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Anambra As Nightmare To The Nation
FROM CHUKS COLLINS,
AWKA
EVER since restoration of democracy in Nigeria on May 29, 1999, Anambra State has never known peace. It all started with the government of Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju which was succeeded by the present administration. For a good part of its tenure,it was bogged down by several political and,by extension, financial headaches. It was the political tornado that overwhelmed him and his administration that are being replicated now. Dr Chinwoke was consumed by the crises.Unfortunately, the incumbent governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, appears not to be cowed or intimidated. He is more like the proverbial cat with nine lives.Moreso when it was clear that Aso Rock appears to enjoy relating to the state through renegades who have no respect for constituted authorities. They only see partisan politics as merchandise simply meant for profits and huge returns.
It is that bestial group that has, therefore, turned the state to a jungle.
The ubiquitous renegades, better referred to as Aso Rock pets, are daily striking at the soul of the state with ease,at will, having been given enough pat on the back for their July 10, 2003 "flash in the pan" efforts. Many had predicted it. They had promised to return. They have even now assured Nigerians of their resolve to come back more viciously! Peace meeting or not. Reconciliation panel or not. And they meant every word of it.
Instructively, every Nigerian saw their acts and utterances as inflammatory, criminal and an affront to established statutes, as well as treason, which must be curtailed. But Mr. President sees it differently. So, the boys after failing in their bid on July 10, last year, regrouped, replanned and promised Ngige"fire and blood next time". This, they did on November 10, this year! Unfortunately, their obvious stranglehold on the police,observers say, is fast turning an embarrassment to similar institutions in decent and sane societies elsewhere.
Speaking days after the highly motivated thugs overran the state, conquered and decimated all government buildings, President Obasanjo in his magnanimity directed police chief Tafa Balogun, to "restore partial security" to Ngige.What then was this partial security? The policemen, who were evidently disoriented and out of favour with revelations of what their superiors have been up to, wondered why they were now sent after the mayhem. To guard and protect the ashes and ruins.
Those posted to the Government House, radio/television stations or the State Electoral Commission have, certainly, nothing left to guard or protect Evidently, the partial security as directed by the president was not meant to make Ngige, the state or its facilities protected or safer, but just to cover up the shame and embarrassment their connivance with the hoodlums has become. Even the officers see their presence in the state as just part of their duty tour. One of them told The Guardian that when the thugs advanced towards the Governor's Lodge on Friday, November 13, thinking it was still business as usual, "we told them in plain language to go back or we will act". The hoodlums brushed aside the warning and continued advancing but, "when we corked and aimed the guns", the officer added, "they suddenly realised that the status quo has changed". From then on, the newly mobilised officers from nearby states decided not to take any more orders from the state command, if they must work well.
But as Gov. Ngige has now recovered his full security through the judgment from the Court of Appeal, a lot is likely to change. The widespread brigandage will surely stop. That was perhaps why the hoodlums chose to strike earlier to avoid confronting the superior police firepower.
Today, when interests and pressure groups have sent representatives to the state to see things for themselves, some unlucky ones were made to have some extra experience. One such group was the Mrs Iyabo Anisulowo-led three-man Senate Committee on States and Local Government's administration.
The team which earlier on arrival at the Awka Government House premises betrayed their apprehension about security of lives and property in the state, was treated to the new dimension of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) politics in the area. That was when some hoodlums who had besieged the highway through which they knew the governor must pass, to, either take him on, and or display their ability in order for the team to have a complete dose of what our dear Ngige must endure.
At the Government House, visibly bewildered senators kept looking round in disbelief at what used to be an edifice occupied by the state's number one citizen, his deputy and their close staff and aides. The office of the deputy governor was the worst hit as only the burglary protector which was still hanging at where there used to be the main entrance would convince anyone that there was once a building there. Also, the long building housing the Government House Permanent Secretary, Chief Uche Udedibia, some other aides and staff as well as an extension of the governor's waiting room, were blown to pieces.
