The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Obaze

  • Between Obiano and Obaze

    Presently the reigning vibes in the Anambra State political terrain is this ear-boozing song – godfatherism. Most Anambrarians believe that the governor, Willie Obiano is evidently so desperate to clinch a second term berth that his followers, who are thinning by the day, are catching at straws like the proverbial drowning man.

    From the saying that the former governor, Peter Obi was demanding N7 billion from the incumbent governor as the money spent while the ‘godfather’ (Obi) installed Obiano to the fairy-tale that Obi left APGA on his own for pursuit of federal appointment, down to the fact that he betrayed APGA by leaving the party, and on to such concocted tales – all in efforts to make Obi abandon any interest in Anambra State politics of 2017.

    But Obi, even though not interested in responding or exchanging words with them amidst very tempting provocations, decided to cut across their ice by getting deeply involved with same election. Their disappointment could be felt, seen and even touched as the brazen accusations of all sorts of conjecture at very evident maligning could not debar the ex-governor from assisting in ridding his dear state of what many perceive as aliens in power.

    Right from when primaries were getting closer and hotter, Governor Obiano’s cronies were busy shouting, attempting to sow seeds of crisis into the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP just because it was then clear that former Secretary to the State Government, Oseloka Obaze was not only a strong contender but also being supported by Obi. From under table intrigues of clandestine nature to open rascality like arranging a handful of paid protesters in Onitsha, the Obiano camp went agog with what many call debasing politics of open blackmail and outright lies masked in propaganda.

    But recently, they seem to have settled on godfatherism. Their deep-like-the-ocean undercards yielded no fruits as Obaze cornered the PDP candidacy in flying colours. It then became very glaring to the Obiano camp that the man they dreaded most, even from the very day of handover, is poised to rock their boat. So they went wild with this new godfatherism chant. They force a move back to history by resurrecting the Dr. Mbadinuju days with Sir Emeka Offor, the Senator Chris Ngige days with Chief Chris Uba to mean godfatherism should not be allowed again in Anambra State.

    But they forget to bring in the king of them all – the late Eze Igbogburugburu, Dim Emeka Ojukwu. Wasn’t he Obi’s godfather? What about Obi himself? Wasn’t he Governor Obiano’s godfather?

    Let’s face it – Obiano himself confessed he was swimming in his pool when he was called home to govern. He was provided even the air ticket to fly home to that call. In all we hear about godfatherism, none has been as completely domineering in execution like the one Obi did for Obiano.

    Today, let’s agree that Obi is Obaze’s godfathe. As Secretary to the State Government (SSG) for three years, at least he inherited official cars he’s still using. He’s conveniently taking care of himself and family. He’s made enough savings as a very prudent man to purchase his own nomination and declaration of interest forms. He’s been funding his campaign team. In his fleet were vehicles he personally bought to boost his campaigns. His posters, literature, handbills, various meetings must have been sponsored by the man.

    If Obi was Obiano’s godfather, did Obi one day arm-twist his godson? When this godson and the other godfather, the former national chairman of the party, demanded for Obi to leave the party, didn’t Obi leave immediately? If there’s any truth in this propaganda-gone-sour, why didn’t Obi insist on being paid this sum before he left in the true ways of the godfather Obiano and his cronies want ndi Anambra to believe Obi represents? And the bold question should be – what manner of godfather would leave his godson’s party if indeed his interest hovered around recouping his campaign fund?

    But looking at the man Peter Obi, which state in Nigeria would not truly wish he was a godfather in anointing any governor? Can a good husband be a bad man? Not likely. Obi, in eight years of governing Anambra State developed all parts of Anambra via ANIDS. Poverty Alleviation; Education; Health; Security; Agriculture; Road Infrastructure; Public Utilities; Water; Judiciary; Housing; etc. – Obi scored first in all these. He brought the state to enviable positions in all departments that for once, ndiAnambra sang in unison that he was God-sent.

    What was Obi’s secret of performance? Professionals say it’s prudence and I can’t agree more. Obi is so prudent that they christened him Aka Gum. Yes, he aka-gummed Anambra’s scarce resources that he was able to give real governance to the masses. That’s why they love him….they shout Okwuteee anywhere they see him.. They still love the only real governor they’ve ever known… Ndi Anambra’s dream of another governor like their Okwute once more. If indeed he is a godfather to Obaze, it is to the latter’s huge credit. For if 20% would have voted for Obaze while standing alone, 80% would vote for same man with Peter Obi standing beside him. This is a huge advantage other candidates don’t have.

