It’s Friday in Anambra. It’s a beautiful day broken by the sight of the greeny beauty of Agulu lake. The snaky body of water, also known as Ezu Agulu yet more widely worshipped as Idemili by the more than 10 communities congenitally tied to the river from the outflow of this great lake, has a place in popular Anambra folklore.
Our own Chinua Achebe translates Idemili as “the pillar of waters.”
Today, the Hotel at this venue, hosts the Anambra State Transition Committee powered by some of the 80 best minds drawn from the South-East and South-South led by Oby Ezekwesili, who was described by Charles Soludo as Anambra’s great gift to the world. The committee is currently designing a pillar of ideas upon which the incoming government, can confidently lean on, draw from and stand on. The job of the committee concludes the wonderful vision of the current governor, Chief Willie Obiano in planning a smooth succession of governance for the Ndi Anambra. The incumbent governor sought out, chose, campaigned for and saw to the election of Charles Chukwuma Soludo as his successor to the delight of Ndi Anambra.
The geographical centrality of this venue is emblematic of the importance of the people in Soludo’s vision of a Greater Anambra.
Just as the waters of the Lake have, for centuries, been sources of fishing, washing, drinking, transport, sport, and faith for the communities around it, so is the transition committee willing to crystallize the hope flagged by the Manifesto with which the Governor-Elect got the mandate of Ndi Anambra.
By hedging the manifesto and the 2070 vision document as the critical reference texts for the Sub-Teams, the transition committee starts from day one to present Soludo’s government accountable to the people.
It is clear and obvious that a Greater Anambra is within sight. As one reflects on the lush smiles of the greeny Nri hills which frame the western end of the Ezu, the picturesque image resonates the effervescent mood of Ndi Anambra across the globe – a feeling of a greater days ahead.
And as the wooly morning dews hang over the Lake, so does the hope of Ndi Anambra hang on the advisory document the Oby Ezekwesili Team is expected to present to C.C. Soludo at the end of this grilling task. Our hope is that the 80-man-team will finish the loads of work on their table within 50 days. We, as citizens, should positively support this team as it builds the pillars on which Soludo’s government will takeoff with.
May God bless Anambra and bless the shining light that we bear.
Odili Ujubuoñu writes from Ukpor, Anambra State.
