GODWIN EZEEMO FETE ANAMBRA CHILDREN ON CHILDREN’S DAY

May 27 has long been recognized by successive Nigerian governments as Children’s Day; a day set aside to remember and celebrate all the children in the country. In the spirit of Children’s Day 2013, Ezeemo (Achinagbaraoha Anambra State) was a special guest at this year’s Children’s Day Celebration organized by the management of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Awka. The party featured dances, choreography, dramas, debates, games, and other forms of entertainment enjoyed by children, their parents and guardians.

Although, the day was not a day for speech making, Achi had some words to say. In his speech at the occasion, Achi-Nagbara-Oha said he was delighted by the opportunity presented by May 27 not only to celebrate and appreciate our children, but also to listen to their problems. He recognized children as special gifts from God who should valued because of their innocence and guileless nature. Quoting from the Bible, “Jesus said allow the children to come to me, because the kingdom of God is for those like them. He had words of advise for the parents, society, governments, teachers, and the children themselves.

He admonished parents to train their children in the ways God, and when they grow up, they will not depart from it; he compared them to yam tendering, saying when properly directed grows up in the right way. Among the children are Presidents, governors, Commissioners, Igwes and other notable personalities in the society. It pains him to see children who should be in school hawking in the streets. He advised parents to endeavour to train their children, as lack of education leads to marginalization and cheating of children.

He appealed to members of the national assembly and state assemblies to enact laws that will protect and guarantee the rights of children. As this will ensure they achieve their full potentials in life. He thanked the teachers who look after these children on a daily bases, saying that, seeing these children as theirs will go a long way in helping them cope with the stress that goes with their job.

He advised the children to obey their elders, parents, and teachers. To be punctual to school and always do their assignments as that will not only be pleasing to their teachers, but will also ensure they do well in their tests and exams. He informed the children that God loves each and every one of them in a special way. So they should do things pleasing to God, especially by avoiding bad friends and companions.

He thanked all the parents and other special guests present at the occasion which include, His Royal Highness, Emeka Ilonu, Igwe Ifitedunu, Dinukofia L.G.A; Mr. Gbolaham Somuyiwa, General Manager, NTA Channel 5, Awka; representatives from Her Excellency, the First Lady of Anambra State, Mrs. Peter Obi.

Finally, Achinagbaraoha true to his name, presented gifts of different kinds of drinks, exercise books, writing materials and other things enjoyed by children for the entertainment of the children. He joined the children to dance  to the delight of the children and also cut the Children’ Day cake with His Royal Highness, Igwe Emeka Ilomu cake. Pictures below.

Anambra 2014: The un-anointed successor

Nigeria’s fledgling democracy is yet at the dawn of another litmus test. This time around, it is the turn of Anambra State to hold gubernatorial elections. Due to exigencies of history, about 6 Nigerian states hold their guber elections at different times from majority of the 36 states.  These states are Kogi, Edo, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Sokoto, Cross River, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Anambra states. Come October – November 2013, it will be the turn of Anambra State. The major difference here is that while 2 or 3 states will usually hold their elections at the same time, as a result of fallout from the election tribunal; Anambra (the Light of the Nation) usually occupies the centre stage alone.

The significance of this is the searchlight of the entire Nigeria nay the world will beam on Anambra during the election week. As should be expected all the political gladiators and heavy weights in all the political parties will as a matter of necessity congregate in Awka, to garner and drum up last minute support for their party candidates. Although this is not a sine qua non for victory; while it worked in Kogi State for the PDP, they were unable to re-enact the act in Edo State. However, political watchers are waiting in anticipation and the Anambra political landscape is not expected to disappoint.

In life there is no gainsaying the fact that there is a season for everything under the sun. The holy bible even goes further to expatiate on this by giving a comprehensive list in Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8; “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  A time  to sow and a time to reap.” Likewise in politics, there is a time to assume power and a time to relinquish power, although some people might add a time to be governed well. Such a time has come to Anambra state.

