The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anambra State

  • Citizens hail Obi on security

    The peaceful and traffic-free yuletide season in Anambra State which has continued into the New Year 2013 has not gone unnoticed by citizens of the state.

    Many residents are quick to attribute the absence of crime within the period to Governor Peter Obi’s effective strategies on security and good network of roads his administaration has provided in the state.

    A community leader, Chief Anthony Agidigbo Oguejiofor, and a publisher, Mr Ethel Uyanna, conveyed this mood when they congratulated the governor for giving the people ‘another peaceful christmas season.’

    They noted that even in few places that experienced traffic congestion, the governor was on hand to take care of the situation personally.

    In a press release yesterday at Onitsha under the auspices of ‘Concerned Anambrarians’, Chief Oguejiofor and Uyanna said that the governor’s extra ordinary attention to security of lives and properties in the state had resulted in decreasing crime rate over the years.

  • Obi’s wife inspires women to farm

    Obi’s wife inspires women to farm

    Thousands of rural women in Anambra State have got a huge impetus to become economically independent.

    Wife of the state governor, Mrs Margaret Peter-Obi inpsired them to raise fish and poultry, telling them it is one sure way to contribute meaningfully to family income. She also distributed thousands of fingerlings and fish-feed as well as day-old chicks to the women.

    The event took place as the state marked the International Day of the Rural Women in the state.

    The day was conceived by the United Nations to recognise the critical role and contributions of rural women in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating poverty.

    The state under Governor Peter Obi through his wife has employed all avenues of empowering rural women to end poverty and hunger. She coordinates her activities through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    But Mrs. Peter-Obi made it more than a mere anniversary to be celebrated. She lifted the spirits of many residents whose homes and farmlands were seriously affetcted in the recent floods.

    This year’s anniversary was celebrated at Anambra East Local Government Area headquarters, Otuocha.

    The event, according to Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Lady Henrietta Agbata, featured other programmes of the ministry such as the Family Day and the School Social Work.

    Director, Social Welfare, Mrs Rose Udeagabara, said the state’s theme for the event was “Family Unity: Implication for Proper Child Upbringing.” Mrs Udeagabara and her co-planner of the event, Director Women Affairs, Mrs Maria. N Ezeanuna, said the School Social Work is targeted at enhancing the academic performance of students; boosting emotional and psychological growth of students.

    In her speech, Governor Obi’s wife expressed gratitude to the rural women who thronged the venue from over 177 communities in the state to showcase their agricultural products.

    She was happy that despite the flood, the women from ravaged areas were able to participate and add colour to the celebration. She reiterated the state government’s continued efforts to make the state the most gender-friendly in the country.

    Obi’s wife encouraged women in authority to ensure they uplift others to enable them appreciate that their profile has changed for the better. She urged parents, especially mothers, to ensure their children are useful to the society, adding that they should spare some time to help their children with their homework.

    Mrs Peter-Obi presented awards to the best couple of the year, Chief Mark C. R. Eriobuna from Ihembosi  and best family worthy of emulation Sir Philip and Lady Elina Okika from Awka. She appealed to women to be role models in their families.

    Mrs Obi inspected food crops, tubers and other species on display by the local government areas before distributing thousands of bags of poultry feed, chicks, fish-feed and fingerlings to the rural women. They were also given water-pumping machines for dry season farming, among others.

    The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Lady Henrietta Agbata, hailed Mrs. Peter-Obi for her motherly love and care for the ministry.

    The commissioner noted: “In a bid to ensure that we reduce poverty and maintain a balanced family, His Excellency has undoubtedly empowered the women folk in Anambra State, through the following: Grants to our 15,000 women, distribution of tools including sewing machines, palm oil, processing machines, welding machines, grinding machines, refrigerators, baking ovens, hair dryers, soap-making machines, water pumping machines, poultry and feeds to empower over 1,500 women and youths.

    Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs, Ms Francisca Chikwendu and Chairperson, Anambra State Association of Town Unions Women Wing, Dr Chinelo Okechukwu, lauded the efforts of Obi’s wife in galvanizing and empowering rural women to fight poverty and hunger.

  • Obi’s war on kidnappers

    Obi’s war on kidnappers

    •Good idea, but the government can do better by following the rule of law

    Ifite-Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State played host to Governor Peter Obi of the state on September 5. But the visit was devoid of the fanfare usually associated with such gubernatorial visits. It was a business unusual trip undertaken in the governor’s efforts to rid the state of armed robbers, kidnappers and other undesirable elements that constitute a nuisance to law-abiding citizens in the state.
    Anambra State, like most states in the south-eastern part of the country has been seriously troubled by these outlaws. Indeed, they have almost become laws unto themselves, instilling fears into the minds of especially the rich that they kidnap for ransom or rob of their property. So, it was soul-lifting when the state police command made good the governor’s threat to make the state unsafe for the criminals by arresting a suspect, Mr Olisagbo Ifedike, and another member of his gang on September 3. Then, on September 5, Governor Obi was in the town to personally supervise the demolition of two buildings belonging to the suspect, said to be a kingpin in the illicit business, following allegations that the buildings were being used for criminal purposes.
    Of course, arms were also recovered from the buildings. These included 27 AK 47 rifles, one K2 riffle, two type-06 rifles, one General Purpose Machine Gun, one Rocket launcher, 17 rockets, six pump action guns, three dane guns, one Barrett pistol and 13 Rocket grenades, as well as 12,800 rounds of AK 47 live ammunition, 530 rounds of LAR ammunition, 95 rounds of GPMG live ammunition, 1,000 rounds of K2 live ammunition and 143 magazines. Security experts say these are enough to defeat a small army.
    The arrest of a suspect like Ifedike is expected to give people in the area some relief. Indeed, the people had themselves showed their disapproval of the suspect’s activities when an angry mob in the town burnt parts of his buildings, smashing the windows, doors and furniture even before Governor Obi’s arrival. When the governor arrived, he personally supervised the demolition of the structures believed to have been built with proceeds from kidnapping and other crimes in the presence of some members of his executive council.
     Given the gravity of the deprivations and deaths that the criminals have caused, we may want to applaud the action. This is much more so that it has the legal backing of the state house of assembly. Our worry, however, is whether that state law can supersede the common law presumption that a suspect is deemed innocent until proven otherwise by a competent court of law.
    We appreciate the governor’s concern for security of lives and property in the state. But the rule of law must be followed, in spite of the circumstantial evidence against the suspects. There have been cases of people who suffered miscarriage of justice in the past; we have seen people that had been killed before the truth that they were not responsible for the crime over which they died surfaced. Indeed, this is a major argument against the death penalty. As things stand, the preponderance of evidence seems to weigh against the suspects, but then, it is still the courts that should convict them and prescribe the punishment. Moreover, the structures destroyed are legacies that could be converted into public use at the end of the case, instead of demolishing them.
    We agree with the governor that jobless youths in the area should take advantage of the various economic empowerment programmes of the government to earn a decent living. But it is important that traditional rulers as well as town union executives also show more concern for security in their areas.