Whatever may be the personal or leadership failings of Peter Obi, the immediate past Anambra State governor, everyone gives him credit for playing a critical part in the emergence of Willie Obiano as his successor. Obiano had just retired from Fidelity Bank as the number two man less than three years ago and was living in Houston, Texas, when Mr Obi prevailed on him to return home and join the governorship race. The rest is history. It was wise of Obi to opt for a solid technocrat, rather than a professional politician, to succeed him. Many commentators regard Obiano as the star governor of the Southeast. But frankly he is arguably the best state governor in Nigeria.
Let us be honest with ourselves. At a time 28 state governments cannot pay salaries, salary payment before month end is taken for granted in Anambra state which ironically receives modest amounts monthly from the federation account. Anambra is the only state still employing workers and reviewing salaries upwards. Capital intensive infrastructure projects are going on across the state. Its students are leading the country in all examinations and consequently are representing Nigeria very well in global educational contests. Agricultural development is unprecedented, with Anambra as the only state exporting foodstuffs like vegetable to Europe because of the high standards; it is fighting hard to become Nigeria’s biggest rice producer in the next three years. In the words of Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the erstwhile Commonwealth secretary general, Anambra is in very safe hands, living up to its reputation as the state with the largest number of successful statesmen, politicians, businessmen, intellectuals and writers as well as world class clergymen throughout the federation.
One would think that the new Anambra State would delight the ex governor. For example, Obi has been frank enough to admit that he did not do well in internally generated revenue (IGR), which has now climbed from N400m to N1.4billion monthly. But it does appear that the former governor is far from happy. Though he does not openly speak against Obiano, there is more than ample evidence in the public domain to show that all is not well. His media team goes to the extent of writing indecent and false things about happily married women, who are successful professionals in their own right, for no more profound reason than the fact they work for the Anambra State government.
Genial and baby-like as Mr Obi appears, he may be possessed of the ruthlessness of a businessman which he has been all his adult life. Against all expectations, he successfully fought Andy Uba and removed him as governor. He had earlier defeated Dr Chris Ngige through the courts to claim his mandate given to him by the people in the 2003 gubernatorial election. He also used the judiciary to nullify his impeachment by the state House of Assembly against all expectations.
But this string of successes has probably induced in him a certain hubris and fighting spirit which may be difficult to justify. For example, he dealt mercilessly with his first deputy, Mrs Virgy Etiaba, a widow who was handpicked for him by Biafran leader Emeka Ojukwu because her husband was Ojukwu’s cousin. She was practically disgraced out of office. To this day, Obi and the entire Etiaba family are at daggers drawn. Obi’s second deputy, Emeka Sibeudu, threaded cautiously with him, but even so the former deputy governor could at a point bear it no longer that he has pitched tent with Governor Obiano, saying that nothing would ever make him work with Obi .
Obi fought tooth and nail to remove the first National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, not only from office but also from the party which gave him the ticket to run when no one knew him. He succeeded. Okorie was thus replaced by Chief Victor Umeh, his townsman and unflinching loyalist. Yet, both have since fallen out almost in a vicious manner. Of all the numerous commissioners, special advisers, special assistants, local government chairmen, board chairmen and members Obi appointed in eight years he was governor, it is doubtful that up to six people are still with Obi, just two years after leaving office.
Anytime a meeting of all prominent Anambra people is called, the only former governor who has stoutly refused to attend is our immediate past governor. All such meetings have been attended by our stakeholders regardless of the party affiliation. The former Vice President of the Republic of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme who practically founded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), always attends and even goes to the Governor’s Lodge to see the governor to show solidarity. Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, the first democratically elected Anambra State governor since the state was created in 1991, also meets the governor to show that the state is more important than any person. Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju, the first state governor to be elected since the inauguration of this republic in 1999, identifies with his state. Dr Ngige, who is now the Minister of Labour and Productivity and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, proudly attends and supports the state openly. This is the way it should be. Governors can come and go but our state will remain. Therefore, it is delightful to see erstwhile governors in solidarity with the state and its leadership. The only ex governor quarrelling with his predecessor and successor as well as his two former deputies and national chairmen of the party which gave him the platform to run for public office is Mr Obi. This is not a wonderful credential.
The unfortunate thing is that unlike in the past when Obi fought gallantly to recover his mandate from the PDP, used the law to redress his illegal impeachment and approached the Supreme Court for a proper interpretation of the tenure of office of a state governor in the context of his own chequered experience, there is no discernible principle in his current numerous fights with Anambra State and its people. It is difficult to know whether it is driven by ego or jealousy, as most people strongly believe. It is difficult to understand in particular the lone but vicious war against his successor who is doing brilliantly and whom he helped come to office.
It is time for ex governor Obi to pause and take stock. He should stop listening to sycophants who deceive every big man in Nigeria because of their private gain. There is hardly any person of consequence still with him. The truth is that ex governor Obi is very vulnerable in more ways than he may know. The fights are just counterproductive. It is time for him to take the rectitude path.
Ibeneme, an economist and ex banker, lives in Onitsha, Anambra State.
