Anambra: The Limits of Propaganda
By Hon. Chudi Offodile

http://omojuwa.com/2012/re-anambra-the-limits-of-propaganda-nasir-ahmad-el-rufai

Where did Mallam Nasir El-Rufai go wrong in his presentation on Anambra’s budget of misplaced priorities? Is it the facts he presented that Anambra State with adult literacy at 74.0% is behind Imo (80.8%) and Abia State (78.2%) or that the two major contributors to IGR will be N6.76 billion from taxes and about N4 billion from fines and fees? If this IGR is measured against the state projected personnel costs of N16.3 billion, Anambra cannot pay its staff salaries without reliance on federal allocation; this means it is one of those ‘dependent’ states and is not economically viable for independent existence. Can anyone fault this simple analysis from information provided by the government itself?

I need not restate all that El-Rufai laid out in that piece but I was surprised that he was accused by Governor Obi of insulting the Igbos and that only Anambra State indigenes can assess his administration not outsiders who have never visited the state like El-Rufai. Anyway, I am an Igbo from Anambra State and I state as follows: I do not feel insulted in anyway by the article in question and being from Anambra State, I wish to exercise the right which the Governor graciously granted only the indigenes of Anambra state, which is the right to assess his administration.

Peter Obi brought civility into governance in Anambra State at a time politics in the state had degenerated to dangerous and unacceptable levels. That I must concede. But he has also taken, as they say, liberty for license, engaged in needless propaganda, pursuit of federal lucre and in the process, squandered a golden opportunity to positively transform a fruitful virgin state.

Propaganda works and it has worked well for Peter Obi, but it has its limits. One of the areas where a lot of propaganda has gone into in Anambra state is road construction. A lot of quality roads were constructed by the Ngige administration. But the present government claimed to have ‘Asphalted’ over 500 km of roads and claims that Anambra State has the best network of roads in the Country. How much did it cost the state, assuming the number is accurate and of what quality?

A government that prides itself as the most prudent in Nigeria should present the whole picture to its citizens. For instance, in May, 2011, the government of Cross River State under Senator Liyel Imoke, signed contract agreements Publicly with eight contractors for the construction of 474 km of roads valued at N20.325 billion to cover 28 communities across the State under the Cross River Rural Access and Mobility Project. The Projects are being jointly funded by the African Development Bank contributing N7.016 billion and Cross River State contributing N13.308 billion.

How much exactly did the 500km of roads built in Anambra State by Governor Obi cost? Informed citizens have put the figure at between N48 billion and N60 billion, more than double of what Cross River State is spending for corresponding kilometers of roads. As regards the quality of the roads, most indigenes would admit that you can determine which road was done under Ngige and the ones under Peter Obi by the standard. The roads built under Ngige are of a much higher quality. Most of the roads done by Peter Obi will have to be re-awarded, a case of penny wise, pound foolish.

Another major propaganda point is that the government of Peter Obi has not borrowed while other profligate states have been borrowing recklessly. How can a state with massive infrastructure deficits keep its funds in the bank while the Governor’s major developmental efforts will be in commissioning of bore holes, immunization programmes and giving grants to schools seeking accreditation? How much of the state government money is actually in the bank and can the government come out categorically and deny the rumor that over N150 million is paid out by the ‘banks’ as commission every month? Is there a correlation between these monthly commission payments from the banks and the fact that the average cycle of contracts and payment in the state is two to three years sometimes more in order to maintain a certain minimum bank balance?

While rebuking El-Rufai for daring to point out the facts about the state, the Governor claimed that he has attracted industries to the state and mentioned two: Innoson Motors and SAB Miller Breweries in Onitsha. Innocent Chukwuma is from Nnewi in Anambra state. His company, Innoson has always been in Nnewi, long before Obi became Governor. It started as a motorcycle assembly plant before moving to buses, and other vehicles. So Peter Obi did not attract Innoson to Anambra State. He considers as a major achievement the fact that he built the road leading to the Innoson factory and brought the President to commission it. Congratulations!

On Sab Miller, the Governor will need to address the rumor making rounds in the state concerning the ownership of 22% of Sab Miller shares. Anambra State Government owns 10% while the remaining 12% is said to be owned by other businessmen from Anambra State. Who are those other businessmen? Since they are not ghosts, it is important that their names be made public to avoid ugly rumors.

Talking about investment in the state, the Governor is known to be a successful trader before he became Governor. If the state is so attractive for business, what informed the decision of his own company NEXT International to invest over N12 billion building the two largest shopping malls in Abuja, one in Mabushi and the other in Central Area, opposite federal ministry of transport? The Governor announced proudly that this year, he will pay N32 million as tax in Anambra State. Why invest and create employment outside the state and then pay tax in Anambra State? It is a very strange way of doing things. Anambra State needs the investment and jobs that the Governor outsourced to Abuja and other places. I call on the Governor to publish his tax returns to know exactly where the N32 million income tax is coming from. Is it from dividends or other sources? Since he mentioned it, we need to know more.

