Innoson Motors, Anambra State Government And TATA Of India Motors by CIA Freeman

 
The dateline was Awka and the occasion was the swearing into office of the new executive governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano at Alex Ekwueme Square.

The square was jampacked by not only Anambrarians, but also by other Nigerians who were on hand to witness the heralding of a new dawn in the state that is the light of the nation. The atmosphere was electric as different dance groups tried to outdo and outperform one another before the distinguished crowd that was populated by the low and the mighty, including the movers and shakers of the society. The new governor, Chief Willie Obiano was resplendent in his immaculate suit, and after he had taken the oath of office, he delivered his acceptance speech to the people.
    In the speech he outlined his vision for the state. He vowed to move the state forward by paying attention to security, agriculture and industrial development. It therefore came as no surprise to the mammoth crowd that he devoted substantial part of his speech in praise of the industrial breakthrough in Nnewi being masterminded by Chief (Dr) Innocent Chukwuma, OFR. With the new governor's banking background, he did not fail to impress when in his well delivered speech, he listed the economic, social and industrial potentials the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) represents for the state, country and the African continent.

    In Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company (IVM) lies one of the biggest opportunities for Nigeria's Indigenous Large-Scale Manufacturing Industry to really re-draw the auto manufacturing map globally. The foundation had been laid and IVM had produced made-in-Nigeria cars, trucks, SUV's, passenger buses etc and it makes a lot of economic sense that the home State, Anambra should close ranks and key in with the auto company in order to boost its capacity because there is no gainsaying the fact, that the brain behind the establishment of the company, Chief (Dr) Innocent Chukwuma dared to walk where angels fear to tread. Some states in the South-East, notably Enugu State and the federal government through its parastatals have leveraged on this and have offered huge patronage to the auto-company.
    The need to encourage, develop and sustain our local manufacturing sector can never be over flogged. An emerging nation is spurred by its manufacturing sector, not the service or agriculture sectors. China, Brazil, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa etc. got to where they are today because of the strengths of their manufacturing sector. Nigeria is often included in the list of emerging markets along with those countries, but its production industry is yet to kick-off fully and substantially. And this is where entrepreneurs like Innoson comes in to contribute their quota towards the realization of the industrial and manufacturing potentials of the country. Because, sadly the economy still revolves around the services sector, agriculture and petroleum.
    In the midst of these stark realities, how has Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) co-fared in its home state of Anambra, presently under the watch of Governor Willie Obiano and Chief Sir Victor- Umeh, the ebullient National Chairman of APGA. Because the reality on the ground points conclusively to the fact that our dear Victor has benefited maximally from APGA and APGA led governments. Umeh's relentless vow to be ready -to-die for Igbo cause has been put to test with Anambra State Government's preference to foreign vehicles at the expense of IVM. He has a lot of say in Obiano's administration and his swag had never left anyone in doubt that he is faring better now than under the administration of Peter Obi.
Even Peter Obi's harshest critics and there are many of them can never take away from him, the credit of supporting and sustaining IVM all through the period of his administration. Right from President Goodluck Jonathan's official commissioning of IVM company to the point of his exit from power, Peter Obi not only bought IVM products in large numbers, distributing the pick up vans to 177 communities for security duties and the SUV to the traditional rulers of the state, he (Peter Obi) also was a defacto marketing manager of the fledging company by attracting his fellow governors to patronize the company in his state. As a practical economist and not a text book one, he was well aware of the potentials IVM represents for his state especially on areas of employment generation with its multiplier effects on the economy of Anambra State.
    But now under the administration of banker turned Governor Chief Willie Obiano and Chief (Sir) Victor Umeh, how has IVM fared. Has governmental support increased, decreased or disappeared? The answer is that the support of Anambra State Government has not decreased, it has simply disappeared. Unfortunately, IVM had become a victim of intrigues currently holding sway in the state, where anything or any policy Peter Obi supported or desired is despised and unwanted. The number of made-in-India trucks, TATA parked in Government House, Awka and pick-up vans and buses of Toyota and other foreign brands is equivocal of the posture of the present Obiano government on local industries. It is simply, 'to your tents Oh Israel'. It is simply that because Peter Obi purchased many buses from IVM and distributed to schools, we would go for foreign brand so that it would not look as if we are imitating the wily Peter.
    Consequently, governmental support and patronage disappears, and the company capacity to open more production lines and employ more hands is threatened. Ironically, this government had spent millions trying to flush out criminals and hoodlums from the state. The IVM project is a good and big business which can only complement government's good intentions of making the state a crime free one. But government's move in this direction could only increase the number of criminals with its present policy of patronizing foreign auto makers at the expense of local ones like IVM. The only way to fight crime is to create jobs and jobs are created not only by government but also by private concerns. So Willie and Victor's preference is for TATA of India to have markets, while Innoson of Nigeria goes under because of lack of market. Then there would be employment in the Indian state where TATA is produced and unemployment in Anambra state where Innoson motors are produced-for now, it doesn't matter if crime escalates or it might not be of any consequence because the powers that be are well protected by security details catered for by the taxpayers. Only the downtrodden are exposed to danger.
    The assertion by some of Governor Obiano's foot soldiers that Innoson vehicle is not as strong and sturdily as foreign makes is pedestrian and infantile. And such uninformed and unpatriotic remark flies in the face of logic because firstly, Rome was not built in a day and also there is no empirical evidence like broken down Innoson brands littering our roads or developing faults that would necessitate a recall like is still the practice with the so-called established brands. It is just giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it. Unfortunately attempts to reach the man, Innoson boss himself did not succeed, it was actually rebuffed, else we would have supported our findings with not only pictorial evidence but with also statistics that would expose the present Anambra State of government under Governor Willie Obiano as paying lip service to industrial growth and also stretching insensitiveness in this regard. And Victor Umeh is said to be Innoson's pal.
    For Nigeria and Anambra State, the success of the IVM brand can only mean more progress which will manifest in a more competitive automotive market, lower car prices, promotion of indigenous companies, more foreign investment, and the emergence of a potential internationally recognized Nigerian brand, more jobs and ultimately more development. We advise the present Anambra State government to align itself with these positives. Governor Willie Obiano should register it in his mind that the goal of Nigeria is to be an industrial nation and if indigenous manufacturing companies are not allowed to thrive, we are strongly of the view that nothing will change in fifty years. He should encourage manufacturing companies including Anambrarians that are showing prospects in the economy by adopting a favourable policy that will keep foreigners at bay.
 C.I.A. Freeman is Public Affairs commentator and Social Media Guru. You can reach him on 08064315630