds on the first Sunday that falls on the sacred market day of Eke. This year, it was celebrated on Sunday, August 7, 2011.

Apart from Otite, Anam people have other traditional ceremonies, like omume-oba, Mgba, Mgbaboku, oninu-ozu, ikpa unwu, nzireani etc. Apparently, Otite as the chief festival in Anam, involves lots of sharing, eating and drinking. It is a time to savour the best of egusi, nsala and ogbono soups garnished with variety of dried fishes.

The delicacy is to be eaten strictly with pounded yam; cooking any other type of food at this time is a no-no. It was once told that during the celebration in the past, visitors who gathered around a mould of pounded yam could not see themselves, until they dismantled it and started greeting each other. Aside eating and drinking, it is a time of paying homage to loved ones, especially to in-laws and parents.

According to Dr. Alex Asigbo, a senior lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University and an indigene of Anam “during the festival every titled man is expected to sacrifice to his Ikenga – Guardian spirit for protection during the farming season as well as solicit for the help of his ancestors. Children who have started their own homesteads are expected to send gifts of yam, fish, cloths and other items to their parents during the Otite. It is therefore during Otite that the gods and ancestors are called upon to taste the yam before mere mortals may start eating. This is called Ilo-Muo and it is a most sacred obligation which every titled farmer owes to the gods and ancestors.

Until the Otite is celebrated, no titled man may eat new yam.” However, that believe was described as a mere fairy tale by most. And reverend Fr. Cletus Okoye explained that Otite is not idol worship but still need to be Christianized to make it more acceptable to everyone. As the name implies, Otite (new yam festival) is a celebration of the King of all crops-yam. And Anam people cultivate yams in abundance; probably due to the alluvial soil they are endowed with, which is good for agriculture,. Little wonder, the people are predominantly farmers.

During the celebration in Lagos, Chief Udorji Okeke, the National Chairman, Anam Peoples’ Assembly while speaking about the importance of the festival, wondered why Anamites who cultivate the yams which most Igbos buy from various markets like Onitsha, Otuocha, Okoti and other places, to celebrate their new yam festival, should not celebrate it more than other people.

Apart from that, Chief Okeke said the celebration affords them the opportunity to think home. He reminded Anamites the importance of being their brother’s keeper. ‘The biggest service one could offer to his people and community is to empower the people; by exposing them to great opportunities, be it education, business etc. And offer financial assistance and advice to the best of his ability”. Asserting that with such attitude, wealth will be evenly distributed; making the people more prosperous both as individuals and as a community. He added that it was not lack of ability that limit people, but lack of opportunity.

According to Dr. Asigbo, every year in Anam, farmers experience yam glut. And regrets that as the goose that lays the golden egg for Anambra State, it is most surprising that issues of its development have always been reduced to routine Nigerian politics of double-speak; adding that even though Gov. Peter Obi has done what others before him could not do by starting a road project in Anam; that judging from the economic importance of Anambra West to the State, the area deserves more.

joy after sorrow: Woman delivers twin after 11 years

By ROMANUS OKOYE
Thursday, April 07, 2011

“My brother, rejoice with me. My wife has given me a double. My days of searching are over. Indeed, I have been confirmed a complete man.” Those were the contents of the SMS from Charles Okafor announcing the birth of his twin girls, 13 long years after tying the nuptial knots with his wife, Esther.

The man’s excitement was understandable. Since they got married in 1998, Esther had been unable to conceive. But all that changed in the early hours of March 23, when Esther was safely delivered of a set of twin girls, their first set of kids. In a chat, the woman couldn’t hide her excitement. “What God has done for us is inexplicable,” she said. “We are short of words to express His kindness. In fact, God has proved to us that He alone has the answer to all we need, and He alone knows the right time. We were asking Him for one, but He gave us two. That’s why we named the twins Somadina (only I should not exist) and Dabeluchukwu (depend on God).

She said it wasn’t an easy task waiting for 13 years for the fruit of the womb. “Now I understand that life has different layers. Initially, I thought that my husband’s constant overseas business travels were responsible for the delayed pregnancy, thinking probably that we were not sleeping together at the right time. But I became worried when we started spending more time together and I still could not get pregnant.” Esther explained that the diagnosis did not highlight a consistent problem because most of the results were contradictory. “Most places we visited gave us conflicting results,” she noted. “In one particular place, I was jolted by the medical personnel’s lack of tact. He told me outright in my husband’s presence that I could not have a baby because I was not a complete woman. I was grossly embarrassed and shocked because that would have been enough for my husband to abandon me. But I thank God for my husband’s understanding. Today, God has proved that He is all-knowing.”

