Governor
Peter Obi of Anambra State on Saturday said he had laid a proper
foundation for the solid growth of the state from a near zero situation
when he assumed office six years ago.
Obi who spoke at an interactive session
with newsmen in Awka was reacting to issues raised by former FCT
Minister El-Rufai in a national newspaper (not SUNDAY PUNCH) concerning governance in Anambra.
El Rufai reportedly said Anambra was the
poorest state in the country, that it was educationally backward,
lacked priorities and suffered from poor infrastructural development.
But Obi said, only those who had not been to the state, and who had poor knowledge of the state’s recent history could say so.
He said, “I am surprised that somebody I
am not sure has been to Anambra State even as a minister comments about
the state from the point of view of what I consider as pure,
unadulterated ignorance.
“It is an insult to the Igbo race to
openly or even remotely suggest that any part of Igbo land is the
poorest in the country. This negates our resourcefulness and ingenuity
as a people.
“Honestly, I do not know what propels
him or what interest he is protecting. We need people to help to assess
and validate what we’re doing. We’re on course and we’re doing the right
things.”
The governor said his state had the
best road network in the country, while the education and health sectors
receive unparalleled development.
“The handover of schools to their former
missionary owners and the take-off grant of N6bn for their
infrastructural development is a feat that was replicated in the health
sector with handover of hospitals to mission schools.
“On sports development, the state’s
fortunes have been witnessing a steady rise in recent years at sports
festivals due to government’s conscious sports development strategy
aimed at spotting and grooming young talents to stardom.
“Our emphasis is on the youth not on
adults and we’re marching towards a situation where the state will
recapture its lost glory,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment