Date Published: 12/30/09

Ndi Anambra take exception to Akpabio's comment

One would not know why the Governor of Akwa Ibom State at times act as if nothing else exists except what he ‘breathed’. One expected the governor to come and receive the honourary doctorate degree from Unizik, Awka; an honour many at the institution believe was politically motivated by his kinsman who is the Pro-Chancellor of the University and probably also because of his (Akpabio’s) expected donation to the institution. But alas he came and made a derogatory statement, which Anambraians are taking exception to.  

The governor had while in Awka said that before the advent of Governor Peter Obi, Anambra was a failed State; a State he never studied or lived in? This is going too far in touching the sensibility of Ndi Anambra.  If Anambra should be considered near-failed State; it is now that insecurity has set in, just as in the present Akwa Ibom State. We read about how Akwa Ibom State, prior to 2007 was adjudged the most peaceful in the federation; and presently with her increased revenue (both in IGR and Federal Allocation), she is allegedly being accused of visible crimes - political kidnappings and intimidations; things Anambra never seriously experienced before now.

For avoidance of doubt, the Akwa Ibom governor was credited with the ‘failed State’ statement on page 7 of Daily Independent of 25 th November 2009. But then if Anambra was a failed State, it could have been his imagination and which he attributed to the regimes of Mbadinuhu and Ngige, all PDP governors. Akpabio should leave Ndi Anambra alone and face governance of Akwa Ibom State.

Geoffrey Nnadi

University of Maiduguri

Maiduguri, Borno State geoffreynnadi@rocketmail.com