Anambra State is a rural state and nobody can deny that. It has no airport, no stadium and no good public secondary school. If you fall sick in the state and you are unable to navigate yourself to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Federal University Teaching Hospital, you are finished. The State University Teaching Hospital, Awka, which was ‘commissioned’ by President Jonathan in 2010, is still an ongoing project in 2012. Yet, the money is in the bank! None of the three ‘cities’ within the state; Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi is really habitable. There is no public water supply system in those areas. The Government of Obi competes with individuals in the provision of boreholes all over the state with his so called development partners. No place like that can attract talents who will contribute to the development of the state.

Little wonder then, that two out of every three property/land transactions in Asaba and Enugu involve indigenes of Anambra State. Most members, past and present of Anambra State House of Assembly and Commissioners including most of the bank managers in Anambra State, all have their houses in Asaba and Enugu from where they commute to Anambra State. Why not? Their children have to attend good schools which do not exist in Anambra State. What Obi has managed to achieve in six years, is sustaining the rural status of the state.

The only habitable estate in Awka Capital Territory is the Udoka Housing Estate built by the Chukuemeka Ezeife administration in 1991/92. Across the other side of the Enugu – Onitsha expressway is the Ngozika Estate built by Obi’s government of a quality much lower than the Jakande houses of the eighties. He claims to have secured accreditation for School of Health Technology, Obosi, School of Midwifery, Nkpor, School of Nursing, Iyienu. Fine! But these are institutions built by his predecessors and he is listing securing accreditation as his achievement.

He announced that he invested N4 billion of state funds in Orient Petroleum but it was conceptualized and set up by Dr. Mbadinuju. The Anambra State University was set up by the same Mbadinuju and when Peter Obi builds a faculty building or hostel in the school, he will advertise it as a monumental achievement. Yet he claims that there was nothing on ground when he became Governor of the state. Even the Women Development Centre, Awka which is Anambra’s equivalent of the International Conference Centre, Abuja [Don’t laugh] was built by Mbadinuju. And I ask, apart from the State Secretariat, what project of note has Peter Obi initiated and completed in the past six years?

Thisday newspaper in awarding Governor Obi (4) four stars in its rating of Governors stated among other things that he built 77 bridges and 103 Schools. These are unsubstantiated claims. Some bridges, yes but not a single school was built under Peter Obi. What he did was that he awarded contracts to the 177 town unions in Anambra State to build 4000 classroom blocks in the schools within their communities. Unprecedented absurdity! He has no coherent educational policy. He would donate computers to some schools, give some principals’ money directly to build toilets in their schools and then supply some with generators as the spirit moves him. When the cacophonous interventions failed, he then out of frustration, rather than a carefully thought out policy, handed over the schools to the missions to continue from where they stopped 40 years ago. Lord have mercy!!

Thisday again listed a new Onitsha hotel and convention centre under construction as one of his achievements. This brings me to the issue of transparency and due process. Contracts under Obi are generally not advertised and are usually arbitrarily awarded. This ongoing convention centre was one of the few advertised and tenders received from companies all over Nigeria. After the pre-qualification and opening of the financial and technical bids, Costain won the bid and was invited by the Anambra State Ministry of Commerce to collect the award letter. Before that could be done, Obi unilaterally awarded the contract to another company. Serious companies avoid Anambra State resulting in the poor quality of work seen in the projects undertaken by Obi’s government.

Governor Obi has announced two years to the end of his tenure that he will build a new Governor’s Lodge and Governor’s Office before he hands over in March 2014. Informed citizens are asking him not to bother. Since he has lived in a temporary governor’s lodge and operated from a temporary governor’s office for six years there’s no hurry.

Lest I forget, three years ago when people complained about the lack of development in the State, Governor Obi announced to Anambra people that he was developing a base map for Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi with a United Nations group, Habitat in order to have orderly development. Great idea! Three years after, can someone please ask the Governor the status of the ‘base map’?


Hon. Chudi Offodile is a Lawyer and former member of the House of Representatives who served between 1999-2006 representing Awka North/Awka South Federal Constituency, Anambra State. He was also Chairman of the Public Petitions Committee of the House of Representatives.[/b]

Liar anyway his opinion.

Bunkum. The only Nigerian state that can be compared to Anambra is Lagos and Rivers state. Go figure. Elrufai should be more bothered with the army of almajiris, lepers, beggars parading the caves and stone age northern Nigeria. There is no single northern state that is worthy to be compared to Anambra state.

bestview: Bunkum. The only Nigerian state that can be compared to Anambra is Lagos and Rivers state. Go figure. Elrufai should be more bothered with the army of almajiris, lepers, beggars parading the caves and stone age northern Nigeria. There is no single northern state that is worthy to be compared to Anambra state.

I believe Nigerians have deteriorated to an alarming psychological state which calls for emergency proliferation of multiple psychiatric clinics. Instead of you to oppose constructively, you've brought in unnecessary tribalism and name-calling. Every sane person knows Obi's performance has been dismal. As someone who often visited Awka and Nnewi, I once criticized him on Nairaland but had to stop because some people just like Obi made it seem like any other Nigerian criticizing Obi hates Anambra State. The impact of Ngige's short stay is still felt far more than Obi's 6 years.