Yet while such a time is at the door steps of Anambra, and unlike what obtains in Nigerian politics where power is handed over; the incumbent governor has not deemed it fit and appropriate to name a befitting successor. Back to the holy book, Saul, David and Solomon where all anointed kings and successors to the throne of Israel, and true to their being made  oly by anointing, performed wonderfully. Governor Obi cannot be said to have been anointed, in the beginning, for he had to fight tooth and nail to reclaim his mandate at the election tribunal; but the second time around, there was some element of anointing for he was my beloved son, grant me this last wish.Just like the anointings in the bible, he doubled his efforts at improving the road networks in the state.

History of Nigerian politics is replete with stories of anointing that  have ended favourably and ones that ended in catastrophe:  Tinubu and Fashola; Orji and Orji are two examples that readily come to mind representing favourable and catastrophic anointing respectively. In most instances when the incumbent has served out his full tenure, it is expected that someone like the deputy governor, a commissioner, some high ranking officer in the government or party  is groomed to take over.

The importance of anointing a successor for Anambra state cannot be overemphasized. First, Obi has done a marvellous job through building road networks and other people oriented projects, but his achievements will come to naught if the right person is not left in charge. Someone who can built on what is already on the ground; a person who can consolidate his achievements and improve on his shortcomings ( as no one is perfect). Secondly to avoid being hounded around the world by anti-corruption agencies of EFCC and ICPC. For it is common knowledge that immediately things go wrong, the scapegoat is usually the predecessor. However, with an anointed successor, the governor leaving office is adequately protected and even venerated in state,  no matter how bad the situation may be. Actually, the latter reason is more pertinent than the former for history are abound with stories where just weeks after leaving office, a former governor is hounded by law enforcement agencies and anticorruption agencies.

Having said that, the entire world is surprised why till now, no anointed successor has emerged from the camp of the incumbent, just barely 5 months tothe elections. Again, the incumbent is yet to inform world of his future plans. Whatever those plans maybe, definitely, tenure elongation does not feature in it. While holding his cards to his chest, Anambrarians are warming up to choose from the multitude and cacophony of discordant tunes being peddled around and about by would be occupants of the government at Awka. However, since, no one is being groomed to take over, yet still, Anambra must transit to the next level of its development. So who is best suited to achieve this, and transform the state to its next level of development? While this seems like an innocuous question, it portends several implications, and cannot just be answered out of hand.

Several criteria should be used in discerning the right person to take over the reins of leadership from Gov. Peter Obi. The first is, which of the candidates can best articulate the problems of Anambra state? Which of them thoroughly understands these problems;  not just someone who repeats a written script. Secondly, which of the aspirants has made efforts, to solve the first problem besetting the state; and finally, which of the aspirants has made efforts to solve the second perceived problem of Anambra state. Anambrarians should not just line up behind anyone, rather, they should think of voting for someone who has scored 100% in all the above three mentioned areas.

In the first instance, what are the problems of Anambra state? Corruption, youth unemployment, youth restiveness, armed robbery, kidnapping, irregular power supply, ecological problems, infrastructural decay, etc. Although, not necessarily in the order presented here. Which of these aspirants has best articulated these problems in all forums? In the 5 day seminar on Rediscovering Igbo Values, Godwin Ezeemo spent time to enlighten the audience on these problems facing Anambra and Ndigbo and on the best way to ameliorate them; that was even before, he signified his intention to contest for the governorship election. Again, on the formal declaration at the Glass House at Awka, he again repeated these problems; in a media parley with journalist at Ulo 2012 Festival of Achalla Umuchu, he again re-echoed these problems. From all indications, these problems have been causing him sleepless nights. Because not only does he understand them, but he actively wants to see to their final annihilation.

Juxtapose Ezeemo’s position with those of other aspirants, none of them comes even anywhere close to understanding these problems, not to talk of having a readymade solution to them. What most of them do is read out from a written script. A philosopher once said: understanding a problem is half the solution. No doubt, Achi fully understands the problems facing his beloved state, what now  remains is to provide him with the platform to fully tackle these problems, and only Anambrarians can be able to provide him with such platform.

