Politics
By Anthony Isibor
THE Anambra State government has reacted to a viral video by Ifeanyi Orakwe, a broadcaster, portraying poor governance in the State as false and not a true reflection of the developmental strides of the state government.
Orakwe had alleged that there was insecurity, lawlessness and lack of any form of infrastructural development in Anambra State.
According to him, those calling for Ndi-Igbos in diaspora to return back because of what they are going through in Lagos and every other places were wrong because there was nothing to return to.
“So a lot of people are clamouring that Igbos should return, but I want to say this because of Anambra State. I don’t know about Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, or Enugu. I am talking about Anambra.
Anambra people please do not return back, don’t come back, this is the truth, do not come back yet.
“Our able governor, Chukwuma Soludo, went to a town hall meeting in Lagos where he told Ndi Anambra to come back and that is a welcome development. Thank you. But when you had that meeting in Lagos, did you ask him how Anambra is faring, did you ask him how Anambra is now. I am from Anambra, I was born in Anambra, I live in Anambra. I remember when we were making mockery of every other state in the South East, but right now, all these states are better than us. Nobody wants to say this.
Where are they coming back to, what are they coming back to, they should come and invest where? he asked.
Orakwe had also called on Anamberians in Diaspora to prevail on the state government to fix the state before they can talk about returning.
“Our society is getting worst every day. Ok, the government wants you to return, did you ask if there is security in the state, do you know that people are afraid to leave their homes, we are very scared to move around.
“Those trading in Onitsha markets are subjected to multiple taxation, multiple levies and are constantly harassed by thugs.
“Those holding business owners to ransom and stripping them of their wealth are more than the business owners.
“Anambra needs salvation,” he added.
However, Paul Nwosu, commissioner for Information, has dismissed Orakwe’s allegation as shamelessly and not a true reflection of the comparative progress made with regards to the security in Anambra State in the last 16 months that Governor Soludo has been in office.
According to Nwosu, for over 20 years, all major markets in Onitsha get closed to costumers by 5pm. And as soon as they close, all the shops in the periphery equally close. The Modebe Avenue he referred to is contiguous to Ochanja Market.
Although Nwosu agreed that there were security challenges early in the administration, he contended that the government of Prof. Soludo has worked tirelessly to decapitate the hydra-headed monster.
“As at today, most criminals’ hideouts have been smashed and they are on the run. If people still close their shops and shut their doors early in the evenings, it could probably be out of fear of what they had experienced in the past, but more importantly, Onitsha is a commercial town where traders retire early to return to their market stalls by 7.30am.
“So you begin to wonder if this man just dropped from the moon or he’s just out to be mischievous.
“For discerning minds, the video where Orakwe asked Ndi Anambra not to heed their Governor’s call to invest in their state comes across as facile and brazen economic sabotage against the people of Anambra.
“The Orakwe fellow should learn to understand that modern security challenges cannot be resolved at the snap of fingers.
“He also made a pitiable gaffe when he said that other contiguous states are better than Anambra. This immediately gives him away as a non dispassionate commentator and another loquacious ignoramus, who has eyes but cannot even appreciate the developments around him, yet he claims to have grown up in Anambra State.
“He chose to be deliberately blind to the stretches of roads and bridges under construction (some already completed), the reinvigoration of the healthcare delivery system, employment of 5000 teachers, giant strides in ICT, youth development, etc. What a pity!
“Since he could not see the physical transformation around him, there is no way he is capable of rationalizing the economic benefits from getting our people to invest in their State. And that is the danger of having someone with congenital myopia dabble into the arena of public commentary. It’s unfortunate that a man with such an impairment is working for a radio station that should inform, educate and entertain the public,” the commissioner added.
Tags: Anthony Isibor Ifeanyi Orakwe Paul Nwosu
