From Obinna Odogwu, Ekwulobia
For the leaders and people of the 179 communities that make up Anambra State, under the aegis of Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), it was a moment of stock-taking and brainstorming recently when they agreed to converge on the three senatorial zones of the state for the maiden edition of their town hall meeting to look at issues that would help in moving the state forward.
The meetings, which held on different days in the three senatorial zones, took off in Anambra North at Tourist Garden Hotels, Aguleri.
The South and Central senatorial zones held their town hall meetings at St. Cletus Church Auditorium, Otolo Nnewi, and White Castle Hotels, Neni, respectively.
The issues covered at the meetings included the perceived poor representation by some officials at all levels of government, communal crisis witnessed in many parts of the state over traditional stool, and the involvement of youths in the sale of communities’ land, which they identified as the major cause of intra-communal crisis in the state, especially between youths and the elders.
The participants also looked at issues of governance in the state, suggesting measures to correct lapses.
They also looked at developmental issues, with advice on the way out, such as issues of security, economy and unemployment, among others.
On the upcoming 2017 governorship election in the state, ASATU disclosed their resolution to support Anambra North to complete its tenure after which the rotation would go to another senatorial zone, in the “interest of peace, fairness, and equity.”
National President of ASATU, Dr Jude Okolo, said that the town hall meeting was conceived because of their desire to build a dynamic, more prosperous and stable society.
“The town hall meeting will serve as a veritable platform that could bring together Ndi-Anambra and their representatives in government. This will be an avenue where we share fellowship, look at our achievements and articulate solutions to our common problems,” he said.
Okolo, during the deliberations, raised the alarm over the involvement of the youth in the sale of land in their communities.
He identified it as the major cause of intra-communal crisis in many parts of the state.
“What I am saying is that getting the youths involved in the sale of land in the communities is not good at all for the development of the town. The youths are supposed to get themselves engaged in useful ventures that can lead to development, but somebody that gets himself involved in the selling of land will end up being a miscreant in the society because he depends on commissions from the sales.
“Sometimes, they go to the extent of selling a piece of land several times just to make money and end up jamming two or more heads together.
“Secondly, that is not a productive venture. A youth who has some skills can contribute to the improvement of the economy of the country. But somebody who stays in his village looking for somebody to buy a piece of land and when he doesn’t see somebody, he gets himself involved in some anti-social activities in town,” he said.
Corroborating the argument, Dr (Mrs) Chinelo Okechukwu, ASATU President (Women Wing), pointed out that the “Occasion gave everybody the opportunity to voice out their teething problems in their various communities to their representatives in government.
“At the same time, the people’s representatives at all levels of governance were also made to present their stewardship,” she said.
The chairman of the board of trustees of ASATU, Chief Damian Okeke Ogene, who is also the national treasurer of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, was particularly sad that government is autocratic in handling the body at community levels.
“The President-Generals are the only democratically elected people in their various communities. It’s sad that government on executive fiat dissolves the town union executives and sets up caretaker committee because they don’t like the face of the President-General (PG).
“There is a democratic system at that level. If the PG is found wanting by a committee set up to investigate his alleged wrongdoing, he should be removed and his deputy should complete the tenur, instead of dissolving the entire executive. All of them cannot be corrupt at a time. That’s wrong and unacceptable,” Ogene said.
The state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, who was represented at the meeting by the Commissioner for Information, Ogbuefi Tony Nnacheta, was elated about the town hall meeting.
He said that his government would capitalise on the resolution to touch the lives of Ndi-Anambra the best way the people want, even as he used the opportunity to present his stewardship to them.
Specifically, he expressed sadness that many skills acquisition centres were lying fallow in various communities just as he cleared the air on the issue of Anambra rice.
“Any PG who cannot utilise skill acquisition centres in his community should resign. It is their responsibility to ensure that public facilities in their localities are put to best use.
“Again, for the avoidance of doubt, Anambra State government does not cultivate rice; rather, Ndi-Anambra in their various farms cultivate this rice called Anambra rice,” he explained.
Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, who was at the Central Senatorial town hall, lamented that erosion has reduced the landmass of the state such that it appears to be the smallest state in the federation.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, HRM Igwe Rowland Odegbo, Abogu II, na Nteje, expressed satisfaction at the town hall meeting, describing it as a great success.
He eulogised Obiano, pointing out that “despite the bad economy, he has handled Anambra State well.”