Thereon, the team went to the multi-purpose auditorium of the Women Development Centre, the state-owned Ikenga Hotel, Royale, Judiciary Headquarters and the Chambers of the State House of Assembly. The tables, chairs and canopies which were rented for the day's sitting was just being arranged while the members led by Speaker Mike Balonwu was having an executive session, standing by the corner, when the Senators arrived.
It did not take long before shooting began. Before leaving Government House earlier, Senator Anisulowo who was Chairman of the committee, perhaps out of concern for her safety urged the officials which included the Deputy Governor, Chief Ugochukwu Nwankwo, the Secretary to the State Government and Chief Udedibia as well as the Commissioner for Special Duties Chief Chris Atuegwu and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal Matters Mrs Bene Nwachukwu etc, to shelve further discussion or tour of the sites but to, "come to Enugu with all the details, well packaged for our perusal and consideration". This instantly irked the officials who have for the last few days been appealing to the traumatised citizens and workers to ignore the nightmare experience of Nov 10-13 as part of revolution geared towards liberating the state from political and economic bondage.
They did not waste time to tell Mrs Anisulowo that it was just not possible because the acts took place in Anambra, not Enugu. Not even her appeal that they were going there to see the other side could dissuade the officials. So when they drove out of the Assembly premises into the nearby state broadcasting outfit - ABS radio/television headquarters and the gun battle got full blown, the visitors did not waste time dashing into their cars. The remaining briefs and discussions with the main target of the shooting incident, Governor Ngige, were done in a hurry. Senator Anisulowo was visibly filled with trepidation. Her mind was already Enugu-bound. Governor Ngige told them that quantification of the colossal losses had been done and would be made available, adding that what he's faced with was the task of rebuilding a new Anambra.
He implored them to tour the remaining areas which include the other three radio/television stations of ABS at Enugu-Ukwu, Awada and Onitsha South Council secretariat, and the Governor's Lodge Annexe at Onitsha. They were vehement in rejecting the request. Their minds were clear, but the guess was not for long because Anisuolowo popped it,"
"Sorry, I am not staying in Awka and that is it, with all these things (shootings) happening," in their presence.
Ngige offered to accommodate them at one of the hotels in the town, they refused. Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly Ozo Ughamadu tried to buoy their faith by informing them that, "the police people are here, you are safe", they became even more resolute in their determination to go. Not even the reassurance by Police Commissisoner Ogbaudu that his men would ensure smooth passage for them could change their minds. They were so ratted by the shooting experience that they kept stealing a glance at Ngige to either be sure he wasn't camouflaging some gun-shot injuries or must have been wearing bullet-proof vest.
In fact, they were unable to have their cars fuelled at the government's fuel dump, which necessitated in having a protocol officer do it for them somewhere else on the way. It was that bad.
The armed attack on the governor's convoy came about 48 hours after a heart-to-heart meeting by the Presidential Peace Committee led by its Chairman and Governor of Ebonyi State Dr Sam Egwu with the leaders of thought of the state and the traditional rulers in attendance. It was a forum for frank expressions.
But the leaders asked for instant arrest and prosecution of the sponsors of the mayhem who they acknowledged were very well known. They further asked for them to be hanged while declaring the state a no-go-area to any of them for now.
While meetings were going on in Awka, Enugu, Abakaliki and Abuja at various levels to reconcile all parties, the governor's official residence was laced with grenades .. Fortunately, only one of them could be successfully detonated by the evil forces.
Ngige had had a car crash on March 21, this year just about five weeks after he was stripped of his usual security details.
It left some people dead and his official car a relic. He was shoved out of the road, almost in front of the police command headquarters. He was attacked at the Enugu Zonal Congress of PDP on Decenber 6, last year and was also shot at in the presence of the Anisulowo team. His bedroom was later to become the next target.
Has Anambra become a nightmare to the nation?
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