Abagworo:

I believe Nigerians have deteriorated to an alarming psychological state which calls for emergency proliferation of multiple psychiatric clinics. Instead of you to oppose constructively, you've brought in unnecessary tribalism and name-calling. Every sane person knows Obi's performance has been dismal. As someone who often visited Awka and Nnewi, I once criticized him on Nairaland but had to stop because some people just like Obi made it seem like any other Nigerian criticizing Obi hates Anambra State. The impact of Ngige's short stay is still felt far more than Obi's 6 years.

^^^Nna men!!! I tire for governance in that state, and i'm just watching the clock in anticipation of Obis' departure in about two years time.

I'm not impressed with current development strides in Anambra and i've also noticed that the quality of work done in road construction and public buildings is under par. This is one reason you hardly see pics/videos showcasing government developments in Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi: there's not much to show, and the little you see (à la 'anids') is 'local government/substandard' looking stuff.

bestview: Bunkum. The only Nigerian state that can be compared to Anambra is Lagos and Rivers state. Go figure. Elrufai should be more bothered with the army of almajiris, lepers, beggars parading the caves and stone age northern Nigeria. There is no single northern state that is worthy to be compared to Anambra state.

This baseless pride of not being able to accept critisism is what Obi has been exploiting for time now.
You could see in his response to el-rufais comments as an Igbo attack.
This mentallity especially of Igbos is beginning to damage us big time.

RoadStar:

This baseless pride of not being able to accept critisism is what Obi has been exploiting for time now.
You could see in his response to el-rufais comments as an Igbo attack.
This mentallity especially of Igbos is [b]beginning [/b]to damage us big time.

Beginning ke? The East has recorded so many decades of this misplaced pride. Obi is simply riding the same horse that many of those before him have ridden.

Kobojunkie:

Beginning ke? The East has recorded so many decades of this misplaced pride. Obi is simply riding the same horse that many of those before him have ridden.

It is hard to access the true situation on anything Igbo.
I must add that in my own experience, igbo issues have occupied to extremes of any critical dialogue.
With Igbos it is a case of Pride vs Prejudice.

Beautiful write up. Where this Ofodile man dey since? Peter Obi just rode in ngige's hard luck and ikemba's personality. I'm glad people are waking up.

RoadStar:
It is hard to access the true situation on anything Igbo.
I must add that in my own experience, igbo issues have occupied to extremes of any critical dialogue.
With Igbos it is a case of Pride vs Prejudice.

It shouldn't be that way. How majority of Ibo subjects are dealt with, mostly by the internet tribalists has nothing to do with the reality of life for Ibos in Nigeria. So I think we should not confuse the extremes here on the internet(nairaland to be precise) with that which exists in the real world.

The message contained in the article was compiled by a fellow Ibo man. As you can see, some are close to labeling him an efulefu because he chose to criticize Obi's administration. The mentality among Ibos, which you previously spoke off has seriously damaged Ibo land for decades, and not until the people move away from this, will the land begin to flourish, as it should.

Anambra Versus The North: How Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai & Other Northern Elites Underdeveloped & Impoverished Majority Northern Populations


Public Statement By Intersociety Nigeria -In the Social Bond or Control Theory of Travis Hirschi, social deviance including criminal offending becomes uncontrollable the moment people are made to disconnect from the core agents of socialization,

especially the four areas that bind them with the core agents of socialization, that is to say: involvement, belief, attachment and engagement. The absence of the foregoing, criminologically speaking, leads to social disorganization as we see it today in the North.

Similarly, in the Strain/Anomie Theory of Emile Durkheim and Robert K. Merton, when there is disconnect between cultural goals and legitimate or socially approved means (when the two conflicts), a state of “anomie”(alienation of self from society due to conflicting norms and interests) sets in. When this state occurs, it results into five categories of social conditions of: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism and rebellion. Those in the class of conformity accept the cultural goals and legitimate means; those in the innovation accept the cultural goals but use illegitimate means to achieve them; those in the ritualism lose faith in cultural goals but feel obligated to work under routines for legitimate daily life; those in the retreatism, such as drug addicts, reject both cultural goals and legitimate means and transform themselves into the dregs of the society; and those in the rebellion not only reject both cultural goals and institutionalized means, but also seek to redefine new values for the society through uprising and violence, i.e. Boko-Haram uprising in the Northern Nigeria.

It is on the premise of the foregoing that we at the International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety), decide to critically evaluate the Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai’s assessment of the public governance in Anambra State of Nigeria, titled: Anambra’s Budgets of “Mispriorities”, which was widely published on 8th day of June 2012.

This evaluation of ours, therefore, is in the context of Anambra versus the North in terms of soio-economic comparison. While it is a widely held view that Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, like other Nigerians, is entitled to his opinion, but his opinion should not be expressed at the gross expense of Anambra State and its People, especially in the context of returning the State to its former pariah status, as a pariah member of the States of the Nigerian Federation, which his piece tried in vain to do.

