Special Must Read Interview with Commissioner for Information Anambra , Dr Mrs Uju Nwogu as she asks Journalists out of her office to enable her work

 Anambra state Honourable Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism Hon. Barr. Uju Nwogu is
one person every journalist would like to encounter. She has no airs around her as she speaks from her heart unknown to her that journalists are looking for such people who will make their honest submissions for a better read.
As a lawyer, Lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka and a former local government chairman of Anaocha local government area, she is frank and unassuming as she bares her mind on some issues in Anambra in this interview with Simeon Nworah and Okechukwu Onuegbu in her office. www.odogwublog.com enjoyed the interview the two reporters did and brings to you unedited for your own reading pleasure.  Excerpts :


May we know the University you were the lecturer?

No, I will not disclose that to you, it is part of my private life. Or didn’t have right to give out any information I wish about myself? What did you people intend to use it for? Forget about it please.

As a Honourable Commissioner, what are your ministry’s stake on Obiano’s government?

First of all you know this ministry comprises of three arms. We have information, we have culture and we have tourism. Then in information industry, we hope to communicate with the people on what the state government is doing, because the state government has being doing, you know Willie is Working, he is really working and he will continue to work.
So we thank him a lot for the good works he is doing in Anambra State, we will continue to support him because he have the interest of Ndi-Anambra at heart. In all sector of economy, he has done well, is it in Agriculture, infrastructural or in Oil and gas, in road construction in rural areas. We are happy because things are actual taking good shapes in Anambra State. I will on my own part see that the mission and vision of Dr. Willie Obiano for ndi-Anmabra is achieved. I will be part this mission in making Anambra State the first choice of local and international destination for investment and the most preferred state for local investor for sitting industries. While Obiano’s vision to create social business friendly environment that will attract both indigenous and foreigner, seek wealth creation in Anambra State.

He is equally looking at industrialization, that will make our people come back home, even foreigner troops to Anambra State. He has put adequate security in place, no hoodlums again at anywhere in the state. I am proud to tell the people what developmental giant  stride of governor Willie is embarking on in Anambra State, there are several investment on agriculture, you  talk about Coscharis farm Ltd. And several others farmers from US, Uk, Etc., to invest in the state. Obiano is truly an Igbo leader, if you look at workers’ welfare, he pays salaries as and when due, in fact he pays before 25th of every month. You know the workers’ salary has been increased. So we are happy to partner with Governor Obiano in Anambra developmental projects.

What about Culture and Tourism activities in the State ma?

Governor Obiano is not interested harnessing the culture. He is interested in conducting competition that will promote culture. The other time, we organized Cultural fiesta, student cultural fiesta and so on that has really developed our culture in the state, even the other time, we went to a secondary school that invited us for their cultural day and our governor was represented by somebody.
We have been conducting workshop about tourism in the state, we are planning to establish federal tourist centre, as the economy of the country is going down, federal government people will patronize us, people from other country will also come also come to the state their tourism. As am talking to you know, we are developing Ogbunike Cave, even if you go to Rojenny today we have installed tartan tracks for athletics, these are part of what Obiano is doing to attract people in the state.

Anambra State government is not carrying the media along with her activities especially social and other private media?

How do you mean?, we do prepare information here from this ministry and disseminate it to the public through media. What you asked is not true, we disseminate information from here as and when due.

What is the government doing to enforce restriction order of Okada and Keke from Plying on the highway?
The restriction of Okada is for the benefit of ndi-anambra, imagine many accident victims in our various hospital was as a result of okada activities. That is why the government decided to restrict them. Remember it is not even outright ban, what about other states like Enugu, Ebonyi, Delta and others that has banned Okada, yet people are complaining …………

(Cuts in) Madam, we mean the enforcement of the order and its compliance?
We have been using police and other security agency, such as those one that normally wear yellow eem, eem (Cut in) ATMA. Yes ATMA and the rest of them. It is a gradual process; soon they will understand and comply. Remember that it will be very difficult for them to catch all the offender because they cannot be at all place at all times, again those that violates the law are not from anambra State. They are people from other states.

A lot of project from previous government of Peter Obi are abandoned by this administration, what are the cause?

Please, I have a lot of work to do, you people should go and write the one I have told you, you asked too much and sometimes………………..

What about the allegations that this government runs tribal government and recently Bishop Ephraim Ikeakor advised Obiano against that?

For goodness sake, must you know everything from me?

There is allegation that the state government was re-commissioning the projects commissioned by previous administration of Peter Obi?

It is not true, all of them have not been commissioned before and that is the extent I can talk. Please go so that I can work this morning.

What about the level of compliance by those that failed to pay APLUC which made the state government to seal their properties?

All were means of generating fund for State Government, as Anambra Property Land Use Commission, APLUC, is doing their own in that way, the ministry are placing jingles in ABS  calling on those affected to go and pay. We even go further to let them know that it is with the revenue that the state government will use to work.