By Valentine Amanze
A non-partisan group called Academic Frontiers Initiative, has declared its readiness to fully participate in the electoral process of choosing the best candidate for the 2021 governorship election in Anambra State.
The group, which was formed in 2018, is an umbrella body covering all the lecturers in tertiary institutions (universities, polytechnics and colleges of education).
It also lamented the “distasteful state of governance currently being delivered in the state.”
The group declared its position in the forthcoming governorship election in a statement by the National Coordinator, Dr Chinedu Onyeizugbe; National Secretary, Dr Tochukwu Oguegbe; and the Anambra State Coordinator, Dr Uche Ngenegbo.
The group vowed to ensure that the best candidate for the position was elected.
It maintained that the level of decadence, bigotry, lopsided appointments, economic decay, nepotism and lack of basic infrastructural development in the state has awoken the consciousness of both the living and the dead.
Recalling the backwardness and decay that pervaded every sector of the state in the past, the group stated that it has become imperative that the glory and efforts of previous administrations to make Anambra great be restored and sustained.
It however lamented that every gain of the past administration had been wiped by the present administration “as the state continues to plummet into debts and unaccountability in governance.”
Part of the statement reads: “It would be recalled that Anambra State had, in the past, been scorned by rascality in governance, economic instability, educational backwardness and infrastructural decay. Anambra was virtually at the nadir of her progress and development, before Dr. Chris Ngige took over as the governor of Anambra State.
“Under the administration of Dr. Chris Ngige, Anambra witnessed revival in road construction.
“Between 2006 and 2014 however, Anambra State experienced unprecedented growth and integral development in all sectors of the economy which saw to infrastructural development, revamping of the health sector, remodelling and fixing up of the educational sector, construction and development of a greater road network and inflow of foreign and local investments.
“During the said period, Anambra State had the best road networks in the country. The Federal Ministry of Finance lauded Anambra for being the best in the management of resources. Anambra’s debt profile was crashed which watered the ground for the smooth transmission of power and enablers of governance to the present administration.
“Regrettably, Anambra has gradually been on a backward movement to Egypt. The factors that set her on the path of development have suddenly disappeared and the surplus savings have been turned to surplus debts in excess of hundreds of billions”.
The group therefore urged all political parties to present their most credible candidates with good managerial skills, visionary in leadership and humane in approach, as the election approaches.
It also pleaded with Anambrarians to resist every form of electoral malpractices, vote buying and vote for the most credible candidate regardless of political party.
“The 2021 elections therefore must be focused on returning Anambra State back to its glorious state. We enjoin the good people of Anambra State and indeed all political parties to choose candidates with reputable characters, track records of success, good managerial skills, scandal-free personalities and a good history of stewardship.
“We condemn in the strongest terms any form of electoral malpractices and violence. We are fully prepared to resist all forms of rigging and electoral manoeuvres. We did it in Imo State and we are ready to replicate in Anambra. Through robust engagement of the aspirants and effective dialogue of their manifestoes, our members as opinion leaders and professionals are ready to ensure better Anambra State marked with prudence, accountability, all inclusiveness and above all true and effective representation of people’s mandate”, the group stated.
