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The Anambra state voices of happiness Christmas carol was indeed a night of pleasant sounds and colours.
The thrills and sounds from a hundred-man choir, the first if it’s kind to perform in the state capital, serenading the air with joyful tunes, set the mood for what eventually became a memorable show-night, featuring popular Anambra-born artistes: Slow-Doug, Mister Real and Phyno.
Representing Gov Willie Obiano, Secretary to the State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, thanked God for granting Anambra state a successful year. While delivering a speech, he noted that the year has been quite remarkable. “Though dotted by unfortunate incidences, Anambra state government, has in this year, achieved set goals, surpassing a few and fulfilling its many obligations despite daunting challenges”.
Indeed, Anambra state has many reasons to be thankful to God, starting from the visionary leadership of Gov Willie Obiano to every single achievement of his administration through the ministries, departments and agencies of government.
In a brief interview, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C Don Adinuba said that the carol night was an avenue to express gratitude to God for gifting mankind salvation through his son, Jesus Christ. Adinuba observed that it was insightful that the state government recognized the need to organise a thanksgiving carol as part of events to mark the yuletide and newyear festivities.
It wasn’t a night for many words and truly not much was needed to be said because a lot was done to set the mood right for the night. A special choir made up of people with disabilities of all kinds, thrilled the crowd with melodious songs and carols, envoking and making the spirit of Christmas felt like never before.
Not long after, Special Adviser to the governor on disability matters, Mr Chuks Ezewuzie, a lawyer, though visually impaired, read one of the lessons from the bible to the amazement of the crowd.
However, the night became charged when the hundred-man choir took the stage to render Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus. The rendition was so powerful, it left the crowd spellbound. The spell was only broken towards the end of the enthralling performance when Principal Secretary to the Governor, Chief Willie Nwokoye, took over the conducting of the choir and orchestra, to lead them and the mesmerized audience, to a grand crescendo and climax.
The pop and afrobeat section of the night was ushered in by Senior Special Assistant to the governor on creative entertainment and veteran nollywood star, Bob-Manuel Udokwu. Udokwu who’s well known for his legendary acting and oratory skills, wowed the crowd when he kicked off the show with a reggae-dance hall performance. This was followed by a performance by the gyration master, former house of Assembly member and senior aide to the governor of Anambra state, Mr Tony-Oneweek Muonagor.
Soon after, the guest artistes, Slow-Doug, Mr Real and Phyno took turns to thrill the crowd with popular tunes and dance steps that continued to the early hours of the morning. Indeed, it has been a great year and thanks to Gov Willie Obiano, it is equally ending on a great note – with thanksgiving to God from grateful hearts and a joyful celebration for the people of Anambra state.
Notable milestones in security, agriculture, education, infrastructural development and other sectors of the state’s economy has aided the state to maintain an enviable competitive position in the country. The rancour of politics notwithstanding, Anambra has also been very peaceful.
The recent rekindling of literary works in Anambra state spurred by the public presentation of ‘dispossessed’ – a book of poetry authored by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr James Eze and the home coming of renowned author and multiple award winning writer, Chimamanda Adichie, to host for the first time ever, the ‘Purple Hibiscus creative writing workshop’ in her home state, Anambra, signified literary renaissance in the state, aided by the safe, stable and friendly socio-political and economic environment created and made available by the government of the day.
But the blend of these works of art and the achievements of the Obiano administration would have made little impact if the welfare of the people was not adequately addressed. Gov Willie Obiano, whose welfarist policies initiated the Anambra state health insurance agency to cater for the health needs of the people, also subsidized the scheme by contributing 0.5 percent of the consolidated monthly revenue of the state to the agency. This implies that only a contribution of #12,000 per year is required from one individual to benefit from the scheme. The agency has registered over 80,000 so far in one year.
Salaries and leave allowances of workers in Anambra state are constantly paid by government as and when due. It has not failed once in the administration of Gov Willie Obiano. In fact, during the civil service day on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, Gov Obiano assured workers of the readiness of his administration to pay the new minimum wage. On another note, the governor also pledged to increase workers salaries if the state’s internally generated revenue improves.
In his customary and benevolent manner, the Governor had earlier declared free transportation on designated routes in the state. He also provided Christmas gifts: bags of rice and bonuses for workers, the less privileged, the elderly and the physically challenged people in the state.
It was therefore with joy, that Ndi Anambra gathered at Ekwueme square, Awka, donning beautiful Christmas hats presented freely by the state government, to join the hundred-man choir in singing ‘hosanna in excelsis’. Their beautiful, happy and thankful voices filled the night with the encore to Phyno’s rendition of the popular hit – ‘Fada Fada’.
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