As noted by many respected writers including Barrister Daniel Elomba, the Ahmad El-Rufai’s piece is fraught with utterly discredited facts and stranger’s information. It is purely an assessment from outside observation, fed by laptop statistics.

For instance, contrary to Ahmad El-Rufai’s position in his piece, Anambra State has minimum rural-urban drift. Non- Anambra State citizens of Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, Abia States, etc vastly populate the State’s old urban areas of Onitsha and Nnewi as well as some of the new urban areas in the State. These brother and sister-citizens have also made an inroad into Asaba, Delta State, where they built many residential houses and business facilities. Also, contrary to Ahmad El-Rufai’s submission, Anambra now has over ten urban areas of Onitsha, Ogbaru, Idemmili(Awada, Ugwuagba, Obosi, Nkpor & Omagba), Nkwere-Ezunaka/Nsugbe, Ekwulobia, Oko/Umunze, Ihiala, Awka, Igbariam/Umuleri/Aguleri, Ogidi/Abagana and Oba. Anambra population is over 5million and not “4,2million” as he erroneously stated. The State is highly urbanized and densely populated with commerce as its major economic base, engaged in by over 70% of its adult residents. Anambra State is also second to none in self-help development index with evenly spread incomes per head. In old Onitsha and Nnewi urban areas, for instance, three out of every five commercial multi-storey buildings, have their own sunk bore holes. Also, sophisticated private hospitals adorn many of these old and new urban centers. In terms of primary and secondary schools, the number of government-approved private schools surpasses those of government and missionary schools and they are evenly distributed among the old and new urban centers and semi urban areas in the State.

The number of high and low rising commercial and private buildings in Anambra State surpasses the total number of same, if any, in the seven States of the Northwest geopolitical zone put together, from where Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai comes from. As at 1997, there were over 200 private large-scale industries in Nnewi alone. Presently, the major problem hindering the industrial growth in the State is the power epilepsy, caused not by the government and people of Anambra State, but by the Federal Government (power is in the exclusive legislative list). Presently, there are over 200 markets in the State alone and more are springing up. There is no major industry in Nigeria that does not have a link to Anambra State. Any item of legitimate human use is not in short supply in the State. Forty-percent of the Internally Generated Revenues of Delta State comes from Anambra State. Therefore, the State is typically a blue-collar society and one of the juiciest sources of the police illicit enrichment due to high carriage of cash or hand-to-hand cash transactions.

In terms of public governance, Ahmad El-Rufai ought to know that another name for high self-help development index is “government made easy”, in that a society with high self-help development records reduces the burden of government in the provision of social services to its people. Anambra, like other Southeast States, to a large extent, had two major set backs before now; its post civil war challenges, which deprived its post-civil war generations and their parents of conventional education, resulting in its present adult population’s limited education especially among the male adult traders, as well as the tragedies of the early 2000s when criminal gangs took over the management of the affairs of its men and women. Perhaps, the likes of Mallam Ahmad Nasir El-Rufai are still dwelling in this past ugly history of the State per his recent lopsided assessment of the State and its public governance, by utterly ignoring the great wind of change in the State epitomized by the present popularly instituted governance, which originated in March 2006.

To govern well in Nigeria’s context and under a democratic setting, a governor must not have identity or personality and moral bankruptcy. Very importantly, he or she must not be an electoral robber and he or she must have the hallowed electoral mandate of his or her people. There are four conventional ways of sourcing funds for public governance in Nigeria, that is to say: federation accounts receipts, internally generated revenues, borrowings and local/ international grants or development funds. Among these four core areas, borrowings are not socio-economically helpful because of their devastating effects on immediate and future well being of the affected State or locality. To this effect, we give it to the present government of Anambra State, which has successfully resisted the borrowing temptations in the past six years, unlike Imo State, for instance, that has over N100Billion internal debts to its deficit. In the inglorious epoch of Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, a $10Million loan was secured from an Egyptian bank, for the “building of an international market”, which was never built. Another N650Million loan was secured from a Nigerian bank for “the building of a stadium complex” in Awka, the State capital, which was also never built, to mention but a few. The debt regime under the illegitimate and unlawful regime of Dr. Chris Ngige remains utterly sketchy. Today, these loans with hash conditions are part of the $24.4Million still owed international lending institutions by the government of Anambra State. In the four core areas of fund sourcing, the government of Anambra State, under Mr. Peter Obi, has done well in the international fund sourcing or development partnerships as well as in the area of maintaining almost zero-borrowing culture both internally and externally.

However, true to Ahmad El-Rufai’s observation, the government of Mr. Peter Obi has failed woefully in the area of improving the IGR fortunes of the State, considering its vast revenue potentials. This is due to weak revenue generation mechanisms, which tend to favour illicit revenue agents, sometimes backed by some corrupt officials of the government both at State and local levels. This failure appears to have been necessitated by bountiful international patronage enjoyed by the government as well as the availability of the Local Government funds, used, under special conditions, for the development of selected infrastructures in the affected LGAs. Again, some of the deficiencies of Mr. Peter Obi’s administration are poor maintenance culture, snail-speed response to matters of urgent public importance, non-conduct of the local council polls, armchair syndrome of some, if not many of his bookish top aides and weak/ timely enforcement of law and other conventional social controls.

