AN ADDRESS PRESENTED TO RIGHT
HONORABLE ANYIM PIUS ANYIM, THE
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND
CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
NIGERIA,BY THE MEMBERS OF AFIKPO
FAMILY UNION, TEXAS, ON THE OCCASION
OF HIS VISIT TO HOUSTON, TEXAS ON
FEBRUARY 3, 2001
Your Excellency Sir,
We your brethren from your home of old Afikpo Division of Ebonyi South Senatorial zone, resident in the state of Texas wish to use this opportunity to warmly welcome you to Houston and offer our individual and family felicitations on the occasion of your historic visit to the United States of America.
You and your entourage are welcome. Unu jookwa, unu abia wo, kaa nu, unu tokwehu, ijeoma nu, unu ndee wo, eku abo, sanu nku de zua!!! First Sir, may we offer our condolences for the recent death of your dear mother, Ma Agnes Olujihi Anyim. At the same time, we commend you for the befitting burial you accorded her. May her soul rest in perfect peace and please, accept our heart felt sympathy.
Second, permit us to express our deep pride, admiration and, congratulations for the dexterity and political savvy you have displayed to emerge as the third senate president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is a worthy achievement. In the short time since your ascension to this position, you have emerged as the best senate president Nigeria has ever had. Your candor, conduct, and ability to manage the meetings of the senate general assembly have shown that you are an expert and a natural manager of people and materials in national affairs. Also, you been able to unite the different factions in the National assembly in the way that no other senate president has in the past.
This was evident in the speed with which the 2001 appropriations bill was passed into law. Sir, your achievements have made us proud to be members of your constituency; our prayers are with you always.
Third, aside from your good style and management of the national assembly affairs, we note that you have already initiated action to improve and rehabilitate our decayed infrastructure like Abakaliki-Afikpo road, Afikpo- Okigwe road, Abakaliki-Ishiagu road, Ndibe Beach project. We are also, aware of the impending construction of a NEPA substation at Afikpo, a digital telecommunication system, the dredging of the Cross River to promote maritime traffic and foster trade and economic development between us and our Cross River neighbors. Mr. Senate President, Sir, we could go on for days if we were to list your accomplishments. You have made us proud.
Sir, though you have done so much, a lot still remains to be done. Permit us to draw your attention to some other projects that merit your immediate attention. Our mission hospitals like Matter Hospital Afikpo, St. Vincent’s Hospital Nubia, Mile 4 Hospital Izzi, and such other hospitals which had played an important role in the health care of our people seem to have been forgotten. We need the government’s help in revitalizing these places. On our part, we are willing to embark on different drives to collect much needed medical materials and equipment (including personnel) to enable these hospitals to attain the positions they once occupied in our lives and the lives of our brethren at home.
Your Excellency, there is need to improve our education delivery services. Teachers in our State still continue to work for several months before receiving their salary, Students continue to study without the proper textbooks, and school buildings are allowed to deteriorate. These conditions need your immediate attention. In addition, may we suggest that a plan could be instituted to convert Macgregor College into one of the campuses of our new Ebonyi State University.
Fourth, we believe that the development and rehabilitation of infrastructure is only one of many important parts of our economic development. There is need to continue to develop the human capital in your constituency. We could still use appointments into high political offices, in the academic world, and in industry.
Some of us resident in the United States would be glad to consider such appointments. In addition, some of us in business will be glad to receive contracts, which will enable us to utilize our expertise in the development and improvement of our Country.
Finally, we note with pride your efforts to instill equity, justice, and fair play in the governance of our Young State. We applaud the recently concluded workshop you convened in Abakaliki. We believe that the injustice suffered by members of your constituency in the hands of some duly elected officials of the State will be remedied. The recklessness of our present government will definitely be curtailed by your action. We look forward to hearing about more meetings like that in the future.
Your Excellency Sir, we have presented a long, but not exhaustive list of the work that needs to be done. We know that you have started on the right foot and we wish you God’s guidance in the future. May he continue to guide and guard you in all your undertakings to continue to provide equality leadership to our country.
Thank you.