    This is the major set-back the other godson lacks that is driving his camp crazy. This is why they are lying to and cajoling ndi Anambra to reject godfatherism. There are godfathers and there are godfathers. Peter Obi is one godfather ndi Anambra will welcome with open arms. Already majority are saying – if Obi tells us to vote for Obaze we will gladly do so.

    Anywhere in Anambra, every of the 177 communities have more than one reason to welcome Obi with genuine love. He’s built schools, constructed roads, built hospitals and health centres, provided amenities, boosted industries, and provided poverty alleviation via agriculture and SMEs, and many others. Such a man should be called back to be a godfather any time. Because today, the hawks are back in governance. What the poor masses see is governance of enriching private pockets and denying the poor masses, despite being cripplingly overtaxed immediately Obi left. What they are seeing is a government where the only finished projects are located in one community – Aguleri, with its completed 35 roads and on-going stadium.

    The masses will want the Obi days to return. They are happy that Obi is interested in bringing those days back by being actively involved. In fact, they were afraid that since Obiano disappointed in continuing with good governance that Obi would abandon Anambra. But they now know how much their Okwute loves them. They will do everything to see those great days back.

    Love him or hate him, Peter Obi is one person great majority of ndi Anambra will welcome wholeheartedly as a godfather.

     

    • Akosa wrote in from Onitsha. 

  • Obaze, the man, mission and destiny

    Oseloka Henry Obaze, fondly called OHO is an immensely interesting individual. Obaze, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate in the November 18 gubernatorial election is an embodiment of knowledge, an intellectual of very high repute, a diplomat of esteemed class and a leader of extraordinaire ability.

    Somebody once described a diplomat as one who could dive into turbulent water without making a single splash. He is such diplomat. In him you notice the first quality of any great leader – humility. And he has this unbelievable memory of remembering one’s name after just one introduction.

    OHO is one person, who would not make a decision while conducting any meeting without listening to the views of everyone. He calls you, however junior to him, to listen to you carefully then respond or ginger you with so appropriate words.  And I still don’t know how he manages to do it but he keeps tracks, communicates via sms and email so regularly, despite his work load and out-of-office engagements. Whenever he wouldn’t pick your call, he must return the call to apologise and explain why he couldn’t pick when you called earlier.

    OHO has this unbelievable care for people that he takes to other people’s problem as if he’s directly in their shoes. His attention, complete dedication to finding solutions mark him out as one specially created for the benefit of mankind. It’s not just for sight-seeing that he is one of the most traveled men in the world. While working for the United Nations, he had been sent to over 100 member nations. And he wasn’t just touring neither was he interested in showing around his handsome face. He was indeed being sent to help solve problems.

    You didn’t know anything about the word resilient until you met OHO. I wondered if he ever slept and I’m still wondering. Nothing he believes in will go unattained once he is on it. And he is a perfectionist of some sort. He will continue working on it until it’s perfectly executed. He’s ever consistent with his beliefs and will NEVER compromise any positive act, however tempting the course of cutting corners could present.

    OHO exhumes reliability. His ever amiable demeanour provides him with the exceptional charm that easily breaks barriers.  His consistently being sent to those nations as a UN diplomat is a confirmation of one with the ability to proffer appropriate solutions. He has served Anambra State as the Secretary to the State Government for three years and significantly across two different governors. In his book, Here To Serve, he uncannily branded the term SSG to stand for Senior ScapeGoat. Interesting but then are equally his dedication and accomplishment in those three years. He so redefined the office to not only stand it out as the real administrative hub of the state’s governance but also infused transparent dedication and quality of delivery from the members of staff. So much was his impact that when he decided to resign from that position one year into the tenure of the incumbent governor, the members of staff he was leaving behind were unanimous in printing a farewell banner thus – We Lost A Saint!

    But OHO is not all about administration. He’s much more of action. While in service to his state, he was directly in charge of managing very complex policy and practical issues. Top amongst the practical issues include the flood disaster of 2012, the illegal repatriation of Anambra indigenes from Lagos, the return and settling of Anambra IDPs from Central African Republic, the 2014 Ebola crisis, the spate of collapsed buildings in 2014 as well as handling the leadership crisis within the Anambra State Association in the United States. In all these, OHO exhibited a quality of leadership ability that won over keen observers.

    Taking the flood disaster issue as a reference point, one could be convinced beyond doubt that Anambra State and indeed humanity are blessed to have a man of such dedication and diligence around. OHO brought his years of experience in handling such issues in the UN to bear immediately.