As for Ahmad El-Rufai’s criticism of the Anambra’s budgets and their sectoral allocations, he missed the point frontally and logically. This is because there exists legitimate and illegitimate budgeting. Budget is legitimate when it is realistic and executable, not fat and theoretical allocation with little or zero execution capacity. It is illegitimate when it is bloated, loan and white elephant driven. It is better to have a small and realistic budget than to have lofty, loan driven and white-elephant budget. Apart from attention being given to over 20 active gully sites in the State, our field team has also found that there exists a rapid response team that timely checks the newly developed gullies in parts of the State. On-going works on two of such young gullies at Uke Community in the State is a case in point.

Still on Anambra Budgets, the present government enjoys two “government-made easy” packages, one from the high self-help development index and the other from international funding and development institutions like UNICEF, EU, World Bank, UNDP, DFID, etc. For instance, we have found that many of the 177 communities, over 1000 public/mission primary schools and 258 public/mission secondary schools in the State now have bore holes courtesy of European Union, UNICEF, etc. In Ogbaru LGA, 30 boreholes are being sunk in thirty strategic places. In all, there are 434 water projects done in the State, excluding those done by the State Ministry of Local Government & Chieftaincy Matters. Bore holes under MDGs(millennium development goals) are 186, UNICEF through RUWASSA are 154, 17 EU Water schemes, 71 bore holes from MPUWRCD, to mention but few. This is in addition to high private borehole ratio per residence in the State and attention being given to the State’s major water schemes in Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Obizi-Uga, etc. State’s community/general hospitals and health centers are not in short supply in the State. Most, if not all of them are provided with boreholes. Conversely, it is very important to point out that there are some boreholes, especially those sunk in hilly and dry areas that are not functioning, either due to shady jobs by contractors or difficult terrains. In the area of education, about 800 mission primary schools and about 42 mission secondary schools were returned to their missionary owners (Catholic church-over 400, Anglican church-over 300, etc), excluding the payment of their teachers’ salaries and other welfare, which is still borne by the State Government, thereby living the State with 261 public primary and 216 secondary schools. The intent for returning the schools is for moral rejuvenation.

In the areas of roads, crime rates and other social services, Ahmad El-Rufai also goofed. While many States still find it difficult connecting one LGA to another, road-wise, Anambra has gone far beyond that. The 177 communities in the State are now divided into first class, second class and third class communities in terms of link roads. All the 21 LGAs, first class and second-class communities are easily accessible road-wise. The third class communities and some important street roads in old Onitsha urban like Iyiowa Odekpe/Odo-Rubber, Okpoko/Nkutaku, Awada, Ugwuagba, Nkpor, Ogidi and Woliwo Layout/ Omagba Phase 11, are still begging for government attention. Some of these areas are new layouts. Also, major parts of the Onitsha-Enugu Federal Road, which is at the heart of the State, are still an eyesore, except few parts that have been rehabilitated. On the other hand, urban areas like Fegge, Inland Town, GRA, Nsugbe 33 and Odo-akpu all in old Onitsha urban and major parts of Nnewi have very good road network. Also, the Omambala area of the State, which used to be utterly neglected, is being transformed. Igbariam/ Umuleri and Nsugbe/Nkwere-Ezunaka are the newest urban areas in the State, which are part of the hitherto neglected areas of the State. Over 15 medium and large-scale bridges and their connecting roads have been constructed across the State’s difficult terrains. Conversely, Awka is yet to wear the deserved look of a modern State capital city, though many of its old-fashioned roads are tarred as well as erection of some key public infrastructures like State Secretariat, CBN, etc

In terms of access to justice, there are court of superior records (high courts) in Onitsha (many sub divisions), Otuocha(serving the river-line areas of Anambra East/West, Oyi and Ayamelum LGAs), Awka (many sub divisions), Aguata, Nnewi, Ogidi and Ihiala. In the area of “ high crime rates”, Ahmad El-Rufai lacks professional know-how in criminology and security studies or related fields to understand what “crime rates” are all about. Though street crimes including property crimes are normal in blue-collar society such as Anambra State, which also provides job for social control agencies, other than Northeast zone which is the most crime-prone in Nigeria presently, it is difficult to pin point any State as “being among those with highest crime rates”. Since Ahmad El-Rufai is not a crime statistician, we wonder how he arrived at the lopsided submission that Anambra has one of the highest crime rates in Nigeria, especially taking into account “dark” and “gray” figures of crime statistics as well as prevalence of white-collar crimes and crimes against persons (prevalent in the North). To credibly assess crime rates, crime must be evaluated holistically. What two white-collar criminals steal in Katsina State in a month, for instance, may most likely outweigh the total proceeds of property crimes generated in one year in the entire Southeast zone by property criminals. Contrary to Ahmad El-Rufai’s submission, crime is not restricted to “property crime” of armed robbery and hostage for ransom.

