by Hauwa Gambo
Maybe the brilliant Mallam should stick with throwing darts at President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan? Well, you be the judge.
Following Nasir el-Rufai’s’ criticism of Anambra State’s 2012 budget, which he claims is incompetent to address the needs of its citizens (whom he says are the poorest in the zone), the state’s governor, Peter Obi has responded more than a little sharply.
He has called the ex-FCT minister ignorant, uninformed, and even “insulting of the Igbo race”.
“I am surprised that somebody whom I am not sure has been to Anambra State, even as a minister, comments about the state from the point of view of what I consider as pure, unadulterated ignorance,” he said to journalists in Awka, the state capital.
“It is an insult to the Igbo race to openly or even remotely suggests that any part of Igbo land in the Nigeria we all know today should be considered as the poorest in the country. This negates our resourcefulness and ingenuity as a people. Honestly, I do not know what propels him or what interest he is protecting,” Obi said.
According to the Guardian, the governor insists he has “had laid proper foundation for the solid growth of the state from a near zero situation” when he assumed office six years ago. Describing his stewardship in superlatives, Obi said his work is “manifesting in the state having the best road network in the country and the education and health sectors receiving unparalleled development”.
El-Rufai had, in the offending piece, called the state’s budget one of “misplaced priorities” and noted that the state is one of the country’s poorest, lacking in everything from education to infrastructure.
“We need people to help to assess and validate what we’re doing. We’re on course and we’re doing the right things,” Obi added, attacking El-Rufai as living off an old order that is comfortable to “sit in the comfort of their homes to comment on what they did not know and not making any effort to know.”
Don’t take it too personal, Your Excellency. That’s just how the Mallam swings.
Well some times we see things like this happened so am not surprise of the two statesmen.
But come to think of it, EL-Rufai, spoke from available figures which could either be wrong or right. Calling Anambraians poor is the wrongest of it all. I like to disagree with him there. And our dearest governor, I don't want to believe you said 'your state has the best road network in the country', otherwise you want to referred to what Godswill Akpabio is doing in Akwa-Ibom, as made in heaven. Sir pls raise the bar in onitsha, and Awka.the roads and dirt in the se cities is not befitting of city with best roads network.
What is now the difference by the way you and El Rufai if u can come and rain insults on him on the pages of newspapers.
I believe that el-rufai dosent have work for now that's while he talks anyhow. If he wants to see poverty, let him concentrate in the north bcos that's where poverty resides. Meanwhile, peter obi have to up his games in regards to development.
I believe that el-rufai dosent have work for now that's while he talks anyhow. If he wants to see poverty, let him concentrate in the north bcos that's where poverty resides. Meanwhile, peter obi have to up his games in regards to development.
Peter Obi! IMO you are not governing over anything! Driving through Onitsha can only be likened with driving through hell. In Onitsha robbery is legalised in the name of task force, where about 8 -12 "hoodlums", sorry task force agents, will surround your vehicle, force the door open, remove your plate numbers all in the name of LGA papers. Awka's major road is almost swept away by erosion! Road network indeed!
This governors and media wats! Why not just show us these fantastic things you have done? Let the evidence be the testament!
Action speaks louder than [empty] words!
Peter Obi should put his money where his mouth is. Mallam El_Rufai simply quoted available statistics which showed the true and fair position of the state.
Why is Peter Obi crying Blue Murder? He should simply revamp the state better and faster…then we can compare statistics again. Simple!