WRITTEN BY C. DON ADINUBA
Few days ago, there was a hate broadcast that went viral on the social media by some people viciously attacking Presidents-General, Traditional Rulers, Bishops and other religious leaders in the state for collaborating with the state government to make Anambra a model in rapid development. There is hardly any sacrilege which the broadcast does not accuse these highly respected people of committing. They, therefore, urged Ndi Anambra to rise violently, not only against the personages, but also against the government.
The same set of people equally wrote a fake news report recently, alleging that Governor Willie Obiano had directed Anambra voters to kill any person who failed to vote for a particular candidate in the election. It is ironic that the forged report was published on the social media on the day the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi was honouring Akpokuedike for principle-centred leadership which took into consideration his commitment to peace, order, and healthy pluralism.
Anambra State has, in its developmental process, passed the stage of violent politics. Gubernatorial election was held on November 19, 2017, and there was not even a single incident of violence before, during or after the election. Anambra is the only state with this record in Nigeria’s history. It is Nigeria’s safest and most peaceful and the most socially harmonious state.
Ndi Anambra State are not surprised that the handful of politicians inciting violence are all members of the very party, which brought so much misery to Ndi Anambra not long ago. They were the ones who kidnapped a sitting governor in 2003. They were the ones who engaged in mayhem for three days in 2004 during which the State House of Assembly, Government House, the Judiciary Complex, the Governor’s Lodge in Onitsha, and the Anambra State Broadcasting Service were destroyed and in some cases incinerated.
They were the ones who forced the sitting governor to sign so-called Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders (ISPOs) through which payments were made to their companies for all manner of contracts, even before the state could obtain its monthly allocations from the federation account. The state lost billions of naira through this fraudulent scheme. Consequently, the state government could not meet its basic obligations to the citizenry like payment of salaries. Schools were closed for almost one academic session.
Ndi Anambra State have resolved never to return to this era. Since they voted overwhelmingly for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state, they have never had it so good. The state has excelled in many areas like education, agriculture, security, immunization and infrastructural development; winning prestigious national and international laurels more than any other state.
Anambra’s economy has, in the last four years, emerged the fourth largest in Nigeria, after those of Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja and Rivers State. Anambra has the lowest poverty index in the country and is the least indebted state in the country. It is reputed to have the friendliest policy towards workers in the federation.
The State Government’s policy of inclusion and solidarity has earned praise from far and near. For instance, Francis Cardinal Arinze, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments at the Vatican, led a special ceremony to honour Chief Obiano, who is easily Nigeria’s most decorated governor.  The Bishop on the Niger, The Right Reverend Dr Owen Nwokolo, had earlier conducted on his own, a special service on the governor’s rekindled devotion to the public good since his re-election. 
No matter the level of provocative propaganda against them, both the people and government of Anambra State have resolved that their beloved state will remain the most peaceful in the country and the most socially harmonious. It will never return to the era of politically motivated killings like the assassination of Barrister Barnabas Igwe, Chairman of the Onitsha branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, and his pregnant wife, Barrister Abigail Igwe.  The government will continue with its strategy of constructive engagement with members of different parties at national and local levels, which has brought so much peace, stability, tranquility and progress to the state.
It requires us to treat every person with decorum, regardless of political differences. We will continue with our policy of inclusion and solidarity, which makes every one of us see any other person as his or her brother. May we remain our brother’s keeper. God bless Anambra State, the Light of the Nation.

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