WRITTEN BY JOHN UDOH

It is no longer news that the State House of Assembly election holds on Saturday this week. The poll raises the importance of continued peace, progress and development of Anambra state.

No doubt, Anambra needs an overwhelming majority of the State House of Assembly to be APGA members for continued support to Governor Willie Obiano without rancor and unnecessary interruptions. The simple truth remains that where members of opposition parties dominate the State Assembly, there is bound to be bitterness, rancor and distractions against the Executive arm of government. Ndi Anambra must not allow such.

So far, Anambra has been enjoying good relationship between the legislature and Executive. Political bickering comes with stagnation of projects and sometimes inability to pay salaries, pensions and other emoluments to both workers and pensioners.

Teachers in Anambra State constitute a formidable work force in the State. Therefore, teachers in particular and workers in general need to understand the importance of this Saturday’s election in the State. It is for sustainable peace and progress. All teachers should make it a point of duty therefore to support our worker-friendly governor to continue with his noble plans for the State by voting for only APGA candidates in the coming election.

Ndi Anambra do not need to experience retrogression or stagnation any more. Stiff opposition may lead to nonpayment of salaries, emolument and the new minimum wage as well as delay of infrastructure such as the Community Choose Your Project Initiative of the governor. The State needs a House of Assembly that will be on the same page with the Executive.

Presently, Anambra State is the most peaceful, while Akpokuedike is the most worker-friendly governor in Nigeria. All these are possible because there is peace in the State. Some years ago, workers, including teachers, were owed salaries for many months, leading to almost a year-old strike. There were couples who were both civil servants then and only God knows how they survived that time. Workers in Anambra State will never forget that ugly episode and will never pray for such situation again in their lives again.

The only way to ensure and sustain a forward moving Anambra State is for all teachers and workers to troop out en-masse with their relations this Saturday to vote for all APGA candidates in the election.  An APGA dominated State House of Assembly will ensure peace, progress, continued prompt payment of salaries and pensions.

Teachers’ welfare is a top priority to Governor Obiano. Recently, there was an upward review of teachers’ emoluments in the State. The governor has also approved sixty-five years as retirement age for teachers. Teachers in hard to reach areas and those teaching special subjects earn special allowances, courtesy of Akpokuedike. The Governor equally promised to pay the new minimum wage to workers, once it is approved.

Pensioners are not left out too. Today, Anambra State pensioners are no longer dead woods, which certain political party tagged them, rather they are now living woods. Therefore, teachers, civil servants and pensioners should not disappoint our dear state. Let everybody vote massively for APGA, so that our state does not experience any drawback or stagnation.

Today, some states in Nigeria owe their workers many months’ arrears of salaries. But in Anambra, workers earn their wages on 25th of every month. Chief Willie Obiano is the only governor who pays all the State workers their December salaries with leave allowances before the end of each year. In addition, Akpokue Dike gives every worker and pensioner in the State one bag of Anambra rice for Christmas every year. What a Governor!

The time to show our gratitude to our Governor is now. Therefore, vote wisely. May God bless Anambra State, our wonderful Governor, all the State workforce and pensioners, Amen. 

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