THE odds were not really positive from outset. 27 years after the birth of Anambra State, some of the forecasters have eaten their words.
Against the odds, the state is posting impressive strides
and beating the doubts of naysayers. Even those who initially thought in 1991
that they would soon see tigers fight against lions and elephants bodyslam
hipopotamus in the new state are now surprised
to behold speedy transformation in the state. Some still point at the hiccups of the past 27
years to underscore that the doom and gloom they anticipated are bound to
manifest.
Some deem the feats recorded so far as flash-in-the-pan or
day dream. Leaving in chests and cocoons of phobia and fables, they shut their
senses to reality and opt not to wake up and smell the coffee.
Having beaten fears that marked her coming as one of
Nigeria’s 36 state, Anambra seems is finding her swing and waxing ahead with it
in surefooted steps.
The home of many ebullient leaders, assertive politicians,
billionaires, brave and enterprising persons with extremely insufficient land
space, insignificant federal government and establishments presence, neither
social facilities nor any existing cultural coalition machinery at the time of
creation, was projected to be marked by one upheaval after another in quest for
inadequate resources.
It was a forecast of furry and frenzy to come in a flurry of
on a land of little resource. Even the most informed pundits then foresaw
frenetic scramble for the scarce means available.
There was no history of mineral resources which was the big
elephant in states’ economy, locally and globally then. There was not enough
land for habitation
for the high-population density area, let alone imagining sufficient supplies
of arable lands for agriculture anywhere there.
As at the time the new state came into being, there was
almost nothing on ground beyond raw human capital. Things as basic as roads,
pipe-borne water and even residences for worker were rarities. One could count
less than a dozen tarred roads, even if collapsed ones, across the state as at
then. There was only one urban city, Onitsha.
Even in the area of things that spur development, such as
the mass media, there was only one outstation of a state-owned radio station.
In the education sector, there were only three tertiary schools – a college of
education, one polytechnic and one university – all state owned.
There were no ports
for air or marine transportation. And no railway route passed through the
state. In fact, in Enugu during the 1970s and 1980s children while playing
would mimick the sound of locomotive engines with folk songs that spells out
the railway routes that passed the East of Nigeria. At the sight of a train the
children would sing thusly:
“Poooo!
E je m Port Harcourt, E je m Ngwo!
E je m Port Harcourt, E je m Ngwo.
E je m Port Harcourt, e je m Ngwo.”
The song strives to establish that the rail route only
trails from Port Harcourt (capital of Rivers State) to Ngwo (ie Enugu, capital
of Enugu State). The states that the rail line touches are Enugu, Imo, Abia and
Rivers. So, Anambra had and still has no rail link.
Created on August 27, 1991 during a federal military era
that, two years after, held an inconclusive general election which led the
country into a stalemate and lulled development nationwide for six
crisis-riddled years, Anambra was lunched into harsh times from infancy.
Basic infrastructural, social and administrative
developments that are vital for the take-off of a budding state could not be
undertaken in Anambra during, at least first nine years of the state which was
marked predominantly, by military rule.
Succour would have come with the birth of Nigeria’s Fourth
Republic which ushered civil, democratic rule but the peculiar trait of the
land’s politics manifested. Like rattled dogs without reins, released from
nowhere, rabid red neck politicians besieged the state and bad news became her
second name as Anambra politics spurred nationwide condemnation and ridicule.
country into a stalemate and lulled development nationwide
for six crisis-riddled years, Anambra was lunched into harsh times from
infancy. Basic infrastructural, social and administrative developments that are
vital for the take-off of a budding state could not be undertaken in Anambra
during, at least first nine years of the state which was marked predominantly,
by military rule.
Succour would have come with the birth of Nigeria’s Fourth
Republic which ushered civil, democratic rule but the peculiar trait of the
land’s politics manifested. Like rattled dogs without reins, released from
nowhere, rabid red neck politicians besieged the state and bad news became her
second name as Anambra politics spurred nationwide condemnation and ridicule.
So things started from outset on the note of gloom and
bedlam. But currently, the story is not what those who thought getting our own
state, was akin to buying our coffin and beckoned vultures to wait for our
carcas expected.
The same Anambra they deemed the undertaker’s commodity is attracting rave headlines across
country. Other states now look at us with envy. In peer reviews among Nigerian
states, Anambra now features as reference point on good governance, peaceful
polls, impressive rural-urban development, economic growth, education
excellence, agriculture, industrialisation – and especially security.
The land once dreaded for armed robbery, kidnapping, crazy
cult clashes, illiterate traders and egotic upstrats – with disgusting traits –
is now the ranked number one in security even by the Inspector-General of
Police.
In almost every field of hitherto lack, there are
overwhelming success stories to tell. Beyond individual and social security
there is consistent excellence in the education sector where in the past decade
Anambra has retained top positions ahead of other states in WASCE, NECO and
other nationwide basic school examinations. Along with these the state’s
teachers, in the past three years, have been winning top prizes for basic
school teachers across the country. Similarly, the state has become used to
winning local and global schools’ debates.
The intellectual leap in schools comes along with material
advancement too. As at 1991 there were just three tertiary schools, but
currently there are six universities (one federal-owned, one state-owned and
four privately owned).
There are also three polytechnics (one federal polytechnic,
a state-owned and one privately owned). There are two colleges of education
owned by federal and state government respectively. Schools of nursing are five
among others.
The Anambra of a handful of roads now boasts of a vast
network of well-tarred roads, arguably
the best link of roads in any state.
Even in the mass media there has been a huge growth both in
number of stations and in quality of output. From just one station, the state now hosts 14
private radio stations; three state-owned stations; four television stations
and a plethora of newspapers.
The state is now among oil and gas hosts. She is building an
airport. From a one roundabout stopover city, Awka the capital is now very
urban with three state-of-the-art flyovers; untramodern shopping malls, hotels,
banks (comprising the Central Bank of Nigeria) and event centres. There is a
stock exchange, a dry port and industries springing up as months pass.
The story is heartwarming though the road to the feats is
marked by huge sacrifice. This was what I told a friend of mine from the north.
The Abuja-based director in a federal government agency, Titus (surname
withheld) has become a fan of Anambra State particularly, Gov. Willie Obiano.
During one of his recent visits to Awka, he enthused:
“Chuka you people are very lucky here. Every time I come
here, I see new things. You are are lucky to be having good governments.”
I laughed and replied him:
“Thank God my brother but it did not come easy. We have
discovered our path to good governance and concentration on relevant
socio-economic development. Our focus on a political party that understands our
direction is one factor. Another is a keenness on who leads us and refusal to
be distracted by senseless politics.”
I however reminded him that all those factors
notwithstanding, the main thing to note is that some persons in government
opted to offer themselves as sacrifice for the betterment of the state. Being a
political science scholar with a doctorate degree, he seriously picked my head
on the matter. As we discussed, I made him know that purpose alone does not win
projects, especially social ones but goals with genuine demeanor and providence
do.
Hence the fact that Anambra is turning around under Dr.
Obiano’s All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) government and the state is
boasting of a succession of good governance is aided by a well communicated
mission and mien that the populace accept.
It was a long discourse over some snacks and drinks with
some other friends present. It was such that, even with days after their return
to Abuja, we still spent some phone call time on the matter. But our conclusion
remained that Anambra has a lot to thank God for after 27 years, at least for
proving naysayers wrong.
That is why I celebrate today.
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