WHAT PETER OBI SHOULD DO IN SECOND TERM
Governor Peter Obi's first term in office was remarkable. Development under his administration during the first term was holistic as education, roads, health facilities, infrastructural development including sports were areas to readily come to mind.
As the second term starts, there to building more industries and manufacture are areas where the governor will touch and bring final peace and tranquility to the state.
This area has to do with the boundary demarcation and adjustments with the communities bordering Anambra and other states like Enugu at the Ayamelum-Uzouwani axis and other bordering towns with other states. Most worrisome is land disputes between towns within the state that have remained a breach of peace in the various areas.
An instance is the perennial land disputes between Igbakwu and Omor in Ayamelum local government area of the state; Aguleri and Umuleri in Anambra East local government area of the state to mention this few. Governor Peter Obi is a godly man whose sense of judgment has radiated in all spheres of human endeavours. Bring together Presidents of all town unions to monthly meetings where critical issues that border the town and which may spill over to the generality of the state have always been settled through this medium. The efforts of Obi will be incomplete without drawing a line that will be respected between Igbakwu and Omor, two major Communities in Ayamelum local government area of the state.
In situations like this, the state can, using government machinery and bring an institution to cover the area of the land on dispute. The company or whatever it may be will stand between the two towns and dictate where town A or town B will stop its incursions. A stitch in time they say saves nine. Government should irrespective of what people say, wade into these land disputes with a view to finding a final boundary to the two towns.
The same thing should be done at Omasi-Adani axis; the axis that borders Anambra state and Enugu state. It is a known fact that at this juncture, sacrifices must be made by both parties for the expected peace to be fertilized irrespective of what legal battle is being raged. Of course, the celebration of this peace accord from the government of Peter Obi, when it eventually comes will print an indelible mark in the history of the people. It is also important to note that like every other Anambra man, the people of Igbakwu and Omor will be ready to corporate with the state government in bringing lasting peace to the area.
The inauguration of Governor Peter Obi for the second tenure took place on Wednesday March 6, 2010. The event was celebrated in a grand style with remarkable events that will not be forgotten in a hurry. It presented an opportunity for people to behold names that ring bells both in state and national politics and people from all walks of life in the state who struggled to be part of it.
However, one will not be surprised at the mammoth crowd that gathered at the venue because Obi was making history being the first governor of the state to do two terms. It is special in the sense that despite the fact that Obi is coming from a party that has its stronghold in the state, with no party member in the state house of Assembly, he still performed creditably to the acceptance of the public.
Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Eze Igbo Gburugburu and leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and his amiable wife Bianca Ojukwu were present to the admiration of seated guests and bystanders. People expected to also see Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former Vice President Federal Republic of Nigeria who is a father and from the state despite being a factor in People's Democratic Party (PDP). Speaker after speaker who reviewed the turn of events in Anambra state believed that the return of APGA candidate for a second term will eventually bring stability to the state perceived as most volatile in terms of election activities.
In the words of Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former Governor of the state, all those who lost in the election should sheath their sward to allow peace reign. He said that the state is tired of instability occasioned by fetid plays by politicians. The inauguration saw gubernatorial candidates of other parties lining up behind Peter Obi for the purpose of building the state. Barr. Godson okoye, governorship candidate of the United Democratic Party (UDP) said that the election has come and gone. 'In any contest any where world over, only one person eventually wins. In the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship, it behoves on every other contestants to give supporting hand to the winner. The winner on the other hand should not see himself as an iroko that is beyond reach,' he said.
The most remarkable landmark achieved through the election is that the people of Anambra state gave the verdict in making their choice. I can tell you the electorates that returned Peter Obi have reasons to do that. Of course, there are no nooks and crannies of the state where Obi's foot print did not march. They showed appreciation by voting for him for him to continue the good work,' he said.
In the same vein, His Royal Highest, Benedict Iroegbuna Okeke, Eze Gedegwu of Okija, said that Peter Obi performed above expectation during the first term and that was reason why he received appreciation during the voting period. He however, urged the governor to continue the good job he started in his first term by creating job opportunities for the teeming youth's population.
He said that the only way to stop the social vices rearing ugly heads in the state is by engaging the youths in gainful employments. He said that Governor Obi did well during his first term; however, he will have to leverage on providing more industries to open the fallow parcels of land in the state.
Also commenting on the inauguration, Chief Ebuka Onunkwo, the President General, Ihembosi and Eze Ndi Igbo of Cotonou said that he would like Governor Obi to concentrate on his ANIDS programme. He said that the programme has helped to develop Anambra state simultaneously. He noted that by developing the roads, he is invariably developing the state. He said that if he ventures into construction of industries and other manufacturing industries, then the vices being the order of the day will become the thing of the past as the companies will have the youths
• NWEKE writes from Lagos
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