By James Eze (eziokwubundu@gmail.com)
Following the growing incident of attacks by Fulani herdsmen on
farming communities in the South East and the North Central, the
Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has assured the people
of the state that his administration was adequately prepared to fend
off surprise attacks on any part of the state.
Loading ...Speaking at the activities marking the Workers Day celebration in Awka
on Sunday, Governor Obiano revealed that long before the growing
menace of Fulani cattle herders became a serious threat to society, he
had set up a Special Committee to foster peace between farmers and the
cattle grazers. The Committee is made up of the leaders of the
Hausa-Fulani community in the state, government officials, the
security agents and some representatives of the agrarian communities
across the state.
“This Committee has made the herdsmen pay compensations to communities
whose crops were destroyed by their cattle seven times in the past.
And we have also paid compensation to the herdsmen when one community
breached the peace against them. That is the nature of our engagement
with them in Anambra State,” Governor Obiano explained.
He however warned that his administration was ready to deal ruthlessly
with the herdsmen if they grew needlessly hostile against their host
communities, pointing out that already, there is routine helicopter
surveillance across the borders of the state to ensure that any
suspicious gathering of people or curious movements across the borders
are quickly picked up and analysed by security experts.
Governor Obiano commended Anambra workers for their support to his
administration, saying that “if Willie is working, then the workers
are also working,” and assured that his administration would continue
to look into their welfare with a view to a possible salary increase
once there is an increase in Internally Generated Revenue.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress,
Anambra State chapter, Comrade Jerry Nnubia commended Governor Obiano
for putting up an excellent performance since he took over the reins
of leadership two years ago.
“Being a renowned economic planner, asute banker and an accomplished
player in world economics, Your Excellency has brought these qualities
in the governance of Anambra State. In consequence thereof, Anambra
State is beginning to notice an unprecedented and steady rise in its
internally generated revenue,” Comrade Nnubia declared.
Lauding the governor for his close attention to workers welfare,
Comrade Nnubia said, “it is worthy of commendation that while some
states in Nigeria went for bailout funds from the federal government
for payment of salaries, Akpokuedike through prudent management of
resources has continued to pay workers’ salaries. It is on record that
for the first time in the history of Anambra State, we have a governor
that has the magnanimity of distributing 50kg bag of rice each to all
the civil servants in the state, for two years running for their
Christmas celebrations.”
The labour leader consequently declared Governor Obiano the
“Labour-friendly Governor of our time,” further praising his exploits
in agriculture as well as the mass transit buses he had launched to
alleviate the transport challenges of workers.
