The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Governor Willie Obiano

  • Ex-NANS leader appointed Anambra governor’s aide

    Ex-NANS leader appointed Anambra governor’s aide

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has appointed a former students’ leader, Chuks Obele, as Special Assistant on Students’ Matters. The governor said he believed the appointment would bring about an improved relationship between his government and the youth.

    Obele, a graduate of Chemical Engineering from Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, is former national treasurer of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). He was also former Students’ Union Government (SUG) Director of Socials and Welfare.

    Before his appointment, Obele was the Secretary of Greater Anambra Initiative for Development, which was established to support good governance and development and to provide students with opportunities.

    In 2011, the Nri-born activist coordinated Senator Annie Okonkwo’s Education Support Programme, which involves distributing education materials, mentoring disadvantaged secondary school pupils and encouraging them to further their studies.

    NANS congratulated Obele on his appointment, urging him to be focused.

    A statement by NANS Public Relations Officer, Opeyemi Okereafor, reads: “On behalf of the entire Nigerian Students, we congratulate our amiable comrade, Chuks Obele, on his appointment as Special Assistant to Anambra State Governor on Students Affairs.

    “No doubt, you have paid your dues to the students’ movement. We recognise your firm and resolute stance never to support faction in the apex students’ body. NANS under the leadership of Aruna Kadiri is imploring you to see this as a stepping stone to greater offices ahead. Endeavour to be focused and steadfast in the discharge of your obligation.”

  • Obiano: Anambra not taking bailout

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has said that under his watch the state has not taken any bailout funds from the federal government .

    He also declared that the state has maintained a stable economic base through his strategic partnership with the private sector.

    The governor spoke when he met with the presidents-general and town criers of communities in the state in Awka, the state capital.

    He maintained that his administration had not collected any single kobo as loan from any commercial bank.

    Obiano also said his N20 million per community “choose-your-project initiative” had brought about uncommon transformation at the grassroots.

    “The state has under my watch maintained a stable economic base through strategic partnership with the private sector, even though we did not take bailout from the Federal Government,” he said.

    “By the time my eight-year tenure must have elapsed, every community in the state would have had at least six massive projects completed by my administration.”

    He said it was important that the presidents-General and town criers who, according to him, were the nucleus of information dissemination system in the communities, were aware of what government was doing in their localities to enable them effectively key in.

  • ‘Nwoye’ll erase Obiano’s embarrassing performance’

    Governor Willie Obiano’s performance in office is an embarrassment laced in propaganda which can neither deceive the blind nor confuse the deaf, the Tony Nwoye Campaign has said.

    Noting what it bemoaned as the woeful performance of the incumbent governor, the Nwoye campaign said that the performance of the governor has become a conspicuous blight in the face of the legacy of his predecessors which Nwoye as governor will erase with worthy deeds.

    The Nwoye Campaign in the statement issued by Paschal Otimkpu said:

    “Every follower of Nigerian politics knows that performance is a key determinant in elections. But here in Anambra performance of the outgoing governor will speak heavily against him.

    “Even the blind, deaf and dumb can see, hear and talk about the abysmal performance of Governor Willie Obiano. It is a common knowledge that preceding governors in their own different styles built legacies that one could see.

    However, for the Obiano government, the legacy that one can see is only corruption insensitivity to the plight of Ndi Anambra and crass nepotism as has never been seen before in the history of our state.

    “Before he came, governors addressed a number of issues affecting the people. Roads were attended, schools were constructed and old ones were rehabilitated. The health sector was given enormous attention as a large number of hospitals in the state were adequately equipped and staffed to meet health outcomes of a modern society.

    “The urban renewal programme which cuts across the three senatorial zones with much focus on Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi and even some remote areas did have a meaningful impact on the people of the state as it opened these areas and facilitated the ease of transporting items, particularly food produce from rural to urban areas.

    “Ndi Anambra have realized their mistake and the question is who will we trust again and here is where Dr. Nwoye stands out as the answer.

    Dr. Nwoye has earned the respect of his people through his dutiful representation of Anambra East/West Federal Constituency and he would by God’s grace use the governorship platform to positively impact on the whole of Anambra State

  • Anambra Town Unions Call For Rotation Of Governor Among Senatorial Zones

    The Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), has thrown its weight behind the rotation of governorship seat among the three senatorial zones in the state.
    Rotation among Anambra North, Anambra Central and Anambra South for the office of the governor according to the group, will engender the spirit of oneness, equity and fair play.
    In a statement issued at the end of its meeting yesterday in Awka, signed by its National President, Dr Jude A.P Okolo and made available to reporters, said such decision was taken in its town hall meeting.
    Also, (ASATU), called on Igbo indigenes to come home and invest which it said would grow their domestic economies.
    However, the group regretted the burden imposed on the people by the current economic hardship, while calling on the federal government to find ways of ameliorating the difficulties.
    “We also urge well meaning and illustrious Ndi Anambra to help empower their less privileged ones. By doing so, they would be helping to re-distribute wealth, thus cutting criminality in the communities.
    “There is need for the government and organized private sector to invest in power generation to ensure steady power supply. This no doubt, will serve as a catalyst that will cascade industrialization of the state” ASATU said.
    Meanwhile, the group commended Governor Willie Obiano for providing adequate security in the state and enhancing the well being of the people through micro-loans, agricultural value chain business and other inventions aimed at empowering the youths.  
    The group however, said it played a vital role in supporting the programmes of government, but lamented lack of funding to carry out its operations, hence, the need for government to approve the granting of monthly subvention to the body.

