“The worst thing one can do is not to try to be aware of what one wants and not give in to it”; Jim Rohn.
The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano came to power through a very contentious power struggle between two rival political parties dominant in the state; the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP and the All Grand Progressive Alliance, APGA in 2014. He was relatively unknown in the political circle of Anambra State. But his enthusiasm and charisma during the campaigns drew a lot of people towards him, even from rival political parties.
Loading ...During the campaign his speeches were short, but his heart was large as he gazed at the myriads of problems confronting Anambra State. This was easily noticed each time he marshaled out his four pillar plans and enablers, as he called them upon which he will anchor his administration; education, agriculture, infrastrural development and security. He wasted no time when he was sworn – in on 14th of March, 2014 as he immediately swung into action.
He assembled a crack team of equally enthusiastic technocrats and politicians who became part of his march to redefine the face of Anambra State, which actually needed attention to stem the tide of hopelessness written all over the faces of Ndi Anambra, insecurity, lack of zeal on the part of the state workforce and high rate of political intolerance pervading the state. Onitsha, the commercial nerve center of Anmabra State and other town and villages were embroiled in crime; kidnapping, armed robbery and other vices which made the residents scamper back to their houses, with high barricaded iron fences immediately it is 7pm. But Obiano – The Working Governor came.
The Head Bridge/Upper Iweka to Ziks Roundabout section of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway was a sorry sight, as the place was a haven for all kinds of vices and crime; ritual killers, pickpockets, armed gangs who operated with brazen impunity, street urchins, motor park touts, notorious lay abouts who waylay innocent passersby, and passengers who just alighted from vehicles that brought them into Onitsha. This was a daily feature in many parts of Anambra State. Within few months of coming on board, Akpokuedike, as he is called expanded the Head brigde-Upper Iweka—Ziks roundabout section of the Enugu – Onitsha Express road, completely ridded the entire stretch of street urchins, and armed gangs and lighted the entire stretch that today one can hardly believe what upper Iweka, that notorious arena has become.
The security situation in Anambra State today has improved tremendously, and life and property of the residents of Anambra are now safe. Criminals have been chased away from Anambra State, while hundreds of others are in various prisons. In deed WILLIE IS WORKING AND THE PEOPLE ARE HAPPY.
The government’s policy of zero potholes within the state has ensured that all the roads in Anambra State are constantly under maintenance all year round, despite the #25 billion the Feeral Government is owing Anambra State for the Federal roads done in Anambra State. This has ensured easy movement from one part of Anambra State to another just in minutes. Also, the Aguleri-Igbariam road, the Nteje-Umunya road, the Igbariam-Amawbia road through Enugu Agidi with a spur to Awkuzu, all are nearing completion. The road to the Nkwelle Ezunaka farm settlement is also nearing completion. In Ayamelum Local Government Area, which is the agricultural hub of Anambra State, the entire community with huge farming centers are being connected with asphalted roads; the first of its kind in the history of that zone.
In the state capital, the governor is building simultaneously three flyovers along the Enugu- Awka expressway at Arroma junction, Kwata junction and Amawbia junction. This is a major development as this will completely eradicate the annoying traffic logjam currently being experienced in the capital territory. The express road itself has been expanded to a six-lane highway to accommodate increased traffic. These are attracting huge applauds from Ndi Anambra and other passersby and observers; all who concluded that the maxim; WILLIE IS WORKING and THE PEOPLE ARE HAPPY is no fluke. Also there has been major rehabilitation of the popular Nkpo-Ekwulobia road at Igboukwu in Aguata Local Government Area, and Nnobi in Idemmili Local Government Area.
The completion of the Agulu Lake Bridge linked with a 6 kilometer road in the heart of Mr, Peter Obi’s home town, located in Aniocha Local Government Area in record time also drew a lot of applause from the people. This beautiful bridge that leads to a Five Star Hotel the State is developing in partnership with some private individuals and corporations also oversees the Agulu Lake, that mysterious lake that has been left untapped for generations, as well as at other spots.
