I created Anambra to develop rural areas – IBB

Former Military President, Gen Ibrahim Babangida (retd), has said that his desire to take development to the ordinary people was the main reason he created Anambra State, 25 years ago.

The former leader made the revelation, yesterday, at his Hilltop mansion in Minna, Niger State, when he received a team of Anambra State Government officials led by the deputy governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, who presented the dummy of a book on Anambra to him.

Expressing his willingness to author the forward for the Anambra State history photo book, Babangida said: “It will be my pleasure to be part of this historic book. Anambra is a state dear to my heart. And I am proud of the development strides so far recorded in the state.”

Going down memory lane, Babangida said the state was created in 1991 to ensure that development got to the rural areas, which hitherto was neglected.

Noting that the decision to document the history of the state is a laudable one, judging from the dummy of the book, a great job has been done in that respect.

Okeke, who is also the chairman of the Anambra State @25 committee, was in to Minna to request babangida to write the forward to the Anambra State Compendium, a history book of the state, its people and rich cultural heritage, which is being produced as part of the state’s 25th anniversary.