Special Report

By George Ozalla

Former President-General of Nibo Town Union, Okey Goodluck Nwankwo, has called on political leaders, elected representatives and other stakeholders in Nibo, Anambra State, to use their political relationships and positions to attract development to the community instead of allowing political differences to create divisions among the people.

Nwankwo, who served as President-General of Nibo Union from 2008 to 2014, made the call in the 250th edition of his Thought Leadership and Community Development Series titled, “Nibo Development: Let Us Compete for Development, Not Against One Another.”

Opening the intervention with the words of Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much,” Nwankwo said Nigeria’s multiparty democracy should not be allowed to divide Nibo or prevent people with different political affiliations from working for the development of the community.

“Nigeria is a multiparty democracy, and Nibo is home to members, agents, aspirants, leaders, and stakeholders of various political parties. Rather than allowing political differences to divide us, we should harness these relationships to promote community development,” he stated.

He pointed out that Nibo has three political wards and a substantial voting population, arguing that the community’s political relevance should be used to attract projects and interventions from government rather than fuel disagreements.

“The Anambra State Government cannot address every need simultaneously. With 179 communities competing for limited government resources and attention, each community must complement government efforts by identifying opportunities and attracting interventions wherever possible,” he said.

Nwankwo listed several areas where Nibo requires attention, including the perimeter fencing of Nneoma Community Secondary School, rehabilitation of classrooms in primary and secondary schools and improvement of primary healthcare facilities.

He also identified the condition of some roads as a major concern, particularly the Amawbia-Ezeawulu axis, including its spurs towards Nise and Urungwu, Diffri Road and other community roads. He also drew attention to erosion sites, including Uruana, which he said require timely intervention before they become more destructive.

Nwankwo commended the ongoing rehabilitation of Central Primary School, formerly St. Matthew’s Primary School, Nibo, saying the project should be encouraged because its benefits go directly to the community.

Rather than opposing a project because of the political affiliation of those behind it, he urged the people to encourage more stakeholders to attract similar interventions, stressing that there was no developmental justification for frustrating a project that would benefit the community.

“There is therefore no developmental justification for anyone to seek to frustrate the current intervention at Central Primary School, Nibo,” Nwankwo stated.

He recalled that during his tenure as President-General of Nibo Union, the community leadership looked beyond the resources available to the union and pursued government interventions and other opportunities to address its development needs.

Among the projects he listed were the rehabilitation of 20 classrooms at Ezeike High School, Nibo; construction of a five-classroom block at Ezi-Nwankwo Primary School, Ezeoye; construction of a five-classroom block at Central School, Nibo; complete rehabilitation of the old Nibo Maternity; and development of the Nibo Water Scheme, which he noted is no longer functioning as originally intended.

He also cited the construction of a Science Block at Nneoma Community Secondary School by Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central, describing the intervention as particularly important because of the value of science education to the younger generation.

Nwankwo urged political representatives and other stakeholders with access to government institutions to use those relationships to secure projects for Nibo.

“Whether our friends are in the Federal Government, State Government, Local Government, National Assembly, State Assembly, ministries, agencies, or parastatals, let us engage them constructively. Every political stakeholder should strive to bring meaningful development to Nibo,” he said.

He called for a form of political competition in which stakeholders would measure themselves by what they bring to the community rather than by their ability to frustrate another person’s contribution.

“If one stakeholder attracts five classrooms, let another attract ten. If someone brings a road, let another bring a health centre, school fence, erosion-control project, water scheme, ICT centre, science laboratory, or youth-development programme,” he said.

“Let our competition be about who brings more development to Nibo, not who prevents another person’s contribution.”

That position also explains why Nwankwo continues to speak publicly about the needs of Nibo more than a decade after leaving the office of President-General.

His tenure ended in 2014, but his interest in the affairs of the community did not end with it. Through his continuing writings, interventions and personal efforts, he has kept drawing attention to roads, schools, healthcare, erosion, water, welfare and other matters that affect residents.

Beyond advocacy for physical development, Nwankwo has also been a pillar of support to Nibo people facing difficult circumstances. He has been involved in mobilising and initiating fundraising efforts to assist citizens in need, including Nibo indigenes who are married outside the community. His interventions in such situations have reflected a broader understanding of community service, extending beyond projects and infrastructure to the welfare and immediate needs of individuals and families.

That continuing commitment is one of the reasons his post-office activities deserve recognition. More than a decade after leaving the position of President-General, he has continued to invest his energy, ideas and personal influence in matters affecting Nibo and its people.

His latest intervention comes from a continuing passion for the community rather than a position he currently occupies. His willingness to speak about areas requiring attention, encourage stakeholders to attract projects and mobilise support for people in difficult circumstances is a contribution that deserves commendation rather than condemnation.

Leaving office, in his case, has not meant withdrawing from the concerns of the people he once served. His continued involvement shows that community service can extend beyond the period of holding office, especially when the commitment to the welfare and development of the people remains strong.

Nwankwo’s appeal is directed at all sides of the political divide. He is asking those who have contacts in government to use them, regardless of the political party involved, and is encouraging the community to welcome useful projects instead of looking first at the political identity of the person who attracted them.

He warned against allowing political disagreements to become obstacles to development, pointing out that political offices are temporary while projects such as roads, schools, health centres, water schemes and erosion-control works can continue to serve residents long after those who facilitated them have left office.

“Political parties will come and go. Elections will be won and lost. Political offices are temporary. But a good road, a properly equipped school, a functioning health centre, a controlled erosion site, and a sustainable water scheme can serve generations,” he stated.

Nwankwo thanked His Excellency, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, Governor of Anambra State, for his support and commitment to interventions that improve communities and urged Nibo people to put aside unnecessary disagreements, build bridges and use their political connections wisely. He said every stakeholder should strive to bring something useful home, insisting that the development of Nibo should be placed above political rivalry.

“Let every stakeholder bring something home. Nibo first. Development always.”