Posted by From GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka on
'Anambra State, we are an institution. We have taken the ‘Ichi' title and others now fear us. So, we can discuss the way forward for our state.
'Anambra State, we are an institution. We have taken the ‘Ichi' title and others now fear us. So, we can discuss the way forward for our state. Even to contest for presidency, governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives, assembly, everything, we are to say those that will go for us.
We will screen them thoroughly and bring them out. Nobody will pay money to anybody to be qualified. That was how Zik and Okpara and their colleagues played the politics that made us proud today.
'It was when we introduced money politics - if you bring more money you carry the day - that robbers came to our state, searched our pockets and took away all we had and pushed us out of the vehicle.
But we did not die and that is the advantage. We got up and we are now walking. Well, people of Ekwusigo, your name is prophetic, because it is the word of God. God spoke and He said He has finished. I have finished o!"
When Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige made the above statement at Nkwo Oraiffite market square during the flag off of the Nkwo Oraifite/Nkwo Nnewi Road on Friday, March 10, 2006, little did the people know that he was making his valedictory speech and a goodbye for that matter.
Appearing in same-colour apparel - green long sleeve shirt on a pair of green shorts and a green cap to match - Ngige took time to explain to the people why his government was involved in massive road construction. He told them that he made road construction his priority because the state had the worst of roads in the whole federation adding that the people had for long yearned for good roads.
According to him: 'What we are doing in Anambra State is that we are trying to give to our people what they thirst for… In the whole of South East, particularly Anambra State, we were thirsty for good roads and we are trying to quench that thirst in our people."
The former governor at that ceremony announced that government had paid Carsul Limited, the construction company handling the project, 50 per cent of the contract sum to ensure that the work was completed in four months in the spirit of the terms of the agreement.
The previous week, Ngige was also at Mmili John Road in Ojoto also under construction. There, the former governor also made a remarkable statement: 'What we are doing now is Anambra Peoples Movement, to save ourselves first. We no longer have parties here; if you talk about PDP, you go to your house and discuss it, if in ANPP, it is in your house and if APGA, in your house too. When the time comes, we will tell you where the state will go. But one thing I can assure you is that by that time, we shall have no opposition party in Anambra State; all of us will be in one melting pot, one family because our eyes are now opened."
The flag off ceremony over, Ngige took time out to visit the pillar of Oraifite, Chief Nwachukwu, and dinned with his entourage. He only returned to Awka about 8.30pm.
He did not make any other public appearance until Monday, March 13, 2006 when he signed into law the 2006 Anambra State budget bill at the Conference Hall of the Government House in Awka.
Coming barely 48 hours to the delivery of judgment in his appeal at the Enugu Court of Appeal, hopes were however high that Ngige would carry the day.
The man who many have described as a cat with nine lives did not show any sign that he was kissing his exalted seat bye. His speech and conduct did not betray any fears whatsoever.
Appearing in a white caftan and his trade mark red cap to match, Ngige had first on arrival at the Government House March 13, addressed members of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Awka branch, who joined their colleagues in parts of the country to boycott courts to protest the disobedience of court orders by the federal government and its agencies.
He condemned the attitude of government and its agencies for the flagrant abuse of the rule of law and disobedience to court orders and judgments.
Said he: 'Obeying court orders doesn't show you are weak, rather it shows that you are wise and a civilized person." He stressed that as a governor, he has been obeying courts that have no jurisdiction over the matter and assured that he would continue to obey court orders in the future. Instructively, Ngige did not wait for the court of Appeal to finish reading its judgment before he 'took off".
Ngige went into the hall where his Deputy, Chief Ugochukwu Nwankwo, Speaker, Hon. Mike Balonwu, senior government officials, traditional rulers and others were waiting, to accent to the State 2006 money law.
After signing the document, Ngige spoke in a manner impossible to believe any prophesy that he was on his way out in a matter of days.
He was quick to point out that he has completed the road construction programmes he had planned for the four years in three years, noting that it meant blessings to those that their roads have not been done as they would be done in the next few months.
He also chronicled the achievements of his government vis-ŕ-vis last year's budget and assured that if 2006 budget is implemented religiously, it would be posterity for the state.
The ousted governor however drew the attention of the state to some issues that would mar the budget. That includes principally the deductions from the federal allocation accruing to the state and local governments.
Ngige was displeased with the National Assembly for the recommending the abolition of state/local government's Joint Accounts Committee, arguing that the lawmakers were over stepping their bounds.
But he assured the people that he would serve out his four-year term, ending his speech prophetically thus: 'By the grace of God." Unfortunately, his wish turned out to a matter of 'man proposes, God disposes."
But again, at the end of the function, Ngige went round the Government House and particularly to the Central Accounting Unit, a unit meant to computerize the entire government accounts, where inspected installations.
At the Lodge, he went in and until Tuesday afternoon when he was ready to leave to the Enugu Airport, he had private discussions with his aides. At the airport, he was said to have told them that he was going to Abuja to answer a Presidential call. As it eventually turned out, he was still answering that 'call" when the Court of Appeal removed him as the Governor of Anambra State.