Anambra remains safest against kidnap —Obiano

The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, has declared the state as secure from kidnappers. The governor added that before his assumption to power, the state was safe haven for criminals, particularly kidnappers.

He maintained that the cleansing of the state of such characters was as a result of law and order he placed for pre-conditioned growth and development.

The Governor stated this in his address, delivered at the golden anniversary conference of the National Association of Law Teachers of Nigeria (NALTN), at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

He said, “Anambra State stands out today as a shining example of what a people can achieve if they make unrelenting efforts to place law and order and national security as a pre-condition for national growth and development.

“Anyone who is familiar with the Anambra narrative would remember that for decades, our beloved state was held down by lawlessness and insecurity which made all efforts at meaningful development totally impossible.

“At a point in time, Anambra could almost pass for a postcard of disorder and insecurity. But our story has changed in just three years. We have made rapid progress from being an address for lawlessness to an oasis of peace and a destination for wise investors.”

He said the idea of holding the law teachers conference in the state would have been inconceivable in the past, “but we have changed our story and if we can do it, then Nigeria can do it even better.”

The governor commended the theme of the conference entitled, “Law, security and national development”, adding that such a theme, at this moment in the nation’s history was apt.

“This theme completely captures the lingering dilemma of our country and the one puzzle we must collectively solve to give Nigeria a fighting chance at national development.

“This conference gives me a lot of hope; not only because this is the first time we are hosting this great association in Anambra State but also because I’m told that the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, is a distinguished member of this great association.

“My reason is simple; after 50 years of running your affairs as a group, I have no doubts whatsoever that whenever you gather like you have gathered here today, you lend new depths to our understanding of the law in Nigeria.

While commending the efforts of the organizers, the governor urged the teachers to raise the standards of legal education in the country irrespective of the odds such as high cost of law books.