The second problem facing Anambra state is youth unemployment. This hydra headed monster, unfortunately, does not affect Anambra state alone, rather, it is pervasive in Nigeria, although the southeast states have more than a fair share of it. The reasons for this will be the topic of another forum, suffice to say that these problems are here with us. All the aspirants in their individual capacity have made efforts to solve this problem with their personal resources in one way or the other. No doubt their Directors, P.A’s, Special assistants, Advisers  and all the personnel involved in their campaign organizations are all off the labour market. This is a plus for all of them.

However, a look at the aspirants for Anambra 2014 shows that only three stands out as industrialist, these are Ezeemo, Ify Ubah and Obinna Uzor. These three has through their personal efforts provided jobs for thousands of unemployed Nigerians. The fact that so many Nigerians owe their daily bread to their investments is a great plus for the 3 of them, as their efforts are complementing government efforts to reduce unemployment and poverty. But of these 3, only Ezeemo truly has his headquarters in Anambra state. Ubah’s Capital oil is in Lagos; Uzor’s Gocuz group is in Lagos; while Ezeemo’s Orient Group is in Anambra. So while the 3 has provided employment, Ezeemo has provided specifically for Ndi Anambra, and has specifically promised that future investments will not be anywhere outside Anambra state. Charity should begin at home.

Ezeemo’s singular efforts has provided jobs for thousands of Anambrarians. Moreover, the anticipated expansion for the fiscal 2014 of his Agro allied investments in line with the Federal government’s transformation agenda in the Agricultural sector will provide jobs for a further 1000 unemployed youths in different cadres directly. While the fallouts like recharge cards sellers, restaurants, food vendors, okada operators, vulcanizers, barbing and hair salons, newspapers vendors etc. will definitely transform Anambra state into a state that imports workers from other states of the federation. Because the envisaged transformation will provide jobs for all Anambrarians who truly want to work.

However, more than that, Achi-Nagbara-Oha Anambra State as the name aptly signifies, has touched the lives of many families in Anambra State through his investments that span various industriesand create jobs. The saying give a man fish today, you feed him for one day; teach him how to fish, you feed him for life; is the view of Achi. Several aspirants believe in giving cars, bags of rice, Okadas, etc. where does that leave us? Back of square one. However, if all those cars, Okada, bags of rice, Ghana must go bags etc. are pulled together and invested there is no doubt that hundreds of Anambrarians will be employed directly, and thousands through   auxiliary and support services.Thousands of Anambrarians owe their daily breads to Achi’s investments, this is the type of man to hand over the reins of power over to because his antecedents shows that he has a burning passion to create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state.

The third index is ability to fight corruption. Transparency International (TI) once rated Nigeria as the most corrupt nation in the sub-Sahara. Even with all the efforts by successive governments to fight the monster, it rears its ugly head in all walks of life. There is no doubt that corruption has prevented Anambra state and the entire Nigeria from achieving its full potential. The question now, is how does the people of Anambra state determine which of the aspirants is corrupt, or will promote corruption if voted into power. No doubt, it is an uphill task, but with tact and carefulness, voters can discern who is corrupt and who is not. While it might  not be very easy to determine who is or who is not corrupt, some indices will come handy.   Although, the law states innocent until proven guilty, but the good people of Anambra state cannot afford to gamble with their future and the future of their generations yet unborn. An Igbo adage says no smoke without fire. In this case, alleged but not proven counts as guilty. Based on this, some criteria will be used to adjudged who has tendency to be corrupt:

Ø been a guest of the anticorruption agencies of EFCC and ICPC

Ø ever carried out a government contract;

Ø ever partnered with any federal, state or local government  over any venture;

Ø ever held a political appointment;

Only those who answered negative to all the above questions can seriously be thought to be totally free from corrupt activities.

From the foregoing, there is no doubt there is only one person whom the cap fits; that person is Achi-nagbara-oha Anambra State; therefore, Godwin Chukwunenye Ezeemo is the un-anointed successor.