The reactions of
the masses can be understandable considering the long sufferings we have
endeared hoping that the next day will be better. We expect reduction in the
cost of living, free health-care, better roads, clean environment, security,
housing and so many more, we are right but we must consider all things dully,
they all require money to be achieved.
As we plan our
homes and businesses on daily basis to enable us do all the necessary survival
docking and diving within our meagre resources, governments equally do the
same.
One thing I have
found out with our Governor, Chief Dr. Willie Obiano is SINCERITY OF PURPOSE to
make life better for Ndi Anambra. Sincere to put in a transparent, working
system that will enable the operations of governance to be accessible and
reduction in overhead cost of administration. Sincere to improve the ecstatic of
our capital city by improving the facilities within and around the capital
neighbourhood, sincere to develop the areas of our economic strength to the
level of being viable in serving our country and providing employment for the
teeming unemployed youths in our State, sincere in securing our environment,
identifying that a safe environment is a heaven for investors. All long term
visions.
What we do not
consider is that all these laudable projects and ideas require serious
injection of funds as to be realised. The big question is; WHERE WILL THE
GOVERNMENT GET THE MONEY? It will be difficult for us to understand why the
government cannot fulfil certain promises or expectations, the headache of how
to resolve all these issues and more lie on the shoulders of the Governor and
his Government.
For the people
that are aware, allocations to the States from the Federal have dropped
drastically since the downward plunge of our oil in the international market.
Commodity that was selling for over N100 per barrel sells for less than 50% of
that price today. The allocations to the States are based on the sale of
oil. Anambra State and indeed all the
States in the Nation have been getting a lot less from the central purse, this
is the main reason why some States are owing salaries for months and some for
year plus now. Some are not just owing salaries, other projects in some of the
States have been stopped entirely due to lack of funds.
In Anambra, our
Governor has continued to push on with projects, against all odds, has
continued to pay salaries as at when due. Can we imagine the type of confusion
such would have thrown us if our Civil Servants and Pensioners are not being
paid, incessant strikes, abuse of government by all and general field day by
the opposition.
It takes God's
wisdom to govern a complex State like Anambra and if you ask me candidly, I
believe that God has blessed our Governor with Solomon's wisdom hence his ingenuity
in keeping religiously with the obligation of paying wages recognising that
times are hard and that the workers and the pensioners need to survive.
When salaries are
paid with the meagre resources available to government, what is left certainly
will not be enough to carry out any meaningful project, the main reasons for
electing him the first place. Will it really be ok for us if the Governor comes
back to us for a second tenure on the mere premix of paying salaries? It will
amount to gross irresponsibility of governance and abuse of our collective intelligence.
How then do we expect the Government to perform, knowing also that the civil
servants constitute a minor percentage of the generality of Ndi Anambra?
It is then
important that we collectively support the Governor and Government of our dear
State by paying our taxes and dues.
It may be hard on
us at this time but it is a very important sacrifice from all of us in making
sure that our State does not sink due to lack of funds. The opposition can say
anything, but the reality of governance does not hang on their shoulders.
Not too long ago,
an opposition party promised all unemployed Nigerian youths stipends of five
thousand naira monthly, today they are in power, what has happened to the
promise?. This is the reason I compare governance with football fans sitting at
the sideline, they always know wrongly better than the coaches and players.
Akpokuo's genuine
intensions for Ndi Anambra are clear from inception. Four points agenda; (1)
Developing our Oil reserves (2) Creating enabling environment for Industrialisation
(3) Creating enabling environment for Trade and Commerce (4) Encouraging agriculture.
Ndi Anambra know that these four areas are our KEY areas
of collective strength.
The type of
attention Governor Obiano has paid to our agricultural development so far has
never been heard of in our history. He is doing these not just for us to produce
for our consumption, but to become number one in food export in this nation. He
wants Ndi Anambra to feed Nigeria and beyond. He wants our youths, instead of
turning to crime, to see agriculture as a sure option for survival in this
world of global unemployment.
To develop
agriculture is not just about setting up farms, we need to process, package and
preserve, we need to have accessible roads to get these farm produces out, we
need to provide the farm environments with all the necessities required for
long term survival. If these things are not provided, these farms would end up
being mere political gimmicks, waste of money and time.
As Governor
Obiano is doing in agriculture, he is doing same in the four cardinal areas of
his government, Ndi Anambra, the State needs money, Akpokuo needs money to get
these jobs done.
Today we are safe
as a people, thanks to the security initiatives of Governor Obiano. Security as
we all know requires constant upgrading as to keep ahead of the criminals.
Recently, our Governor organised a security summit involving the entire South
East and Delta States in recognition that we can never really be safe when the criminals
can always come in from these surrounding States, carry out their nefarious
activities and run back to their safe heavens outside Anambra. What more
actions do we expect of him to prove to us that he really cares for his people,
all of us Ndi Anambra.
Times are hard,
but it could have been harder if God did not give us a caring, wise, committed
and selfless Governor like Willie Obiano Willie is working is not a mantra for
Willie Obiano but a clear statement to all Ndi Anambra that Willie our Governor
is doing what we elected him to do with our money, we all are in this together.
I plead with Ndi
Anambra to reciprocate the commitment of our Governor by paying their taxes and
dues, it is the only way we can hold him accountable if he does not deliver by
the end of his tenure.
Anambra is
getting better on daily basis, it is due to our collective support to his
government, please let us keep supporting him, these are the things that will
give us better opportunities tomorrow, our children will fare well in an
organised, safe and flourishing State.Let me quickly remind Ndi Anambra that
there is no abandoned project in our State, the Governor is only prioritising
due to limited funds, time will prove him right.
I thank you all
Ndi Anambra.
Hon. Chinedu
Nkwonta
State Publicity
Secretary, APGA
0909 77 00000
kpomness@gmail.com