According to Okafor, the search for a child took him through some humiliating experiences, asserting that the search was even more expensive than what it would cost to actually train the child. He recalled having to drink several bitter, foul-smelling herbal concoctions. He said he was never bothered by the millions of naira he spent in the desperate search for a baby, noting that he and his wife could have done just about anything just to have their own child. He spoke further: “Being the only child of my mother, my major prayer on my wedding day was to have a baby as soon as possible. I wasn’t bothered initially, but with nothing happening one, two, three years into the marriage, I desperately embarked on a search for solution. It took me to several hospitals, churches, herbal homes etc. I virtually explored all possibilities. A remarkable one was a church where the pastor promised me that within six months, my wife would get pregnant, whether Heaven liked it or not. “Though I was alarmed by his audacity, I decided to believe the ‘prophet.’ He was so sure that he re-emphasized the six-month ultimatum.

Therefore, I got completely immersed in everything the church did. Today, the ‘man’ of God would ask for donations for church building. Tomorrow, it would be one project or the other. And most times, I gave exceedingly large dues, to my heart’s desire. So, it went on for a year, without results. I was so disappointed that the man only exploited my desperation. I left the church in frustration and took my search elsewhere. We attended various hospitals, did various tests. But all to no avail.” Mr. and Mrs. Okafor explained, though, that there were no pressures from their families, especially the parents. They were even involved in the search for a solution, they said. “They would make enquiries about where we could find help and invite us to the place, most times, joining us in fasting and prayers.

 In fact, their support and encouragement were out of this world.” Okafor said some people actually encouraged him to take another wife, but he ignored. “I rejected the advice. I remembered the vow I made at the altar, that the marriage is ‘for better, or for worse’, which I meant from the bottom of my heart. Secondly, I asked myself what would happen if I married another wife, and she failed to get pregnant too. I was determined to stick to my wife. I also resolved that whatever comes out of the marriage, I would take it like that. Apart from that, my wife and I had strong belief in God that one day we would surely celebrate the birth of our own baby.” He said since he was doing well in his business, lots of negative stories were going round. “What broke my heart most was that people were insinuating that I might have used my private part, or my wife’s womb, for money rituals. So, I needed to prove that assumption wrong. Apart from that, the entire condition killed my zeal to do business, especially when I remembered that there was no child to enjoy the wealth. But now, God has dried my tears.”

On March 23, right from the beginning of their street in Surulere in Lagos, you wouldn’t need anybody to inform you that something special had happened. Apart from the potpourri of choice drinks and delicacies provided to entertain friends and well-wishers, there were also many Area Boys (street urchins), who turned the place into a second home.

Many of those who knew of the couple’s predicament since 1998 were in attendance. A guest called the arrival of the twin as an answer to many prayers, explaining that the new parents got at once what it would have taken them three or four years to get. He said Esther now has another name: Iya Ibeji (mother of twins.) Esther told the excited crowd: “My babies, no doubt, are special and God-sent. The scan never showed that I carried twins. And the labour did not last more than three hours. I also did not experience serious pains. “We advise expectant couples to be patient and believe that at the appointed time God will fulfill His promise. They should relax their minds after they have done all the basics, and avoid running from pillar to post. It is only God that can give children.

In our own case, God answered our prayers when we resolved to stop moving from one place to the other and put our trust 100 per cent in God alone.” Advertisements