From the foregoing, therefore, it is clear that Ahmad El-Rufai’s piece is ill conceived and utterly political. It may have derived its motives from the forthcoming 2015 political power games. The piece utterly portrayed Anambra State and its People as backward, manifestly poor, under-developed, crisis and crime-prone, and above all, a pariah partner in the Nigerian Federation Project. By canonizing an electoral usurper and thief, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai is encouraging electoral roguery and telling the Anambra electorates to always allow their hallowed electoral mandate to be stolen by an electoral criminal gang. His piece ought to be titled:” How Ahmad El-Rufai & Other Northern Elites Underdeveloped & Impoverished the Majority Northern Populations” and not, “Anambra Budgets of Mispriorities”.

The truth is that Anambra surpasses the entire North West zone by any standards of social measurement. Therefore, it is “Anambra versus the North”. While Anambra is highly urbanized, the North West and the entire North excluding the FCT are bedeviled by higher rural-urban drift because of the primitive concentration of the business of governance in the capital cities of the North. While educational opportunities in the North are reserved for Northern elites like Ahmad El-Rufai, alms and religious radicalism are reserved for the vast majority of their populations. When the Northern elites want political power, they recruit this impoverished majority into misconceived religious zealotry and after ascending to power; they reward them with weekly feeding and chaplet incantations at their palatial homes. While the real political slogan of these inhumane elites is “take money or material things and give me power, but when I get power, I will use my power to take my money back from you”, they indoctrinate this majority with “God giveth and taketh power”.

Therefore, in the North, the two theories aforementioned are utterly suitable. The Boko-Haram uprising in the North is not only an “intifada” against the Federal Government, but importantly, it is also an uprising against the Northern elites, who mindlessly blocked social opportunities for the vast majority of their people for more than 25 years they held sway at the presidency. Today, the uprising is against the Federal Government and its security establishments as well as Igbo-Christians and non-Igbo Christians as well, but tomorrow, Northern elites may most likely be joined. Ahmad El-Rufai’ s handling of the landed properties of the Southeast people during his days as the FCT Minister, which made him to reveal that”75% of the properties in the FCT are owned by the Igbo people”, as well as the fate of the displaced local indigenes (Gbagi-Gwari) may be a topic for another day. The foregoing, therefore, is part of how the Northern elites including Ahmad El-Rufai under-developed and impoverished the vast Northern majority. We wish to submit that Anambra State is not poor, backward or socially disorganized, and if the North is Mogadishu, then Anambra is Tokyo.

Even in the area of external borrowings and debts, Anambra State is among the five least indebted States, whereas the North including the Ahmad El-Rufai’s North West, is heavily indebted. Some insiders have also revealed that the heaven will let loose if the internal debts profiles of many States of the Federation including States of the North are made open. The Nigeria’s Debt Management Office’s recent report of March 2012 has it that the Southwest zone is the most indebted in terms of foreign debts, with $810Million or N122Billion, followed by North West zone $458Million or N67.9Billion, with Ahmad El-Rufai’s Katsina State owing $74.13Million or N11Billion (Kaduna State owes $182.2Million or N27.3Million); followed by South-south with $289.2Million or N43.6Billion; followed by Southeast with $193.7 or N29.1Billion; followed by North-central with $190.2Million or N28.7Billon; and followed by Northeast zone with $185.1Million or N27.7Billion. The Federal Capital Territory-Abuja owes $36.84Million or N5.5Billion. Anambra is in the fifth position among the five least indebted States of Borno-$12.9Million or N1.9Billion, Delta-$15.4Million or N2.03Billion, Taraba-$20.4Million or N3.06Billion, Plateau-$20.43Million or N3.07Billion and Anambra-$24.4Million or N3.66Billion, using the exchange rate of N150.00 per USD. The present government of Anambra State is also reputed to have borrowed nothing internally since 2006 except statutory controversial service pay arrears owed the workers of State parastatals like State water corporation, State printing company and the State-broadcasting outfit as well as the Federal Government bonded zero-interest World Bank facilities for health-care delivery in selected States repayable under soft conditions.

Finally, we must avoid the grave mistakes of running down our few comrade-governors, who have come to serve their people, simply because of certain primitive political interests. We have always maintained that Lagos people are lucky to have Tinubu/Fashola as their governors, even though they ran and still run government of budget deficits with staggering foreign debts of $491Million or over N73Billion and undisclosed tens of billions of naira of internal debts. Also, Edo people are lucky to have Comrade Adams Oshomoile as their governor and Anambra people are very lucky to have Mr. Peter Obi as their governor. Ekiti and Osun people may be lucky too to have their governors. Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has the mandate of his people, but he must refrain from further mortgaging the future of the State by reportedly being a loan seeking and borrowing governor. Public governance requires towering personality profiles, creativity and frontal initiatives. Therefore, all the 36 States governors are not the same, comparatively speaking. Some are charlatans with mechanical legitimacy. Others are hedonistic compradors, while the remainders are creative and innovative governors with hallowed mandates of their people.

http://elombah.com/index.php/special-reports/11434-anambra-versus-the-north-how-nasir-ahmad-el-rufai-other-northern-elites-underdeveloped-impoverished-majority-northern-populations

Kobojunkie:

It shouldn't be that way. How majority of Ibo subjects are dealt with, mostly by the internet tribalists has nothing to do with the reality of life for Ibos in Nigeria. So I think we should not confuse the extremes here on the internet(nairaland to be precise) with that which exists in the real world.

