*North zone now ready to lead
*to consolidate on Obi’s legacies
From Chuks Collins, Awka
Aug 20, 2012
As the race for the successor of Gov Peter Obi of Anambra gradually picks up come next year, Senator Emma Anosike, one of the hopefuls from the North Senatorial zone of the state, the area widely favoured to produce the next governor has affirmed that they are ready to take up the challenge.
Speaking in an exclusive chat with the Guardian at his Umuleri, Anambra East council country home yesterday, the Senator admitted that the zone normally referred to as the food-basket of the state was now very ready to give the state a capable, effective and able hand as its next governor.
More so, he stated, “the next governor must consolidate on the achievements of Gov Obi, reduce the cost of governance in the state through by neutralizing the long protocol formalities, to make the aides more effective and useful.
“Also the governor must make more use of the traditional rulers, as well as other established local institutions and organizations.
“Revolving loan policy shall be established to advanced funds to all healthy and employable hands, especially women and youth cooperatives, while skill acquisition centres must be set up and taken beyond mere political rhetoric.
“This would put all hands into useful ventures to effectively tackle social tension and all anti-social conducts. Trustees to manage the loans would be set up in all the 21 councils of the state, while defaulters shall be jailed as an instant deterrent”, he emphasized.
Insisting that the choice of Obi’s successor must practically show signs he‘s here to change the existing status quo, said, “in being the governor, there is need for service. He must be someone with attestable antecedents who would be acceptable to the rest off the state.”
Anosike, a leading key member of the leaders of Thought from the zone, paid glowing tribute to Obi for doing so much for the zone and also for recognizing the need for them to step into the saddle after him in 2014.
On the current crisis rocking both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state, Anosike said it was very unfortunate, cautioning that it cost the PDP the governorship in 2010, but that it would cost APGA everything including its slim existence in the state, so they need to tackle it decisively at once.
Anambra North is comprised of Ayamelum, Anambra East, Anambra West, Oyi , Ogbaru, Onitsha norh and onitsha South councils. The South and Central Zones have had their turns in the governorship seat except the North.