How Anambra West underdeveloped itself

By Romanus Okoye Politically, all seem not to be well with Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State and the council may be the loser in the present political arrangement in the state. This is because apart from one special assistant and a member at the State House of Assembly (legislative arm), no indigene of Anambra West occupies any executive position both in the state and the federal level. As it is now, the representatives of the area at the state executive, Senate and House of Representatives are from Oyi and Anambra East Local Governments Areas, which are in the upland part of Anambra North Senatorial Zone while Anambra West is like a peninsula, separated by water from other parts of Anambra State. Sadly, the local government is a beautiful bride when it comes to state politics, but they hardly reap significant benefits in terms of appointment from supporting other political blocs from the Mainland. For instance, in the entire Anambra State Civil Service, it is hard if not impossible to find senior officials who are from Anambra West local Government Area. According to Barrister Victor Nwakasi, an indigene of the area, “it is on record that the Local government has never produced a permanent secretary. Professionals are also in short supply. In Academics, the local government’s only famous representative is a former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Political representation might seem the most improved but when compared to the other communities in the state with similar human and natural resources, it still lags behind with a great mileage between her and the least political town in the state. These amongst others are the human, political, economic, social and environmental challenges facing the area. Anambra West Local Area is underdeveloped is an ‘understatement’, development is only about to happen.” Worse still, during the last cabinet reshuffle by Governor Peter Obi there were unconfirmed reports of petitions from individuals in the area against indigenes penciled down for executive appointment. As a result, no indigene of Anambra West is a commissioner in the present cabinet of Governor Peter Obi. Additionally, the federal projects in the area especially the Otuocha-Ibaji-Lokoja federal road may have been abandoned and the contractors may not return to site so soon; because there are no people at the centre to speak about the viability and urgency of the road. However, political observers noted that the problem of the area is lack of representatives from the area, who understand the area’s problems. They believe that if the dream must be realized, people from the area must be appointed into executive positions, in addition to the political leaders from the area putting the interest of the people above self and speak with one voice, not minding the political parties they belong to. In line with this opinion, a worried indigene told this reporter that the absence of unified purpose and interests are a battle that must be won if the mbammili area must rise above the myriads of developmental problems suffocating them despite all the efforts of Governor Peter Obi. The source added that the pursuit of personal agenda by the political godfathers has been the dividing point and more confusing factor even to their followers; thereby making it difficult for them (the followers) to make informed political decisions at the right time. For instance, people are still bewildered over the court cases that followed the election of a member to represent the area at the state House of Assembly; which started with the removal of Hon. TonyCollins Nwabunwanne and replaced with Hon. Victor Okoye via a court order. And now, Hon. Ojukwu Obakasi has gone to court demanding the interpretation of section 109(1) (g) of the constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended; which states that: “a member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House if being a person whose election to the House of Assembly was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected; provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.” Consequently, this move is interpreted as an effort by the political godfathers of another power bloc to unseat the incumbent House of Assembly member-Hon. Victor Okoye. In fact, one may say that the riverrine area may be undergoing a kind of political renaissance. But is it for good or bad? It could also be recalled that in 2011 elections, two candidates from the area Hon. Ralph Okeke and Prince John Emeka Jnr. contested to represent the zone in House of Representatives and the Senate respectively but