The governorship campaign rally of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the November 6, governorship election, held yesterday at the Dr Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka was unprecedented, marvelous and historic. The crowd was evasive, tumultuous and uncontrollable. Any attempt to throw up a pin would not find space on the ground but land on human heads.
The rally, which attracted crème de crème in the society, including party heavy weights, was a testament of the people’s acceptance of the good governance of APGA in the past 15 years in the state as well as the endorsement of the party’s indomitable flag bearer in the November 6th governorship election, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, an internationally acclaimed Economist, administrator and nation builder
No doubt, Prof Soludo is a fire brand and a force to reckon with in the said election. A mere mention of Soludo puts fever down the spines of other contenders in the race. Admittedly, APGA is a household name, a bridge builder and a party reputed to have transformed a lot of lives
Before the All Progressives Grand Alliance government took over the reins of power, many people and businesses relocated elsewhere in the country and even abroad. Ndi Anambra living in the Diaspora dreaded coming home for political, socio-cultural and business activities. Many conducted activities such as traditional marriages and burials at their places of abode like Lagos and Abuja.
Happily today, in spite of the national security calamity, this is no longer the case. Secondly, before Governor Obiano came on board, no government in Nigeria contemplated a policy that would take democracy dividends down to the grassroots. Obiano broke the jinx by introducing the “Community Choose Your Projects Initiative”, whereby the state government has, since 2017, consistently been giving twenty million naira grant every year to the 181 communities in the state to execute any project of their choice.
Again, the aesthetic beauty of Awka has been enhanced with the construction of the International Conference Centre at Agu Awka, the Awka City Stadium as well as three magnificent and flood light adorned flyovers with traffic lights. Recreation parks for relaxation have been created at strategic points in the capital, Onitsha and other parts of the state. The International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri is almost completed.
Today, Anambra is one of the foremost rice producers and millers in Nigeria. Anambra Rice dwarfs others in the markets. Vegetables, cassava and rice productions have improved astronomically and for export to Europe and United States of America. The state is equally doing well in Ugbo Azu Uno as well as livestock production of chickens, eggs, fish and Efi Igbo.
It is also a thing of joy that Anambra has the biggest and most modern oxygen production plant in the Southeast, situated at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka. Anambra is also the first state in the country to initiate and implement a health insurance scheme, popularly known as ASHIA, which has made access to medical treatment, including surgery and lab, very cheap for families who subscribe to it.
None of the previous administrations in the state ever thought of providing street lights in major roads and streets across the state until Obiano began to do it successfully. Notwithstanding paucity of funds, the state government has demonstrated its responsiveness in governance. Salaries and pensions are paid as and when due.
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