By Jude Michael
A governorship aspirant on the platform of Labour Party, LP, in the 2025 election in Anambra State, Mr John Nwosu, has assured the people of the state of his commitment to best practices and efficient service delivery through what he calls SHEEMS, even as he has says he will not promise what he cannot do.
Addressing newsmen at Geogold Hotel in Awka recently, Nwosu said he would be bringing into governance, a commitment to best practices and efficient service delivery with his Security, Health, Education, Economy, Environment, Markets and Social Welfare (SHEEEMS) governance platform.
His words, ‘We will replicate and improve on the ANIDS governance model. Most of our leaders no longer have the fear of God. So, they make promises they don’t intend to keep and siphon public resources that are not theirs. I offer, with all humility, a different approach to governance. Look at Abia State and Enugu State. What is happening there is not Rocket Science; it is humble, diligent and transformative leadership. That is what I am offering to Anambra people. Our governance performances will always be benchmarked and measurable.’
On the rotational arrangement guiding governorship elections in the state, he affirmed that the people of Anambra State had respect for zoning and appealed to them to retain faith in it. Arguing that belief was based on faith and trust, Nwosu said if he became the governor he would only serve one term to complete the tenure of the people of the Northern Zone of the state.
He said that if after four years, anyone saw him contesting again, he should be rejected, regardless of how well he could be doing at the time.
Nwosu who said there were problems peculiar to Anambra, as well as others pertaining to Nigeria and Africa, said prioritization and efficiency remained the hallmarks of good governance.
On this, he said those governance needs peculiar to Anambra must be accorded the highest priority, assuring that there would be less window dressing and sloganeering.
‘We will consult broadly and listen to advice and superior logic. We shall also walk the talk,’ he said.
On a larger scale, Nwosu held the view that for the Southeast to be viable and sustainable, states should embark on joint ventures, which, he said, could be bilateral, trilateral or entirely zonal.
‘Nothing stops the Southeast from returning to the effective structure of Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation (ENDC), introduced by Dr. Michael Okpara in the 1960s, for optimal governance and development. We must have the political will for collaborative governance efforts and choose the optimal models.
‘The South-South set up the BRACE Commission some years ago, and it is still operational. On record, we have the South East Development Commission in the South-East; but it is not fully operational. We will have to return to the drawing board,’ he said.
Nwosu noted that a light rail between Anambra and Abia, Imo and Rivers would improve commercial haulage, and save the roads from quick deterioration.
‘The Orient Petroleum Refinery in Aguleri Otu, would have long come on stream, if it was a joint venture between Anambra, Enugu and Kogi, the three states traversed by the subterranean oilfield. Instead, we spent years fighting for unilateral oil rights. That was very shortsighted,’ he said.