for some reasons lost in the final analysis. And political watchers are of the opinion that the failures may not be unconnected with the in-fighting between the political power blocs. Meanwhile, the people are saddened and frustrated with what many of them described as poor political leadership that is more self-indulgent than service-for-the-people. Speaking about the political disunity in the area, Hon Ralph Okeke, a former two-term House of Representatives member, said that in-fighting, lack of patience and quest for political supremacy and control within the old power bloc and between the emergents and those who call themselves “new architects” political power blocs in the area is the bane. He stated that “envy by some political newcomers” in the area cost him the seat at the National Assembly. Historically, Hon. Okeke explained that it was evident from historical indications that the people of Anambra East do not like supporting candidates from Anambra West. “Igwe J.C. Emeka was a political colossus in Anambra State and Nigeria in general but despite his political dexterity and permutations, he never won an election in the domain of Anambra East” he said. “Igwe John Emeka cleared the way and laid the foundation for political awareness and development of the area. And the result was that a lot of other people from the local government attained enviable political heights in the state and federal level-people like Chief Emmanuel Nnachor – a two term local government chairman of the old Anambra Local Government, Rt. Hon Benjamin Ekwealor – former speaker of the old Anambra State House of Assembly, Prince John Emeka Jnr-a former minister of Water Transport, Prince Chinedu Emeka – a former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, including him (Hon. Okeke) and many others.” However, Hon. Okeke advised that people must understand that looking at the peculiarity of the circumstances in Anambra West, the political leaders cannot afford to be “politicians” rather they should see themselves as “missionaries.” He explained that politicians aim at protecting and pursuing selfish interests all the time while missionaries are service motivated. He averred that the people of Oyi and Anambra East can afford to be politicians because by the virtue of their geographical location they have some basic amenities in place which the people of Anambra West do not have. Furthermore, Hon. Okeke regretted that there are lots of discordant voices now unlike the era of Igwe J.C. Emeka, when the people of Anambra West spoke with one voice. He stressed that Igwe understood the system better and how to relate with political opponents; even though some people may not appreciate the enormity of what he did for the area. The honourable member said that he was disappointed that some people he supported during the senatorial election did not reciprocate the kind gesture when it was his (Hon. Okeke) turn to be voted for the House of Representative. In addition, Dr. Emma Ude Akpe, an opinion leader in Anambra West said that Igwe Emeka was a rallying point of the area’s politics when he was alive, and it will be difficult to fill the vacuum created in the whole of Anambra North senatorial zone by his demise. He blamed the politicians for remembering the people only during elections and advised the electorate to hold their representatives at all levels accountable for their actions and inactions. Also, Barrister Nwakasi said that apart from lack of physical infrastructures and human capital challenges, the political development has been slow due to lack of awareness. “These infrastructural facilities and poor development state did not breakdown over time, they were never in place from the word go. Increased awareness in present democratic dispensation has also raised the level of political intolerance and strife. Intercommunity relationship has been unstable with occasional but violent inter communities crises. There is lack of proper delineation of boundaries, eroding cultures and traditional values, insecurity, kidnapping, poor utilization and exploitation of agricultural resources, high infant mortality etc.” Generally, it was acknowledged that the present administration of Governor Obi is trying it’s best, although more is still needed. But the people and their leaders must be ready to work as one. To some, the present situation in Anambra West is a welcome development; meaning a change in the pattern of politicking in the area. While few see it as a funeral of people’s political ambitions in the area against all the achievements of the politicians in the past; in addition that change should be gradual and not tumult. 0