    That unprecedented flood of 2012 devastated properties and farmlands worth trillions of Naira in 24 states of the nation. With 57 communities in eight local government areas adversely affected, Anambra State was not just one of the worst hit, it actually was deemed as the most acutely affected. Two of these LGAs, Ogbaru and Anambra West were extensively submerged. Property and business losses in the state alone were estimated at nearly N23 billion.

    But under OHO in his dual capacity as the chair, Anambra State Flood Disaster Relief Coordination Committee and chair, Anambra State Flood Disaster Relief Trust Fund, Anambra State became the most proactive and transparent state of the 24 states in effectively managing and efficiently responding to the complex natural disaster. Managing 125,000 internally displaced people, IDPs was quite a task but OHO did manage admirably. An estimated 15,000 houses and businesses were fully or partially submerged. In all, four people directly lost their lives via drowning, the lowest number of human fatalities from the 24 states.

    While efficiently coordinating and involving both the state and federal agencies responsible, the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA and Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA respectively, Anambra State, under OHO’s firm control, admirably dealt with the worst natural disaster the state had faced since Nigeria came to being.

    Though the state government released N100 million immediately while the federal government came later with N500 million, many well-meaning people donated cash and food items, clothing, etc to the cause. These generous individuals could have been compelled to assist based on humanitarian basis but law of nature would largely revolve their encouragement to do so around the professionalism and transparency shown by the people in charge.

    Concerned Anambrarians took deep interest and time to study that disaster and concluded that in OHO was one individual completely capable of replacing the man he was then serving and assisting in managing the terrible disaster. But those people got the disappointment of their lives. They were never given the opportunity. The very terrible politics of vendetta denied the expecting population of ndi Anambra the opportunity to cast their votes in favour of this amiable and workaholic diplomat. OHO’s party then, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA disqualified him from participating in the primaries.

    And many Anambrarians shed tears, tears that such individual of class was denied the opportunity to govern a state he loved so much as to resign from his plum job and very enviable position in the UN to come home to serve. And because of the zoning formula in Anambra, they all believed the chance was lost forever.

    But the poor masses counted without considering destiny. When OHO agreed to serve this present government of Governor Willie Obiano, it was to show he accepted whatever God put in place in good faith. He decided to serve Anambra further from the number three role, despite the circumstances with which he was schemed out. His love for humanity was the deciding factor. He buried the desire to ever govern Anambra again and moved on.

    But the same man, who benefitted from the political shenanigans that denied OHO; the same man who destiny fortuitously played a favourable orchestra for; the same man who inherited an empire he never contributed anything in building…the same man completely veered off from toeing the path painstakingly designed for him in benefit of dear people of the state. The same man would unwittingly resurrect OHO’s own destiny back to contention.

    OHO’s new party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has already elected him as their candidate. And in doing so the party has thrown up the best candidate for the November 18 election by a mile. Already ndi Anambra are rejoicing that they will make that choice on the D-Day.

    This is DESTINY threatening in its finest form. In OHO is a bestseller waiting to happen.

     

    • Obasi writes from Ozubulu, Anambra State.

  • Obi re-appoints Obaze as SSG

    The Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has re-appointed Mr. Oseloka Obaze as Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

    Obaze confirmed his re-appointment in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Sunday.

    He said that he could still add value to governance and service to the people of Anambra.

    “I believe that we are entering the most critical phase of the Peter Obi’s administration, given the need to consolidate all political, economic and developmental gains.

    “There is also the need to ensure continuity and to also ensure that we finish strong by winning the forthcoming gubernatorial elections and facilitating a seamless transition to the next APGA-led government in the state.”

    Obaze said that his letter of re-appointment was handed over to him on August 29.

    “Consequently, I will resume full duties as secretary to the State Government after a very brief vacation,” he stated.

    NAN recalls that Obaze had resigned his position as SSG on August 12, to seek the ticket of APGA for the November 6 gubernatorial election in the state.

    He was, however, disqualified from the race.

    The party’s screening panel, led by one Alhaji Tayo Sowunmi, disqualified Obaze because he did not have a voter’s card.

    A former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, was similarly disqualified from the governorship race.

     

     

     

  • Will Obi endorse Obaze?

    Will Obi endorse Obaze?

    Secretary to Anambra State Government, Oseoloka Obaze, has finally confirmed speculations that he would be contesting the 2014 Anambra governorship race. At a public function recently, the SSG was reported to have disclosed that his desire to succeed Governor Peter Obi is in line with the aspiration of the people of Anambra North Senatorial Zone to produce the next governor of the state. But the big question remains whether Obi would throw his weight behind his trusted aide when crunch time comes.