ATTENTION!!! AWKA IS NOT OKAY!!! By Uzor Ngoladi Obi as governor of Anambra State distinguished himself as a prudent manager of human and material resources. Anambra under Obis watch received encomium as a debt less state largely due to his background in the financial sector and spartan orientation. Ability to consistently utilize scarce resources is one of okwutes strongest point. By the way, okwute, Obis sobriquet means rock in Igbo language. As obi received the Silver Bird MAN of the YEAR award in Lagos at the weekend, he commented about his reputation as the stingiest governor in Nigeria. His frugality prevented him from buying tables at the event that was held in his honor. He jokingly requested the organizers to allow him bring his own table in a bid to avoid expenses. He reveals how he saved a certain amount from the states monthly allocation during his tenure (even for this month of March that ends his office) for the future generation. His simplicity is quite commendable when assessing cost management in the area of provision of needed infrastructure. The female voiced governor is known to abhor Nigerias culture of waste in all its ramifications. Obi is reputed for zero tolerance for waste in governments fiscal expenditure. How this bespectacled technocrat survived the cesspool of Anambra politics since 2003 remains a prolific best seller biography that has never been written. In unmistakable terms, obi has successfully installed himself as the neo-political emperor of Anambra state. The duo of Obi and Umeh is the team to beat in terms of political battles fought and won. Awka, the state capital was in a state of infrastructural disarray when Obi regained his stolen mandate from Ngige and his charlatans and was sworn in as governor. A recent visit to Awka reveals that the Capital cannot boast of any form of city development or urban beautification. Awka remains the same laid back rural dwelling devoid of the trappings of city life and social amenities. Nothing depicts Awka as a state capital. Awka is still in the abyss of metropolitan light and exposure. Awkas rural setting depletes Obis unrivaled accomplishments in Anambra State. Obi over stretched his conservative tendencies and failed in evolving a capital city that can compete favorably with Uyo, Asaba, Lafia, Owerri or Dutse where great transformations took place. I had toyed with the idea of relocation to my beleaguered state capital but on this recent visit, I became depressed and changed my mind. Awka could not boast of street lights. Even the government house wore images of Obis tight fists. Work is just commencing on most of the major streets and this has enveloped the semi-urban capital in dust. Street sweepers as seen in Owerri were non existent. You can imagine the hygienic level of the capital - filthy and unkempt. One of the tasks ahead of the governor elect is to drive infrastructural development that will attract investors to settle down for business and investment in Awka. The development of every state starts from the capital. Obiano must within the next few years transform Awka from obscurity to limelight in terms of metropolitan rating. Enough of urban insensitivity! Willy Obiano must show some class and panache by heeding to this clarion call to re-position Awka as a metropolitan capital with alacrity and sense of duty. Obi is no longer a boy. Ngoladi is an actor and author of the novel, Toxic Eucharist. uzorngoladi, toxiceucharist
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 07:39:13 +0000
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