ANAMBRA GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION: ZONING AS POLITICAL INCLUSION

November 2013 is the month of governorship election in Anambra State. It attracts nationwide attention and review for obvious reasons. The intriguing political development in the state in recent past which culminated in the removal of Senator Andy Ubah and confirmation of Governor Peter Obi as the state’s helmsman gives the state, an undeniable position as the only state whose governorship election comes earlier than others. The good thing is that the associated judicial and legal tussle in the battle for the seat has been regarded as one of the critical judicial contribution to consolidation of democratic dispensation and sustenance in Nigeria. His Excellency, Dr. Peter Obi showed uncommon resilience in pursuit of the given mandate by ndi Anambra for two terms which is about expiring. The Governor is now at it again showing the same resilience in pursuing the agenda of convincing the citizens of the state and other stakeholders that it is fair and equitable to have a person of Anambra North extraction as the next governor of the State. In his opinion which has since become the opinion of the ruling party in the state; APGA, the credible opposition PDP and which is fast becoming the view of majority of ndi Anambra, zoning the governorship position will do Anambra well. In the opinion of the proponents, it is fair, equitable and just to do so. Fair principles one may say as a matter of expediency but definitely in developed democracies, the issue of zoning is irrelevant. Merit, qualification, workable plan and delivery of educational, social and economical impacting objectives would sway votes any day. However, we are in Nigeria where zoning has become a norm in the politically charged and divisive atmosphere since the inception of current democratic dispensation in 1999. For instance, President Obasanjo was elected on basis of zonal pacification. The three top most political positions of president, vice president and senate president in Nigeria are currently occupied on basis of zoning. Educationally, children from Anambra state, Delta state etc are deprived their places in Federal Government Colleges because their less qualified counterparts from other states up North have to be included on basis of zoning. The truth is that Nigeria still stands as a nation today due to zoning explicitly or implicitly. It is even encapsulated in Federal Character provisions and has been strongly advocated to be strengthened in the constitution. That is how far we have come with the unfortunate principle. Without doubt, zoning has encouraged mediocrity and discrimination. But in practice, zoning seems now the practicable and alternative arrangement to crisis and is now regarded as stabilization factor in the various fragile arrangements we have at all levels of governance in the country. Zoning now means inclusion. It is now even extended to social and economic arrangement by the government. How a system now functions be it governance, economic etc are hinged on workable arrangement grounded on zoning principles of inclusion. Zoning is now justified and increasingly applied across board in different ramifications. Anambra should have its own good policy of inclusion through zoning. In governorship matters, Governor Obi seeks to promote inclusion and has tried it in assembling his executive management team. Ndi Anambra should now try and sustain it at all levels particularly at governorship position. Simply speaking, Anambra North Senatorial Zone should be entitled to present the candidates from all the political parties in the next governorship election. The parties participating in the election should encourage, support and endorse the array of qualified governorship candidates from Anambra North extraction. It is not necessarily because there are no better candidates elsewhere who might have strongly supported and advocated for the development of the zone but because it has become absolutely necessary to include all sides of our great state in governorship arrangement. Senator Ngige, Ifeanyi Uba and others from other zones are very worthy candidates, so are Comrade Tony Nwoye (not because he is my friend), Sir Willy Obiano (his credentials speak for itself not because he worked in Governor Obi affiliated institution), Hon. Basil Onuorah and others. Anambra North axis should get the slot now before it swings back to the other zones that have held governorship position since the creation of the state. To our people and true supporters of the zoning formula, it does not matter the political platform, let the candidate be from Anambra North. Opinion varies on the matter, but that of the contestants and their supporters attract most attention. Senator Ngige, Businessman Ifeanyi Ubah and their supporters have said that Anambra North is not politically marginalized. That is being economical with the truth as they used generalization analogy. I will not comment on the lame argument that late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who was President of Nigeria and late Hon. Ukpabi Asika who was administrator in 60’s before Anambra State came into existence were from Anambra North. I am aware that since the creation of present Anambra State, Anambra North has produced Chief Judges of the State, former Deputy Governors like late Dr. Chidi Nwike and Prince Chinedu Emeka, Ministers such as Dr. Tim Menakaya, Prince John Okechukwu Emeka, Senator Joy Emodi and presently the performing minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah amongst other notable office holders. It is also on record that the highest federal political office holder from Anambra north since creation of present Anambra State was late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo (of evergreen memory). But Anambra North has not produced the GOVERNOR OF THE STATE. This is the point. Nigeria suffers from concentration of too much powers in the executive be it at federal, state and local government. The desire to hold this powerful position is because of the faulted system of government in place and until the system is restructured, strange principles of leadership, policy and development will continue to be witnessed at all levels of governance. Anambra North deserves its own share of the powerful position of governor. How it is applied for the development of Anambra State should only be analyzed when it has given the shot at it. In conclusion, whoever emerges the governor (preferably someone from Anambra North) the truth is that Anambra State is in dire need of development. A sound development plan is the vital framework we need to go forward. So far, there has been too much grammar, media blitz and hot air but less action. The impacts of current development efforts have been mixed but a new spirit of enterprise is manifest. Regrettably, empowerment of people and social service delivery has not happened quickly enough in Anambra, but Governor Obi started doing many things in new, albeit strange ways like effective vigilante security, local government administration through president of town unions and use of religious insitutions etc. I think some adjustments will be necessary in the next administration. Anambra state has the resources and potentials. For example, it has a huge inventory of housing all over that is dead capital because that cannot be turned to investable capital due to lack of efficient registration procedures. A massive overhaul of our property law system akin to Lagos will turn the assets into living capital and impact on revenue and enterprise development. We need to establish a one-stop-shop for our property system. Lagos did this by creating a Land Bureau and earned 5 Billion Naira in about 4 months. Anambra should have a set of codified laws of Anambra State and modern rules of court. The weak legal system cannot support economic development and investments. Anambra has the greatest number of small businesses (engine of development in other economies) but 80 % of them exist underground in the informal sector and are not captured by the legal framework. We should introduce a new legal framework for Small Business Administration. The new oil exploration in the state (located in Anambra North) brings the additional responsibility to design a sustainable oil and gas producing area development master plan. The Government of Anambra State cannot possibly fund all development projects. Private-Public Partnership and Privatization should be introduced. Governor Obi has initiated a solid relationship with development partners which should also be encouraged. Whatever is the outcome of the election, the next important thing is framing the agenda for accelerated development of our beloved state. VICTOR AKAZUE NWAKASI is a Lagos based lawyer and development consultant.