  • ‘Why Obiano is not welcome in APC’

    The Vice-Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information, Mr. Victor Ogene, has blamed Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano for the poor performance of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the March 28 elections.

    Ogene, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a statement, said it would amount to hypocrisy for Obiano to want to benefit from “his perfidy of only a few days ago, when he deployed state apparatus against the presidential aspiration of General Muhammadu Buhari and the APC candidates in the March 28 elections.”

    He said: “For a Pharaoh like Governor Obiano, who obviously does not know any Joseph, attempting to cross over to the APC with his liabilities and attitude of polluting any environment he finds himself – as the dire straits he has left APGA after only one year – his entry into the APC will only stunt the expected resurgence of the party in the state and the Southeast.”

    Ogene, who represents Ogbaru, said he wondered what value the governor would add to the APC, after leading APGA – in cohort with its National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, down the path of extinction through a combination of autocracy, vindictiveness and self-adulation.

    He said: “Is the man we are talking about not the one who, in the words of famed novelist, the late Chinua Achebe, had his palm kernel cracked for him by benevolent spirits, yet he refused to be humble? Where is former Governor Peter Obi? Where are the five House of Representatives members, who Obiano inherited when he became governor? How many seats did he lead APGA to win in the March 28 elections? The questions are legion, yet few optimistic answers.”

    Ogene advised Obiano to remain in APGA and clean up the mess he instigated, before embarking on another fruitless political voyage.

  • Governor’s community, Aguleri, Umuoba-Anam in bloody clash over land

    Governor’s community, Aguleri, Umuoba-Anam in bloody clash over land

    •One feared dead
    •10 injured, seven buildings destroyed
    •Military, police take over area

    A communal clash has erupted between Aguleri and Umuoba-Anam both in Anambra East local government area of Anambra State, reminiscent of the 1999-2002 war between Aguleri and Umuleri.

    The clash has already claimed one life.

    Ten other persons were injured and seven buildings were set ablaze at Umuoba-Anam.

    The cause of the clash is the claim to a piece of land by both sides.

    Governor Willie Obiano hails from Aguleri but he was out of town at the weekend when news of the blood shedding reached Awka, the state capital.

    He was scheduled to visit the areas last night to see things for himself and appeal for peace to reign.

    His kinsmen accused the Umuoba-Anam community of killing one of their own.

    The two communities appeared calm yesterday when this reporter visited there.

    Armed soldiers and policemen were seen deployed in the two towns to maintain peace.

    The traditional ruler of Umuoba-Anam, Igwe George Ekwealor, was unavailable for comments yesterday.

    He was said to have travelled.

    The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Hosea Karma, visited the two communities yesterday during which he told them to refrain from further confrontation.

    Among the buildings burnt during the clash were buildings belonging to the Anambra State FADAMA project (a storage cold room) and a private dredging company, JCE Global Link Nigeria Limited.

    Also burnt or smashed were a cooling van, dredging equipment, 150 rental chairs, 30 canopies, 200 crates of drinks, generating set, rubber floaters, deep black hose and  about 40 batteries estimated at over N50 million.

    One of those injured, Okika Mbanefo, was first abducted while returning from market before he was matcheted.

    An Umuoba-Anam youth leader, Sam Ifeatu, described the situation as unfortunate, but blamed the people of Aguleri for laying claim to a small piece of Umuoba-Anam land used for dredging in the area.

    An Aguleri chief, Raph Igwa, said yesterday that Umuoba-Anam elders should have told their youths that the land Umuoba-Anam occupies was given to it years back by Aguleri.

    He said: “It was the same with the Umuleri and Aguleri in which the court ruled that it was Aguleri that settled Umuoba-Anam.During the Aguleri and Umuleri crisis, the Umuoba-Anam people were on the side of Aguleri.”

    Igwa stressed the need for the two sides to properly demarcate their boundaries.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer, Uche Ezeh, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), said Police Commissioner Hosea Karma had met with the two traditional rulers of the communities, Igwe George Ekwealor and Igwe Christopher Idigo, who, according to Ezeh, asked them to call their youths to order.

  • Anambra truly on rebound, says Obiano

    •Governor celebrates one year in office

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano said yesterday that the state was truly and fully on the rebound.

    He was delivering his one year anniversary speech at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka.

    According to him, the state was too gifted and too blessed to wander in the wilderness of purposeless leadership.

    Obiano said the state was too endowed to be without a capacity for self-renewal and self-rediscovery.