The message contained in the article was compiled by a fellow Ibo man. As you can see, some are close to labeling him an efulefu because he chose to criticize Obi's administration. The mentality among Ibos, which you previously spoke off has seriously damaged Ibo land for decades, and not until the people move away from this, will the land begin to flourish, as it should.

My point is that the attitude of igbos in the face of criticisms is as a result of a peculiar and seemingly organised culture of misguided prejudices when it comes to igbos which might have led to a sense of siege like mentality amongst igbos.
We see this attitude in the African American community in the US.

Even though I dont support Obis response to the issue,
1. How can El-rufais say that a state with 3 urban centers is rural.
2. A state which has been in the news for opening factories such as SabMiller, Innosson, Emzor Pharm and Orient Refineries be the least friendly state to attract investment.
3. A state which consistently come 3rd in Jamb Application and admissions be educationally backward.
4. A state with the 4th concentration of banks in Nigeria be lacking in economic activity.
5. A state which has accomplshed arguably the longest stretch of road construction than any state in Nigeria.

El-rufai is right though as the above have got nothing to do with Peter Obi, and Obi has been guilty of misplaced priorities and laughable projects but the points he highlighted are grossly inaccurate and in most cases in stark contrast to reality.

RoadStar:
My point is that the attitude of igbos in the face of criticisms is as a result of a peculiar and seemingly organised culture of misguided prejudices when it comes to igbos which might have led to a sense of siege like mentality amongst igbos.
We see this attitude in the African American community in the US.

It is all a result of inferiority complex and nothing more. And yes, a whole ethnic group can suffer from this. White Americans are equally castigated by the world . . .have been more than any group out there, especially for their treatment of African Americans, and other minority groups, and their involvement in Slavery.

Kobojunkie:
It is all a result of inferiority complex and nothing more. And yes, a whole ethnic group can suffer from this. White Americans are equally castigated by the world . . .have been more than any group out there, especially for their treatment of African Americans, and other minority groups, and their involvement in Slavery.

Inferiority complex !!! To whom
Everyone else in Nigeria
Don't make me laugh ?
Pride and complex are kinda contradictory words, don't u think ?

I'll go for defensive and siege mentality.

RoadStar:
Pride and complex are kinda contradictory words, don't u think ?

I'll go for defensive and siege mentality.

I don't think so. But, I think I would rather we get back to the issue.

El Rufai made correct statements here, and no matter the source, people need to WELCOME the truth. Pride that stands against truth is NO true PRIDE.

bestview: Bunkum. The only Nigerian state that can be compared to Anambra is Lagos and Rivers state. Go figure. Elrufai should be more bothered with the army of almajiris, lepers, beggars parading the caves and stone age northern Nigeria. There is no single northern state that is worthy to be compared to Anambra state.

I believe it was an illustrious son who once wrote that, "the peacock refused to alter its dignified matter of walking just because the forest is on fire".

Just saying...

RoadStar:
My point is that the attitude of igbos in the face of criticisms is as a result of a peculiar and seemingly organised culture of misguided prejudices when it comes to igbos which might have led to a sense of siege like mentality amongst igbos.
We see this attitude in the African American community in the US.

Even though I dont support Obis response to the issue,
1. How can El-rufais say that a state with 3 urban centers is rural.
2. A state which has been in the news for opening factories such as SabMiller, Innosson, Emzor Pharm and Orient Refineries be the least friendly state to attract investment.
3. A state which consistently come 3rd in Jamb Application and admissions be educationally backward.
4. A state with the 4th concentration of banks in Nigeria be lacking in economic activity.
5. A state which has accomplshed arguably the longest stretch of road construction than any state in Nigeria.

El-rufai is right though as the above have got nothing to do with Peter Obi, and Obi has been guilty of misplaced priorities and laughable projects but the points he highlighted are grossly inaccurate and in most cases in stark contrast to reality.

You have said it all. I think with these postulations the message has been delivered to Elrufai and his likes.

merengue:
How much exactly did the 500km of roads built in Anambra State by Governor Obi cost? Informed citizens have put the figure at between N48 billion and N60 billion, more than double of what Cross River State is spending for corresponding kilometers of roads.

The going price for construction of roads in Nigeria is N70m per kilometer. In some states such as Imo State, the State Government (same AGPA Government) has capped this figure at N60m per kilometre.

If 500km of road has been built in Anambra, this should cost N35bn (at N70m per road), not N48bn or N60bn.

If the roads are only being asphalted, this figure should be significantly less.

