Anambra, NIGERIA — High Chief Godwin Agbasimelo, the Founder and CEO of the Oga Ndi Oga Foundation, expressed deep concerns over the state of Anambra, a region rich in resources and talent yet plagued by security challenges and inadequate infrastructure.
In a recent interview with journalists, Agbasimelo lamented that despite Anambra being home to numerous billionaires and highly educated individuals, it has failed to live up to its potential as the “light of the nation.”
He highlighted the alarming rise in kidnappings and assassinations, which have made the area less safe for its residents. “Rich men no longer visit home with their vehicles and some end up lodging in hotels at Asaba because of fear of kidnappers,” he said. “Anambra people now hold traditional marriages in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. The other time, Anambra boy Flavor held his father’s burial ceremony in Enugu because of a bad security situation in his hometown. So what is the government and the people doing about this?”
Agbasimelo also pointed out the poor state of infrastructure, particularly the lack of good roads and reliable power supply. “Why can’t the government and the people fix our roads and apply solar energy to give Ndi Anambra a steady power supply?” he questioned. He noted the effectiveness of solar energy solutions in neighboring Delta State, contrasting it with Anambra’s ongoing struggles. “I constructed seven and a half kilometers of road and installed solar energy to provide 24-hour street light in my hometown of Ezinifite. Go to Nnewi; all the roads are bad and nothing is being done about it.”
He attributed the current challenges to a lack of effective leadership, stating, “Good leadership seems to have ceased in Anambra with the expiration of the tenure of Governor Peter Obi.” Agbasimelo urged the current governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, to engage with political stakeholders to address these pressing issues. “When Soludo was declared the winner of the 2021 governorship election, he made a promise to meet with the candidates of other political parties to borrow some of our ideas and vision into his own manifesto, but up till now, he has not invited us for the meeting,” he said.
Furthermore, he called on the churches in Anambra to play a more proactive role. “A good candidate that can transform Anambra can emerge from any political party,” he advised. He urged the churches to speak out when societal issues arise, stating, “We don’t have adequate security and the churches are not speaking out to condemn the situation. The faithful of the churches are victims of the ugly situation.”
Agbasimelo concluded by emphasizing the need for collective action and vision from the people of Anambra, insisting that “it is time for Ndi Anambra to wake up to their feet and take Anambra to the high pedestal where we belong.”
“This is not the kind of Anambra we envisaged from the outset. If Obiora Agbasimelo had won the 2021 election and became Governor, I would have transformed Anambra State. What does it take to fix a security apparatus to effectiveness? What does it take to go to roads and what does it take to electrify Anambra with solar energy. You go to China and tell them the quality and quantity of solar energy you want they just make it available to you. I think it is time for Ndi Anambra to wake up to their feet and take Anambra to the high pedestal where we belong
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