In Onitsha, Nnewi, Ihiala, Ekwusigo major road construction and rehabilitation are all on-going. Overall the road infrastructure is receiving due attention in Anambra State.
Agriculture has been the major stay of some Local Governments along the Anambra River areas. As someone who hails from that axis, the Governor has given due attention to the development of agro based industries in the state, and the training of sustainable manpower to ensure that the state is self sufficient in major staple foods like rice, cassava, yam, tomato, etc. Today, both Mr. Cosmas Maduka of Coscharis Group and Excel Farms Limited have set up big agro-based industries in Ayamelum Local government of the State. Giant rice milling industries and farmlands are springing up all over the Omambala region. There are other individuals and corporations that have entered into agreements with the State government to establish more agro-allied industries in the state, as well commercial farm estates. The Governor has a vision to ensure that Anambra State becomes a net supplier of most staple foods to other parts of Nigeria by the end 2016. With the pace he is going, he will probably surpass this goal.
The governor has also trained thousands of youths at the State College of Agriculture, Mgbakwu, Awka North Local Government Area in various agro allied techniques and farming methods who are now gainfully employed in various aspects of agricultural activities in the State; from farming to fisheries, poultry and in the agro-allied industries. All these have reduced considerably the incidence of unemployment, youth restiveness and truancy among the youth in the state.
The industrialization of Anambra State has been one of the pivotal policies of the Obiano administration. He has attracted five major industries since assumption of office while hundreds of other Small and Medium Scale industries are being established under his watch. He is encouraging partnership between the state and some auto industries like Innoson Motors to train the youth in various auto based skills like welding, body painting, mechanics, electricians, etc. Today more than three hundred youths have benefitted from this and counting. Sab Miller In Onitsha where Anambra State has substantial interest is also expanding and doing backward integration as they have cultivated large acres for their materials in the Omambala region. Also the Richbon Nigeria Limited has established a $40 Million Automotive Plant that will roll out heavy duty vehicles and Light Trucks, as well as Commercial Buses, Agricultural machineries and Construction Equipment; all because of the strategic initiatives and industrialization/commercialization policies of Obiano Administration.
The workers welfare and those of retirees have never taken the back bench in this Obiano administration. Despite the lull in the federation accounts, the Governor has maintained payment of workers’ salaries and settlement of retirees’ benefits as a priority. Anambra remains one state where workers were still paid as and at when due during this financial meldown that traumatized the whole workforce in the country. Today all senior public officers in Anambra have their cars, and are enjoying various other benefits. This is one reason why Anmabra state workers are the most productive in Nigeria, and have never gone on any form of strike since Governor Obiano assumed office. The workers dub him, “the worker’s governor”. What a departure from past regimes where the past governors have had running battles with the state workforce.
The Governor’s response during the accident at Umuchu, Aguata Local Government Area in which twelve people died and twenty three people wounded was quite swift. This actually soothed the charred nerves of Umuchu people who appreciated the Governor’s timely intervention.
In the area of Trade and Commerce, the Governor has established The Anambra State Small Business Agency, ASBA to partner with relevant Agencies and Stakeholders in the development of Mirco, Small, and Medium scale Enterprises in Anambra State, This has been boosted with a #2 billion CBN MSME development fund to provide cheap and accessible funding for micro, small and medium scale businesses.
Politically, the governor has learnt fast, and today he has successfully conducted the APGA national convention, without any decent and the officers has assumed their places and positions. Chief Dr. Wllie Obiano, (Apkokeudike) is the National Leader and B. O. T Chairman of APGA. The Governor has a very progressive and creative Political Adviser, a youth activist and former chairman of Anambra East Local Governornment Area, Comrade Chinedu Obidigwe who is providing the governor a seamless pathway for major political breakthroughs. Suffice it to say that the United Anambra Youth Assembly Organized a very major program for the Governor some months back where they crowned him the “youth friendly Governor”. The Governor is currently on a state-wide tour to appreciate the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA in all the 337 Wards for the massive mobilization during the just concluded House of Assemble Elections which APGA won ninety five percent in the State.
