Emelayo Nwosu
Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, on Monday, swore in Chief Longers Anyanwu as Commissioner and deployed him to the Ministry of Agriculture. This followed Anyanwu’s confirmation by the Imo State House of Assembly.
Chief Anyanwu was Commissioner for Agriculture in the administration of Gov. Ikedi Ohakim from 2007 to 2011, when Ohakim lost to Gov. Rochas Okorocha.
Chief Anyanwu was recently an aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for Imo North Senatorial Zone before stepping down for Senator Patrick Ndubueze.
His appointment as Commissioner for Agriculture is seen by many as going back to a familiar terrain, where he worked for four years.
It is expected that he would bring the experience he garnered in the past as the helmsman in the ministry to bear on his present appointment.
To his credit also is the fact that he is conversant with agructural and farming activities in the state, having been very close the people, attended schools within the state before his academic pursuit took him to the University of Calabar, where he studied history.
His experience working for several years as an executive in the private sector also provides him the skills and strategies for negotiating with investors. This is quite pertinent now that agricultural inputs, bringing more youths into farming and reducing hunger among the Imo populace present themselves as existential challenges that require immediate attention.
There is no doubt that the newly-appointed commissioner would leverage on these experiences and drive transformation in the Ministry of Agriculture. But the extent to which Chief Longers Anyanwu can do this remains hazy. One reason for this is that, although the Ohakim administration in which he served in the same capacity has been out of government for about two decades, there’s nothing that can be pointed at as its legacy in agriculture.
It is also noteworthy that the new Commissioner for Agriculture in Imo State has less than two years to work, since the Uzodinma administration will end in early 2028. In other words, he has just one budget cycle to bring his ministry’s policies, programmes and projects into the appropriation bill. Will that be enough time for him to achieve something noticeable in the ministry? This is a question close observers of the Imo socio-polilitical and economic space are asking.
Another question that has arisen since his appointment was announced is one that keeps recurring since 1999. Is this, as Nigerians have asked since this democratic era began in 1999, an invitation by the governor to an ally to have a taste of the gravy before his administration winds down in 2028?
Given the short time the Obowo-born politician has to work as commissioner, an evalution that will be fair to him might be difficult. Such assessment can only be fair for those who started with the governor in early 2020.
However, in the parlous state in which Nigerians see themselves at present, even a period of six months is enough for anyone given the opportunity to serve the people to make their mark. Judging from his compassion and experience, it is safe to say that Chief Longers Anyanwu will not disappoint Imo people.
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