By Edwin Emeka
Like any other state in the sub-Saharan Africa, Anambra is a state that has its own strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. How these threats and weaknesses are harnessed and turned in to assets for the overall development and wellbeing of the state and its people should however be the ultimate concern and pre-occupation among aspirants who seeks to govern the state in governorship capacity.
While not leaving out its strengths and opportunities to nosedive into a terrible nightmare, aspirants for the Anambra seat of power in Awka should be candid and truthful enough to admit that while the state is among the best states in Nigeria, it has not by any means realized its full potentials.
And like we all know from our basic knowledge of Physics, potential energy is the energy that is at rest. This energy would remain in a state of permanent rest until an outside force is applied to it to set it in motion.
Precisely on the 27th of this month, Anambra State would be marking her 26 years of existence after it was created as a full independent state on August 27, 1991 by former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida.
Twenty-six years in the life of any man should be full of many positives, but what is the reality confronting Anambrarians today? Your guess is as good as mine!
In spite of these challenges, Anambra has great sons and daughter who will truly make the state great again. One of such rare gem among the array of aspirants jostling to succeed the outgoing Governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano is Prince John Okechukwu Emeka, a man the Anambra state electorates have pencilled down to be their next Governor.
Somebody recently called me to ask why I am supporting this young and assuasive Prince from Anambra North Senatorial District to become the Governor of the light of the nation, my response to him was very simple. His manifesto is the best among the aspirants and his long established political ideology is developmental orientated.
For Instance, his six-points agenda under the Sustainable Development Action Plan captured the most pressing needs confronting Anambrarians of all ages, class and ideology.
As a political journalist, I am not married to persons, but good ideologies. It is this strong ideology that bonds people together ideologically, politically, socially and otherwise. Therefore, reading his manifesto, which has gone viral online, is like reciting my political beliefs as a journalist and as political operative in front of my standing mirror.
Before, I move further on Prince Emeka’s campaign manifesto for the November 18 governorship race in Anambra state, I want to quote some paragraphs from few of his many enthralling and inspiring speeches.
On what should be the qualities that the incoming Governor of the state must possess, here is what Prince John Emeka has to say: ”I believe we need as Governor, someone…who will not deviate while grappling with challenges of office, a Governor who understands that government is a continuum, a good manager of scarce resources, a defender of our core social values, a Governor with a listening ear and in touch with the people.”
Reaffirming that his word is his word, here again is what the Anambra Prince has to say: ”Fellow citizens, we are made for this moment and we shall seize it together. I am in this race so that I will fight for the cause you and I believe in – good governance.
“Under my watch, no zone, no community and no one shall be left behind … If elected as Governor, my administration will drive growth and development via Sustainable Development Action Plan.”
These action plans are modelled after the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) adopted by world leaders in September 2015 with home grown inputs and strategies by Prince Emeka.
The Sustainable Development Goal is a guide to the role government, private sectors, and nongovernmental organizations as well as other development agencies and partners should play in achieving the global development agenda.
Based on the peculiar nature and needs of Anambra State, Prince John Emeka painstakingly crafted his 6-point agenda for Anambra with local content. The 6-point agenda are; Security, Education, Environment, Agriculture, Trade and Industry and finally Infrastructure.
The first agenda which is Security is based on SDG11 whose goal is to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
The second agenda which is Education is based on SDG4 whose goal is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
The third agenda which is Environment is based on SDG6 whose goal is to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
The fourth agenda which is Agriculture is SDG2 whose goal is to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
The fifth agenda which is Trade and Industry is based on SDG8 and SDG1 whose goals are to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and descent work for all as well as ending poverty in all its forms everywhere.
The sixth and the last agenda which is Infrastructure is based on SDG9 whose goal is to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
These United Nations backed Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) which Prince John Emeka modeled his 6-point agenda after, were clearly crated and anchored on the Sustainable Development Action Plan for Anambra, where a touch of local content was given to it to suit the peculiarities of Anambra State and its people.
With these lofty ideas in mind, all that is required from Anambrarians both at the PDP Primary election and at the general elections are impressive electoral investments to solidify trust already invested in this young, talented and entrepreneurial minded Prince on August 19 and November 18 respectively.
These days would mark the beginning of the new vista of unending and equal opportunities for all persons in Anambra State.
Mr Edwin Emeka, a Public Affairs Analyst wrote from Abuja and can be reached on [email protected].
