By Ebere Suzy Okoye
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Today, a new Governor was sworn-in in Anambra State.
Willie Obiano became the governor of Anambra State. He succeeds the outgoing governor, Mr. Peter Obi.
Governor Willie Obiano is to pilot the affairs of the state for the next four years.
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The new Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has tasked the people of the state to demonstrate their enterprenuerial spirit, which they are known for that will help them to take their destiny in their own hands.
Obiano who spoke yesterday at Ekwueme Square Awka, the Anambra State capital immediately the State Chief Judge, Justice Peter Umeadi, administered the oath of allegiance and office to him and his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, also said that provision of power and adequate security of lives and property would be paramount in his economic blue print.
Obiano who took the oath at about 2.02pm after his deputy, assured the people of Anambra State that their victory is not for them alone, but for the entire people of the State, stating “the occasion was a celebration of triumph of the human will over the challenges that make democracy reluctant seed to grow in Africa”
He said that under his administration the Amambra people have no choice than to decide to be the sons and daughters of their fathers and true heirs to the long history of pioneering excellence, saying that apart from aggressively addressing the challenges of power,”they have responsibility to free their people from the clutches of underdevelopment and set the tone for accelerated advancement’.
The new governor said the capital city of Awka under his regime will receive adequate attention as he would re-design and remodel the state capital to meet the structural and aesthetic requirement of the 21st century, that every citizen of the state would be proud of.
He reiterated that his four Pillars of Development which include; pursuit of mechanized agriculture, oil and gas, trade and commerce, as well as industrialization, will ignite the enablers such education, health, the environment, youth and sport development, transportation, housing and urban planning among other social infrastructure.
Obiano then called for unty among the people of the state, as these cannot be possible without unity of purpose, lamenting that over the years , “we have allowed narrow interests to put knife on the things that hold us together and today, we can no longer act as one”.
To the Diaspora Anambra, Obiano challenged them not to allow the easy comforts of where the live to carry them away and that they should forget whose children they are because such sweet comfort cannot compare to the fulfillment of a life at home.
Consequently, he said, that his government will set up Diaspora Liaison Programme (DLP), to open a window for the people of the state and other Nigerians who may wish to start a business in this state as a first step to their eventual relocation to Nigeria.
Promising to rebuild the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as a strong party that that will dominate the South East and indeed make in road to other parts of the country, he extended his hand of fellowship to his opponents in the last November Governorship election.
In his brief speech, former Governor of the State,Mr. Peter Obi, who arrived Ekwueme Square, about 12.58 pm after along wait by the people including the state Chief Judge, promised that he would not interfere with the administration of Obiano.
He said that Anambra State is the most financially stable state in the country as most State Governments are indebted to the State through their bond they bought from them, expressing happiness that he has been able to rebuild the state in the last eight years.
He declared that he has confidence and trust in Obiano and urged the people of the state to “always pray for him, show him love,don’t criticize him even when he makes mistake.”
Present at the ceremony were Senator Ben Obi, Special Adviser to the President on Inter-party Affairs, who said that Obi will soon join the Federal Executive Council, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, Senator MaggeryOkadigbo, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen Azubuike Ihejirika,Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu among other dignitaries.
