I witnessed the Ngige phenomenon. I never met Dr. Ngige in person, but somehow I felt like I did. The local news in the state was filled with Ngige has done this and has done that. He was simply the topic of most conversations I heard amongst majority of Anambra indigenes. In fact I don’t believe that in my lifetime that I had ever come across such an overwhelming support for a Nigerian politician. I am not talking about lip service and crony support, but I mean genuine, heartfelt, grassroots, real people support. I heard many mothers and fathers talk about the Anambra governor as if he were their own son. This type of populist fame had never been seen or heard in a state that had in the past produced a load of fakes and duds as governors. The popular view especially amongst the older generation was that not since M.I.Okpara had they witnessed a man of such genuine disposition. All I have to say Mr. Governor is, “Carry go”! The only thing I hope and wish for is that the forces of darkness and enemies of progress in Anambra state do not stop this phenomenon.

My belief has always been that if the people are provided with basic infrastructure the sky will always be the limit to their effort to become productive members of the society. Anambra State seemed very safe calm and peaceful. I actually spent 2 of my 3 weeks in Ogidi something I was afraid of doing when I visited in 2002. I’m sure you are beginning to wonder what my ranting is all about, well here it is; Governor Ngige has done the unthinkable! He has reconstructed roads that had been totally neglected by preceding administrations. People now get around in Anambra State like they have never been used to. Ngige actually has a plan that includes the welfare of the people that is why I believe that he will not be satisfied with road construction and rehabilitation alone. Teachers, Government employees, and pensioners have not been owed. Such is the manner of man now sitting at the helm affairs in Anambra. Ngige not only makes promises but he delivers too. I pray that your good governance which is solidly people oriented continue to flourish without any more issues from detractors. Amen!

I scanned the Nigerian news on the internet just before I began this article and saw where the entire markets in Anambra state closed so as to allow traders accompany Ngige to Enugu where his appeal case on election issues is going on. As a believer in the notion of allowing people to freely elect and not select their leaders I do not support all the Shenanigans that went on in the 2003 elections, but since Obasanjo is being allowed to stay on I don’t see why anybody wants Ngige to go. Who knows if Peter Obi would have done anything if he was chosen? I do strongly believe that Ngige’s coming was divinely inspired. Had he not stood up to fight against the initial attempted coup in Anambra, and all the other attempts at destabilizing his government it would have been business as usual, that would have allowed Chris Uba and friends to plunder and steal Anambra State blind. The call now is for the people of Anambra state to make sure that Chris Ngige is returned to the government house in 2007.

I once heard President Obasanjo make a claim about being one of the founders of Transparency International. If this is true, then it is sad that the Nigerian government which he presides over have continued to have abysmal ratings by the same organization he helped found. We have not climbed out of the bottom of the poorest country in the world and neither have we left the top of the most corrupt. All we have done is play musical chairs with countries like Haiti, Rwanda, and Pakistan in both categories. I have even read where Obasanjo’s shameless image makers have criticized Transparency International as being biased. Wow! Reality must be a very strange word around Aso Rock. Despite all the diabolical attempts to remove Ngige and destabilize Anambra State which we know was backed by the Presidency, Transparency has found a home in Anambra.

Governor Ngige, your detractors say that had you not undergone the baptism of fire like you did, you would have been like others before you. Whether this is true or not I do not know, but the old saying about when the going gets tough really applies to you. You could have succumbed to the demands of the crooks who wanted to handicap your good intentions, but you didn’t. You could have chosen the part of least resistance and imbibed the” you chop I chop philosophy”, but you didn’t. That is why in my heart I believe that your character is as solid as a rock. I don’t believe you working to please anyone or any group, but that you are doing what comes natural to you. Like my old principal at DMGS Onitsha late Mr. C.C Agunwa of AGULU used say “Reward for a job well done is, more work” So Dr. Ngige, carry on with your good work and know that what you are doing is transparently obvious to all believers in service to the people.

Chibuzo Onubogu writes from the USA