7.6 C
New York
Friday, March 29, 2024

Anambra: The Ambience Of Absence In Comity Of States [MUST READ]

Must read

The dominant character in Chinua Achebe’s celebrated “Things of Apart” bemoaned the unacceptability of having a son who cannot raise up his head in the gathering of the clan. That Anambra State, the once adjudged Light of the Nation, is cascading down the ranking order is steadily becoming an unwholesome source of worry. This becomes more perturbing when the cause of this disturbing proclivity is self inflicted and obviously avoidable.

Recently, the Governors of Southern States of Nigeria held a meeting to discuss focal and pivotal matters of strategic and national importance. Anambra State, the homeland of the great and the gifted was, not only absent but unrepresented without justification no matter how lame or awkward.

What went wrong?. Was it that the Anambra State Government did not appreciate the essence of the comity of Southern States of Nigeria. Would it be surmised that the Anambra State Government was bereft of sagacity. Or could it be a matter of indecipherable timidity, outright docility or outlandish servility.

For effects it would be profitable to restate that the meeting of the Governors transcended partisan affiliation and tribal loyalty. Core, current and recurrent issues were at stake. The individual bearing and pedigree of the States helmsmen were robustly demanded. Alas Anambra State was no where to be seen. How do we explain this egregious.

The Southern Governors Forum at the end of the meeting held on Monday, 5th July, 2021 reviewed the situation in the Country and made far reaching resolutions on corporate existence and security situation of Nigeria, amendments on electoral process and Petroleum Industry regimes and the anti open grazing laws.
Needless to reiterate that these are outstandingly and transcendentally topical issues in Nigeria that require not merely the presence but seasoned contributions from Chief Executives of the concerned States.

Reports had it that only H E RT HON IFEANYI UGWUANYI was personally present as Governor of South East extraction while Anambra State was the only UNREPRESENTED STATE.

Some informed minds canvassed the opinions that for temporary convenience mingled with obsequiousness certain class of State Governors did not want to be seen as “offending” the prebendal ruler at the center. Consequently, they opted for the subterfuge of sending their deputies to the august and auspicious meeting. Though not to be commended nor promoted this was prefarable to the embarrassing and indefensible absence of Anambra State. This, certainly was an unsrupulous deviation from the lofty expectation and ambition of Ndi Anambra noted for courage, industry, and vibrancy.

Agreed that the Anambra State Government is failing in many and different vistas of governance, discounting hyped grandstanding, typified by the vainglorious ugu (pumpkin) exportation and dysfunctional security cameras that are yet to achieve or record any feat in this era of insecurity, it is as disheartening, as it is degrading for our dear state to be found wanting in an enterprise of this nature.

Have we degenerated to the level of inexcusably and infantilely avoiding the companionship of our sisters and brothers who are crusading for a better society. Is Anambra State aspiring to don the unenviable garb of the wretched sycophant of the South or unwittingly assume a disgusting pariah status. May this not be the portion nor path for Anambra State. In essence, what did the Anambra State Government intend to achieve by keeping away from the Southern Governors table of brotherhood without minding the enormous backlash implications; especially the perception or estimation of Ndi Anambra in the mindsets of others.

In the recent past, by sheer crass ineptitude Anambra State Government lost humongous amount of money running into hundreds of millions of naira for shamefully and shambolically failing the test of due process and integrity in proper budgetary documentation.

This aside, when some traditional rulers exercised their fundamental rights and travelled outside the state, an event that was not without precedence, the Anambra State Government demonstrated extreme and imprudent rascality and resentment to legality, maturity, prudence and moderation and even proceeded to browbeat the hapless the state legislature to amend the Anambra State Traditional Law, and anointed the State Governor as the capricious and whimsical arbiter in matters of traditional rulership in Anambra State.

The most embarrassing and astonishing predilection is the abysmal nonchalant and predictably uninspiring attitude of the Anambra State Government when herdsmen killed, maimed and ravaged Anambrarians their homelands and farmlands. The tavern acclaimed Akpokuedike became extremely tremulous and unnerved to carry out imprimatur of constitutional mandate: the protection of lives and properties.

Thus, to the bewilderment of all, the Anambra State Government suggested the payment of N500 000. 00 per victim of the unrestrained killings by herdsmen. What a warped and diabolical sense of judgement and indisputable abnegation of solemn obligation.

In a related incident, the invasion of the family home of an Anambra indigene, a practising lawyer of note, ostensibly by security operatives, whereat devastating illegality of monstrous magnitude was perpetrated, the Anambra State Government could not summon the courage to whimper not to mention the expected response to condemn the act or demand explanation. What an unpardonable display of insensitivity and timorousness.

Yet when the Governors of Southern States of Nigeria met to discuss and adopt salubrious stance on salient matters of common and national intetest, Anambra State was pitiably and sardonically absent. This is unacceptable and the hallmark of irresponsibility. To say the least, Anambra State Government advertised the unpretentious abscondment from cherished and historic obligations.

Nature abhors vacuum. The leader of a people who, for whatever reason shirks or derelicts an assigned or bestowed role is unwittingly creating an avenue for the led to fill the gap. Without glamorizing unorthodoxy, the youth or groups of youths may be compelled, as an availing option or last resort to invent ways and means to correct what they perceived as obnoxious in the face of inaction, ineptitude or inglorious abdication by custodians of State power.

Herein lies the poser by the enigmatic Peter the Rock: “are we cursed or the cause of our state of affairs”. A Professor of Economics remarkably asserted that “Anambra is not broken and there’s no need to fix it”

Appreciative of the foregoing, if we are satisfied with the extant state of affairs, then we should elect for continuity. If otherwise, the imperatives of change become compulsive and unassailable.

William Shakespeare centuries ago asserted that the fault is not in our stars but in ourselves.
Without doubt life does not get better by chance but by change.

Truly, as the proclaimed Light of the Nation, Anambra State ought to be in the vanguard to effectuate societal progress. To ignore this is bad. To avoid it is worse.

C J Okoli Akirika is an Awka Based Attorney and Conscientious Commentator on Matters of Public Interest

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

More articles

- Advertisement -The Fast Track to Earning Income as a Publisher
- Advertisement -The Fast Track to Earning Income as a Publisher
- Advertisement -Top 20 Blogs Lifestyle

Latest article