ANAMBRA @ 25
Created on 27th August 1991, the Silver Jubilarian has paddled the seas and saddled through the deserts of time to becoming one of Africa’s most industrial and secured states.
Let’s look down through memory lane...
The Anambra State as we know it now was created in 1991 from the Old Anambra State, which she had shared with the Present Enugu State (including parts of Ebonyi), a decision from the then-military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
Navy Capt. Joseph Abulu would become the first Military Administrator of the state from the creation to 1st January 1992.
His tenure was cut short by the not-long-lived transition to democracy as power was handed over to the first elected Governor of the state, a self-tutored graduate of the University College, Ibadan, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife under the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Ezeife would be remembered in his role in handing over the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and Federal Polytechnic Oko to the Federal Government to ensure that they still stood till date after being on the brink of closure by the then military takeover of Gen. Sani Abacha.
With Abacha’s assumption into power, Anambra state fell back to the military with Dabo Aliyu as the acting Administrator of the state from November to December 1993. By 9th December of the same year, Col. Mike Attah took over the helm of affairs from the Acting Administration. He did much into creating a new Anambra State allocating a huge sum to the renovation of the Anambra State Polytechnic and awarding the contract of building a new Government House in Awka. Col. Attah was replaced on 21st August, 1996 by Grp Capt. Rufai Garba. Capt. Garba approved the construction of a headquarters building for the Anambra State Education Commission. By 6th August 1998, Wing Commander Emmanuel Ukaegbu wrapped up the episode of Military Administration in Anambra State during the transitional regime of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar as he handed over power to a newly elected democratic Governor on 29th May, 1999.
The new episode of democracy saw Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju as the new Governor. Little can be attributed to Mr. Mbadinuju as his administration was swallowed by political controversies. By 2003, his PDP governorship ticket was denied of him and given to Dr. Chris Ngige.
The Nsukka trained physician took up the mantle of leadership and became the pioneer of a new Anambra turning the State away from being a hub of political godfatherism. Ngige in less than three years transformed the infrastructural face of the state.He will be remembered for showing Ndi Anambra that anybody that wants to work will work not minding attacks from opposition.
After a ruling by the court of appeal on 15th March, 2006 a fellow alumnus of the preceding governor took over power. Peter Obi assumed power 2 days after the ruling after a supposed election fraud, having been the winner of the 2003 elections. Obi was impeached eight months later and being replaced with his Deputy, Dame Virginia Etiaba.
The Nnewi-born, on the 2nd of November 2006 became the first and only Female Governor Nigeria had ever had. By 9th February 2007, she handed power back to her predecessor, Peter Obi after he had challenged his impeachment at an Appeal Court in Enugu.
By 29th May 2007, Andy Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party won the Anambra guber election. Andy Uba was a governor in days after Peter Obi had contended that the election he won in 2003 only began running in March 2006.
Obi served till March 2010 after which he served another four years subsequent to an election held in February of the same year. Peter Obi’s administration would be one of the best in the state having touched all sectors in the state including renovation, donation of computers, buses and cash to schools and so many others.
On 17th March 2014, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano took over power to continue from his predecessor. His assumption into office became a total transformation in the state. This technocrat turned Anambra around from the home of crimes to the home of total tranquillity and maximum security. With his assumption into power, Awka has started having the look befitting a capital with three arts of the state flyovers.The present administration of His Excellency Chief Dr. Willie M Obiano (Akpokuedike) has achieved so much in Education. And most importantly the workers welfare. Never in Nigerian history has any governor or leader achieved much in Agriculture like the administration of Obiano. Today, the Anambra rice produced in Anambra is kicking off the demand for imported rice. The current administration owes the federal government the least but produces more from Internally Generated Revenues.
At 25, Anambra basks in the euphoria of Industrialisation, Oil and Gas, Agriculture, Trade and Commerce. In the next five years, Anambra will surely become the Capital of African Investment.
The Home of some of the greatest people that have lived, a list of people we cannot finish scribbling. The cradle of the Igbo race as Nri, Igbo Ukwu and Aguleri can testify to that fact. A blessed land of resources ranging from natural to human resources – the arable God-given land, the beautiful forest landscape, from the serene flow of the Niger to the majestic stand of the Ogbunike and Ogba-Ukwu caves, the biggest market in West Africa and God seems to continue blessing us as the black gold, crude oil, has started flowing through our lands. What other blessing can we ask of God than being good citizens of Anambra and supporting our leaders ?
Twenty-five hearty cheers to Anambra!
Ego Kristi Media Reporting from Awka Anambra State.
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