Is is that Nigeria hates Igbos or Igbos hate Nigeria.
How on earth could the views of Peter Obi and/or others be stereotyped as "the Igbooooooos"

Is Lawan Farouk undoing " the Housaaaaaas"

Please people should get a life. Stop this stinking hateful stereotype. I met a man on the street yesterday somewhere in Europe, blindly out of stereotype, he told me he had not seen an Igbo man going to school since he had been to Europe. Well I said you have not seen does not mean there are non/.

Please avoid stereotypes

Kobojunkie:

Beginning ke? The East has recorded so many decades of this misplaced pride. Obi is simply riding the same horse that many of those before him have ridden.

True Talk!

but wait o, wetin concern el-rufai with anambra state,

nku5:
Beautiful write up. Where this Ofodile man dey since? Peter Obi just rode in ngige's hard luck and ikemba's personality. I'm glad people are waking up.

RoadStar:
This baseless pride of not being able to accept critisism is what Obi has been exploiting for time now.
You could see in his response to el-rufais comments as an Igbo attack.
This mentallity especially of Igbos is beginning to damage us big time.

Abagworo:

I believe Nigerians have deteriorated to an alarming psychological state which calls for emergency proliferation of multiple psychiatric clinics. Instead of you to oppose constructively, you've brought in unnecessary tribalism and name-calling. Every sane person knows Obi's performance has been dismal. As someone who often visited Awka and Nnewi, I once criticized him on Nairaland but had to stop because some people just like Obi made it seem like any other Nigerian criticizing Obi hates Anambra State. The impact of Ngige's short stay is still felt far more than Obi's 6 years.

PROUD-IGBO:


^^^Nna men!!! I tire for governance in that state, and i'm just watching the clock in anticipation of Obis' departure in about two years time.

I'm not impressed with current development strides in Anambra and i've also noticed that the quality of work done in road construction and public buildings is under par. This is one reason you hardly see pics/videos showcasing government developments in Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi: there's not much to show, and the little you see (à la 'anids') is 'local government/substandard' looking stuff.

The reason peeps fret when Obi is attacked is that an attack on Obi is an attack on Ojukwu, which is a no-no in Igbo society. Lets not forget that Peter Obi is Ojukwu's "son" and his "last wish" was for Anambrarians to vote for Obi.

Abagworo:

I believe Nigerians have deteriorated to an alarming psychological state which calls for emergency proliferation of multiple psychiatric clinics. Instead of you to oppose constructively, you've brought in unnecessary tribalism and name-calling. Every sane person knows Obi's performance has been dismal. As someone who often visited Awka and Nnewi, I once criticized him on Nairaland but had to stop because some people just like Obi made it seem like any other Nigerian criticizing Obi hates Anambra State. The impact of Ngige's short stay is still felt far more than Obi's 6 years.

. Thank you. Sometimes it is an ordeal to discuss topics on Nairaland, because majority of the people here are intellectually re-tar-ded.

Hocus pocus

bestview: Bunkum. The only Nigerian state that can be compared to Anambra is Lagos and Rivers state. Go figure. Elrufai should be more bothered with the army of almajiris, lepers, beggars parading the caves and stone age northern Nigeria. There is no single northern state that is worthy to be compared to Anambra state.

have you being to the north before. are you thinking well to be Comparing Anambra with Lagos and Cross River. have you being to northern states like Kaduna, Jos and Kano. ANAMBRA IS A FAILED STATE.

Bestview/Chino11;

Calling El Rufai names doesnt change anything. I want you to dispute what Ofodile put up in that write up with facts not insults.

Insults are used by cowards and people who are bereft of any serious defence.

Nigeria's Excess Crude Account: To Spend or to Save? : Federal government and state governors are in disagreement over how best to use excess profits from Nigeria's oil

http://thinkafricapress.com/nigeria/may-oil-prices-never-fall-eca-swf

That last person to talk about an Igbo state is a bloody Almajiri, even if its one with brain. I am not from Anambra but the only state to compare to Anambra in the North is Kano but lately Boko Boys has reduces it to Refugee camp,So what has Ewu-rufai done

@john4pius

You must be day dreaming with your masturbation.

Yes, all the northern states put together cannot equal one Anambra. Economically, educationally, socially and even infrastructurally, Go figure.

The only undoing of Anambra state is the Onitsha-Awka federal expressway, which presently under construction. Besides that Anambra has some of the best road network connecting all the communities in the state. It is this roads that made it possible for some rural towns of Ekwulobia, Ihialla, Umunze, Oba, Obosi and even Anam are speedily turning into urban centers where people now live and work/trade.

john4pius:

have you being to the north before. are you thinking well to be Comparing Anambra with Lagos and Cross River. have you being to northern states like Kaduna, Jos and Kano. ANAMBRA IS A FAILED STATE.

Tell me what those states have that Anambra do not have, they have good roads because of their terrain and should not claim better.

onye_ngbu/Al haram:

Who is Elrufai? The boko haram leader?

Biko, I want you to dispute what I posted on the link above. Ewu Gambia.