By Ibezim Samuel
The Ahaejiagamba 1 of Igbo land, Chief Engr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu said that he is totally against state police inNigeriaas it has not reached that stage. Chief Iwuanyanwu, who recently turned 70 said this in at his oriental Glass House office in a chat with journalists after traditional rulers of Ikeduru LGA paid him a courtesy visit to inform him of their forth coming new yam festival.
Chief Iwuanyanwu who reacted on the state of the nation condemned many ill – happenings in the country and suggested ways of salvaging the problems ofNigeria. On the clamour for and against control of police by the state governor, Chief Iwuanyanwu said “I am opposed to state police. Nigeriahas not reached that stage yet. You will see that a governor will use them against his opponents. Now, look at the only area of electing local government chairmen bestowed to governors to over see and they have misused it. Today, all the problems in LG’s are caused by the governors and the result is that there is no development in the LG’s. I am appealing to people who are supporting it to stop supporting it”. H e also said that he is an apostle of zoning and that without it, he doubt if Igbo race and some marginalized race will ever ruleNigeria. Chief Iwuanyanwu said that corruption is swelling everyday inNigeriaas a result of unemployment and bad economy. He suggested that National Orientation Agency should set up a commission to tackle the menace.
On the poor generation of energy, he said that it is a shame forNigeriato still be talking on power generation when 10 years ago, he advocated for state generation of power but was not listened to. That power generation would have helped in reducing unemployment inNigeriaas our teeming youths will utilize it to engage on technological works that only work in a stable power economy.
Chief Iwuanyanwu condemned the act of state governments hijacking the revenue of the local Governments and pleaded with the constitutional review body to remove the power of the state over Local Governments as they must be independent for development to reach the grass root. On the poor roads inNigeria, he said that government neglect and climatic change are the cause of bad roads but asked his fellow engineers to consider the nature of our climate before constructing roads, flyover and bridges. He also reminded government of owing citizens the opportunity to access job for survival as failure to do so is like one sitting on a keg of gunpowder. Chief Iwuanyanwu, finally, said thatNigeriahas declined morally but is optimistic of its development.
