Insecurity: Anambra, ‘We Have Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself’

By Chuka Nnabuife

“Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
— Frank D. Roosevelt (32nd President of United States of America)

SOME people are definitely enjoying the sensationalisation of the security situation in Anambra State but it is unfortunate because they are only enjoying the sound of their voices while helping to worsen matters that affect them too.

At the risk of sounding like a cracked record, I will repeat my position elsewhere that there is a nationwide deterioration in security situation. While stating that, I have maintained my line of thought, backed with facts, that Anambra ranks top among peer states in efforts to curb insecurity. Yet there are people mining and exploiting the general security situation for unclear reasons that can only be explained as stirring a storm in a tea cup and making a hill out of a mond.

There seems to exist now, a clan of alarm trumpeters and dispensers of fear about, what they dub, insecurity in Anambra State. They drum and dwell loudly on security situation in Anambra in a manner that is inexplicable and somewhat despicable with clear intent to instill fear in the minds of the people.

But even they know that a succumb to fear will be the worst option Ndị Anambra would take. Without doubt, a general clime of fear will hurt the land and slide it deeper into insecurity but why the scaremongering is sustained remains a puzzle.

Scaremongering may be a political strategy but most times it fails even adept politicians who deploy it. Scaremongers use fear, misinformation, or exaggeration to influence public opinion or sway political decisions. Often the social machination technique appears to be effective in the short term yet at a long run its disadvantages rock the society.

It erodes trust in system and robs the politician or party that utilises it of credibility.
It polarises society because given its reliance on divisive arguments, rhetoric and antics, it deepens political divisions and leaves the people confused without knowing who to believe.

The scaremongers’ distractions from real issues is very unnecessary for Ndị Anambra because the fears they manufacture can make all stakeholders avoid addressing the genuine problems.

Kicking, whining and complaining every time on insecurity just helps to create avoidable anxiety and stress. This can lead to a sense of perpetual fear and unease among Ndị Anambra. We can avoid that.

Should it not be better to devote the energy invested in rousing negative emotions to positive critical thinking and evolve ideas that will yield solutions? Relying on emotions rather than facts as the scaremongers do discourages critical thinking and informed all-interest discussions.

Indeed, the cynicism that the fear-rousing tactics install causes an exaggerated falsehood that can lead some undiscerning Ndị Anambra to disillusionment with politics and governance, while damaging relationships between different groups and communities.

It is now high time we resorted to constructive dialogue and engaged in solution-focused dialogue.

Scaremongering may provide short-term political gains, its disadvantages can deal lasting blows on our beloved Anambra. The harms can be detrimental on individuals, communities, and the overall political process in the land.

Anambra has been progressive and frantic in the fight against insecurity. Her approach has comprised both kinetic and nonkinetic strategies. Hence it has been talking the development by trying to avert situations that could encourage it and addressing instances of insecurity, directly whenever they come up.

Typical examples of the state’s long and midterm approach are her various skills’ orientation and empowerment programs. Among them: the ‘One Youth Two Skills Solution’ (1Y2SS) which has, so far, trained over 13,000 youths since commencement in 2023. The youths are trained in a variety of vocational skills comprising skills for services in the creative industry, farming, food and hospitality services, building, telecoms services, welding, automobile repairs, marine boat repairs, business merchandising apprenticeship (‘ị́gba Boyi’) and others. After their all-expenses-paid-by-state trainings, Anambra State gives them start-up funds. Two billion naira was spent in the first phase of the 1Y2SS program while three billion naira is going for the ongoing second phase.

The state also set out a two billion naira loan facility in Anambra State Small Business Agency (ASBA) for cooperative groups formed by graduates of the 1Y2SS. Graduates of the program who establish. thriving startups are also given government-sponsored entrepreneurship management short courses in the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Business School. While the Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) and the 1Y2SS’ organiser, Anambra State Ministry of Youth Development collaborate to train and certify trainers in the program.

Then there is the digital skills acquisition program which currently cover 20,000 youths, training them on digital skills and information communication technology (ICT) operations. Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State informed, last month during his flag off ceremony for the second phase of 1Y2SS that the goal is to have at least, one million youths of Anambra that are adept in ICT and digital skills to the extent that they can export their practices soon. He also said that the goal of the 1Y2SS is to create at least one millionaire in every clan in the state.

There is also the training of selected young men who are interested neighbourhood watch in the state by security and law enforcement experts.

All these are premised on the fact that insecurity and related developments are mostly related to youths’s restiveness as a result of hunger and/or unemployment.

Anambra is also fighting insecurity through the Anambra State Security Trust Fund, which was established in 2019 to warehouse citizens’ and friends of the state’s support for the land’s security efforts.

Additionally, the state’s boundary commission has evolved an innovative way of settling land disputes. The initiative is so ingenuous that some of such disputes that had led to communal clashes over time has been settled amicably through focused arbitrations.

There is equally a development in Anambra which engages active youths productively. The entire landscape of the state is currently dotted by infrastructure construction projects where youths who are keen on working are engaged at variogus levels of service.

On a direct level, the state is actively working with security and law enforcement agencies in the state. The collaboration is yielding commendable results given the regular apprehension of criminals, including, kidnapping rings and robbery gangs. Repeatedly, strongholds of kidnappers and terrorists in places like Ihiala and Aguata LGAs and have been invaded successfully.

Even as some cases of insecurity still come up God who treasures Anambra will never let merchants of fear and havoc have their way.
He makes the tireless efforts of the state yield concrete fruits. That is the reason why there are several feasts and festivities holding currently in most of Anambra’s 179 communities, from ọzọ title taking to ongoing new yam festivals and marriage anniversaries.

Anambra has not, and will never go under as scaremongers would proclaim.

Indeed, “we have nothing to fear but fear itself” as F.D.R said in his first inaugural address as the 32nd President of the United States, on March 4, 1933.

Knowing the background of his statement will help here. It was at the peak of the Great Depression, a period of severe, insecurity, economic crisis in US. The austerity had been ongoing since 1929. The US was facing unprecedented levels of unemployment, poverty, and despair. Roosevelt’s address aimed to inspire hope and confidence in the American people, encouraging them to take action to address the crisis.

Roosevelt’s statement emphasized that the greatest obstacle to progress was not the severe situation itself, rather it was the fear and uncertainty, created. He sought to mobilise the nation to work together to address the challenges, and his message of hope and resilience helped to galvanise support for his New Deal policies.

Interestingly, Roosevelt was a physically crippled man, wheelchair bound but he ruled US remarkably from 1933 to 1945. Despite struggling with health issues, including polio and heart disease, FDR led the country through the Great Depression and World War II, implementing a series of reforms known as the New Deal. He was known for his optimism, empathy, and ability to connect with ordinary Americans. FDR’s health challenge — he suffered from high blood pressure, heart disease, and bronchitis — neither hindered him nor US from beating the odds stacked against them.

FDR’s reign in a very difficult period, his habits, including alleged knack for alcoholic cocktails for relaxation and socialising, did not impact his performance as President.

He led the country successfully through the Great Depression and World War II, implemented the New Deal, including Social Security and the FDIC and was elected to an unprecedented four terms as President of USA. But very notable here is that Roosevelt was known for his optimism, empathy, and connection with ordinary Americans.

Whatever the Anambra scaremongers are drumming on now, they cannot convince anybody that their state is not getting better currently or that their Governor is not working with optimism to winn the current war against insecurity and economic lull.

It will not out of place to reason that what Anambra needs most, now is for all citizens to rally behind Governor Soludo to lead the state out of the woods.

END