Indeed, more than 50% of Obiano’s appointees are youths and are doing very well. Youth empowerment and employment have become one of the hallmarks of the administration, and the opportunities are expanding. This governor according to the youths “works more than the machine gun”. They sing it and applaud his laudable achievements wherever he goes.
He has also been carrying the communities along in the march to redefine the future of Anambra State and make it a better place than he found it. As security is ensured many communities who were hitherto embroiled in all manner of tussle are gradually enjoying peace and development.
In the area of education the Governor has set some pace too. The State owned tertiary institutions; Anambra State University, Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Nwafor Orizu College of Education, College of Agriculture, Mgbakwu, are being upgraded to deliver on their mandate. The Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, are now churning out full fledged Medical officers, Nurses and other ancillary professionals within the Medical profession. Most of other courses in those institutions have also been accredited by the relevant agencies, and the qualities of staff, as well as the quality of students coming out from them are reflective of the huge investment the Governor is doing there. All our secondary and primary schools are currently being upgraded while the teachers are undergoing continuous assessment to ensure they meet up with modern trends in teaching. They have all been made to acquire Laptops and computers to upgrade their ICT knowledge, something paramount to meet the 21st century challenges.
Various fits has been scored in the Health sector. The General Hospitals at Ajalli, Orumba North, Umunze, Orumba South, Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA, Enugwu Ukwu, Njikoka LGA, Agulu, Aniocha LGA, Nnokwa, Idemmili South LGA, Anamku, Ayamelum, Ukpor, Nnewi South LGA, Amaku General Hospital, Awka South LGA and the Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital have all seen massive rehabilitation, supply of the State-of-the-Art Medical Equipments and Ambulances. The State has partnered the Rise Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to construct and equip many maternities and Child Health Care centers across 20 Communities in Anambra State.
This government has a human face; the governor understands that the greatest thing you can do for any human being is to provide him the platform to achieve true happiness and achieve their potentials. That is the reason the governor’s human capacity development is unequalled in the annals of the history of Anmbra State. Governor Willie Obiano understands the maxim of Jim Rohn. Dr. Obiano understands what his people want and he is taking deliberate and sure steps to ensure he delivers them. For this working governor; there is no retreat, no surrender until Ndi Anambra chorus in unison, thank you Akpokuedike.
In Oil and Gas the governor is putting a lot on ground to ensure the sustainability of Anambra State as an oil producing state. With a potential of One Billion barrels of Oil and about 30 trillion cubic feet of gas, Anambra State is working to have a fully developed and self-sufficient oil and gas sector by 2018. An airport is about to be constructed close to the site of the Oil exploration site, while he is also encouraging a lot of infrastructural development close to the airport.
The Internally Generated Revenue, IGR of the state has surpassed the 2 billion naira mark as he is already targeting three billion Naira monthly mark; this is to ensure that the state recurrent expenditure can be covered wholly with the internally generated revenue. The potentials for this are very high and the governor is exploiting it totally. Anambra State is being redefined today as a hub of investmentment for investors, both local and international.
The Governor’s wife has also through CAFÉ dedicated herself to ensuring that Anambra women are empowered, trained in different skills and organized in Cooperative Societies to be able to access government’s funds to promote, start or engage in productive ventures that will lift the status of women in the society. She has also built a home for the mentally retarded and orphans or abused children and the motherless babies abandoned for no fault of theirs. She has really engaged to change and challenge Anambra women for better living. “Women are now able to contribute positively to their family wellbeing,” she often says.
The current revelation that after all Gov Peter Obi never left the touted #79 billion for the Governor has shown how prudent, focused and creative the Governor has been in raising all the money the state is currently using to undertake various projects and programs positively affecting the state.
The critics of the governor expect him to lower his ambitious march; just perform averagely as others and leave for others to continue the mediocrity performance. The governor is not looking back at all. He has redefined the face of Anambra State. And Ndi Anmabra Will Be Ready For him again.
–
(Dr. Kenneth Anozie is a consummate Political Strategist, Public Affairs Analyst and the Executive Secretary, GOADA and Coordinating Secretary; Greater Orumba and Aguata Political Summit.)
