By George Ozalla
Former Governor of Anambra State
His Excellency: Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige, OON
Twenty three years after the dramatic events of July 10, 2003, former appointed and elected officials who served under the administration of former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, have described the incident as a defining moment in the state’s political evolution, saying it marked the beginning of the collapse of political godfatherism and laid the foundation for far reaching reforms across key sectors.
In an account jointly signed by former Commissioner for Special Duties, Chief Chris Atuegwu; former Principal Secretary to the Governor, Sir Emma C. J. Nwosu; Speaker Emeritus of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mike Balonwu; Deputy Speaker Emeritus, Hon. Dr. Ozo Ughamadu; Majority Leader Emeritus, Hon. Sir Humphrey C. Nsofor; Deputy Majority Leader Emeritus, Sir Joe Dimobi; former Commissioner for Education, Prof. Leonard Moghalu; former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Barr. Nonye Nwangwu (Nnenenye); former Commissioner for Commerce, Hon. Kenneth Arinze; former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Nnoruka Udechukwu (SAN); President of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Dr. Christopher Kene Nzekwe; former Commissioner for Health, Prof. Brian Davis Adinma, and several other former commissioners, lawmakers and senior government officials, the group called for July 10 to be remembered as “Anambra Liberation Day.”
The former officials likened the significance of July 10 to Easter, explaining that while Easter commemorates the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the salvation of mankind, July 10 represents what they described as Dr. Ngige’s personal sacrifice in defence of the mandate entrusted to him by the people of Anambra State.
According to the account, the political crisis began on July 10, 2003, when the then Governor was allegedly held hostage at gunpoint for more than five hours inside the Government House, Awka, by the late Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 9, Raphael Ige, allegedly assisted by over 250 heavily armed mobile policemen.
The signatories alleged that the objective of the operation was to compel the governor to acknowledge a resignation letter which they maintained had been forged.
They stated that despite intense pressure, Dr. Ngige refused to surrender his mandate or admit to signing the purported resignation letter, choosing instead to defend what they described as the collective interest of Ndi Anambra.
The statement further alleged that Government House and the Anambra State House of Assembly were surrounded by security operatives in an attempt to force through an unconstitutional change of government by compelling lawmakers to recognise the alleged resignation letter.
According to the account, after the governor was moved to Choice Hotel, Awka, he managed to establish contact with the outside world and announced that he was alive and had neither resigned nor relinquished his office, thereby countering reports allegedly being circulated by those behind the operation.
The former officials said the development triggered widespread public resistance as people from different parts of the state rallied behind the governor under what became known as the “Anambra State Liberation Army,” a movement they described as a spontaneous coalition determined to defend constitutional democracy and resist political domination.
They maintained that the overwhelming public support generated during the crisis inspired the administration to embark on wide ranging reforms that transformed governance in the state.
According to them, the administration cleared over 100 per cent of outstanding salary arrears, settled about 75 per cent of pension arrears, paid accumulated gratuities and introduced an Executive Order placing salaries and pensions on first line charge, a policy later backed by legislation passed by the State House of Assembly. Pension payments, they added, were increased by 134 per cent.
On infrastructure, the signatories stated that the administration constructed more than 800 kilometres of asphalt roads with reinforced concrete drainage systems across the state’s three senatorial districts.
Among the projects listed were the Isuochi to Uga Road, Otuocha to Alor Road, Nnobi to Ihiala Road, Isseke to Awka Etiti Road, Amawbia to Agulu Road, Onitsha to Atani Road, the reconstruction of several township roads in Onitsha and Nnewi as well as the dualisation of Nnamdi Azikiwe Avenue in Awka.
They noted that many of the roads remain in service more than two decades after completion.
The group also identified education as one of the administration’s major achievements, recalling the historic return of schools to missionary organisations through a Memorandum of Agreement signed with Catholic and Anglican church leaders.
According to them, 87 primary and secondary schools were formally returned to their original owners on October 1, 2005, while government continued to pay the salaries of teachers and non teaching staff. They added that the succeeding administration later expanded the policy to include the remaining schools.
They further stated that about N1.6 billion was paid as counterpart funding under the Universal Basic Education programme, while 1,700 primary school teachers and 1,800 secondary school teachers were recruited to strengthen the education sector.
The statement also highlighted reforms in higher education, saying the administration restructured Anambra State University into a multi campus institution and secured accreditation for several academic programmes, including Law, Medicine and Engineering.
In the health sector, the former officials said the administration resolved an 18 month doctors’ strike, upgraded the General Hospitals at Onitsha and Amaku, Awka into specialist hospitals, provided modern medical equipment and ambulances and strengthened primary healthcare services through the recruitment of doctors for rural communities.
On security, they said the establishment of the Anambra State Vigilante Services through legislation significantly improved community policing and enhanced security across the state.
Other achievements highlighted included the decongestion and relocation of major markets in Onitsha, the restoration of pipe borne water supply to Onitsha and Awka and the adoption of “Light of the Nation” as the official slogan of Anambra State.
The former officials further recalled that following the Court of Appeal judgment which removed Dr. Ngige from office in 2006, he accepted the verdict peacefully and handed over power in accordance with the law.
According to them, the administration left behind savings estimated at about N13.8 billion, investments in Orient Petroleum and substantially reduced liabilities owed to financial institutions.
They added that the Justice Ononiba Commission of Inquiry, established by the succeeding administration, acknowledged the existence of the funds and commended the financial stewardship of the Ngige administration.
The signatories urged Ndi Anambra to continue to remember July 10 as a symbol of courage, sacrifice, constitutional governance and democratic vigilance, insisting that the events of that day changed the course of the state’s political history.
The events of July 10, 2003 remain one of the most dramatic episodes in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. Beyond the political confrontation that unfolded, the incident has continued to generate debate over executive independence, the influence of political godfathers and the resilience of democratic institutions. While opinions remain divided on aspects of the Ngige administration, political observers agree that the crisis fundamentally altered Anambra’s political landscape and became a watershed in the state’s democratic development.