    Said he: “Fellow citizens, 365 days later, we have all but achieved that dream. We have flushed out kidnappers from Anambra State. We have cut off their weapons, supply lines and sealed off their supply routes.

    “We have pulled down their physical and psychological empires. Ndi Anambra, we did this when those bulldozers mowed down the warehouses where kidnappers held their victims in captivity, when we brought down the mansions they built with the blood money made from their human cargoes.

    “We pulled at the psychological root of their business; we hacked at the source of their evil energy. Today, we breathe a new air of freedom! Today, we give our loved ones out in marriage under the wise gaze of our elders in the village.

    “Today, we feel free to bring our children home from cities to listen to the fantastic tales of their grandmothers under the full moon. Ndi b’anyi, Anambra adigokwanu nma! Oburo eziokwu?

    “The second significant foundation we have laid in our journey to a new Anambra is in the area of electricity generation. Besides the problem of security, there is no greater obstacle to the full manifestation of our people’s famous can-do spirit than the challenge of electricity supply.

    “For several decades, our people’s inherited inventive genius that sparkled through the dark years of the Civil War appeared to have been cut off by a failure of leadership. We failed once again to harness this ingenuity, which showed itself shortly after the Civil War, in the manufacture of quality household products that were generally referred to as ‘Igbo-made’.

    “Ndi Anambra, I stand before you today to invoke the spirit of ‘Igbo-made’ and to reclaim that genius! Yes! We must bring that spirit back! Ndi b’anyi, okwa anyi ga eme ya?

    “I am delighted to announce that we have laid a solid foundation for the provision of stable electricity that will help us recover our Midas touch. Late last year, we concluded arrangements with UD Independent Petroleum Production Company (UDIPPCO) to build a gas-powered plant that will generate 80 megawatts of electricity.

    “Similarly, barely a fortnight ago, we signed on Falcon Corporation Ltd to build another gas-powered plant that will generate 100 megawatts of electricity. When fully operational, the combined output of these two power plants will wipe away our tears on poor power supply in Anambra State.”

    Personalities, who attended the event included the former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, oil mogul Prince Arthur Eze and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh.

  • Obiano to flag off $100m Ekcel farm

    AS part of activities commemorating his one year anniversary in office, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State will on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 commission a monumental site signalling  the formal take off of the USD $100 million Ekcel Farm project in Anambra State.

    The farm project which is  sited in Omasi, Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State is a private sector initiative by Ekcel Farms Limited for the development of full scale  mechanised agriculture in Anambra State.

    Ekcel Farms Limited, a subsidiary of Oilserv Limited, is set to partner with recognised global key players in the agribusiness industry, and will focus on meeting the millennium investment goals and objectives of the state government through developing a scheme that will facilitate massive agricultural development in the state.

  • Obiano’s wife splashes gifts on parents of quadruplets

    Obiano’s wife splashes gifts on parents of quadruplets

    Children are blessings from God Almighty but when the basic needs are difficult to come by, they become a burden of sort to some people.

    That appeared to be the lots of the the family of Mr. and Mrs. Princewill Oluchi who were delivered of quadruplets on the day Governor Willie Obiano was being inaugurated in Anambra State.

    The quadruplet, three boys and one girl- Onyedikachi (Who is like God), Chimzaram (My God answers me), Chikamso (I am following God) and Kamsiyoochukwu (How I ask my God) were delivered on March 17 at exactly the time when Chief Willie Obiano and his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke mounted the saddle as the Executive Governor and deputy Governor of Anambra State.

    For six years the couples were without a child until this four came at a time. At first, they appeared confused but succour came from wife of Anambra State Governor, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano who gave cash and bounties worth over three hundred thousand naira to the family for the up keep of the babies.

    Presenting the gift items ranging from bags of rice, beans, cartons of baby food, clothes and other provisions with an undisclosed cash sum to the parents of the quadruplets in their Ngozika Estate, Awka home, Mrs. Obiano said it is in recognition of God’s gift to mankind for showering the couples with quadruplets after 6 years of waiting on the Lord.

    Obiano’s wife announced that the Obiano administration has declared free maternal and childcare in all government hospitals in the state and urged all mothers in Anambra to avail themselves of such opportunity.

    She urged the couples to take good care of the children and ensure that they were trained to have good relationship with God from their childhood, adding that her office will also strive to be responsive to the needs and yearnings of the people in the state.

    The parents of the quadruplets Mr. and Mrs. Princewill Oluchi expressed gratitude to the Governor’s wife and described her gesture as signs of greater things to happen in Anambra State.

    However, the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, through his wife, declared free maternal and childcare delivery in all government hospitals in the state and urged all expectant mothers in Anambra to avail themselves of the opportunity of ensuring that they deliver their babies in government hospitals without any cost.

    According to the First Lady, “I was overwhelmed when the Women Affairs Commissioner, Lady Henrietta Agbata broke the news of the birth of the quadruplets especially now that infant and maternal mortality rate is high in the country but we really thank God that they were born alive and in good health. The only unfortunate thing is that they were born in another state. If they were born in any of the government hospitals in the state, the bill would have been free” she said.