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Tag: Obi

  • ‘Obi not involved in Umeh’s sack’

    ‘Obi not involved in Umeh’s sack’

    The Anambra State Government has refuted claims that Governor Peter Obi was involved in the removal of former Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Victor Umeh.

    Briefing reporters at the Government House, Awka, yesterday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mike Udah, said Obi has not joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said the insinuation that Obi was fighting Umeh because Umeh advised him to conduct local government elections was “rubbish”.

    The aide said the problems would not affect the party in the governorship election later this year, adding that what was happening in the party would further strengthen APGA.

  • Obi and security in Anambra

    Obi and security in Anambra

    Whenever the Christmas Season is approaching, the Igbos naturally look forward to it with great enthusiasm. It is not just a moment in time to travel home to enjoy the season, but it also serves as the period when relations meet to interact, organize community programmes and end of year parties and generally be at peace with one another. But unfortunately, in the past few years, the fear of kidnappers and armed robbers and their cohorts, had so haunted the society that most Igbos did not deem it safe and wise to travel home to the East for the Yuletide.

    However, this last Christmas and New Year celebrations in Anambra State, for instance, was quite remarkable for Anambrarians. Based on newspaper reports and the testimonies of some who travelled, Anambra State was very save and conducive for the celebrations. Those who were home for the first time in many years actually found time to savour the beauty and joy of Christmas because not only that security was in place, the government of Peter Obi was equal to the task.

    With the dismantling of the kidnapping gangs and kingpins in the state, Governor Obi has shown that with the necessary political will, a good leader can set an enviable precedence for others to follow. Before now, a gang of kidnappers led by Ofeakwu, a native of Oraifife in Ekwusigo Local government area of the state had held the whole state hostage. Ofeakwu’s exploits and those of his gangs were so grave and daring, that the governor quickly mustered forces with security agencies to go after them. His action was so decisive and swift that it took all by surprise.

    At the end of the day, the governor made it clear to the people of the state and indeed the while nation that for one to fight criminals as organized and as rich as the kidnappers were the best thing to do was to first of all cripple and dislodge their economic and financial powers. This was what Peter Obi did and for the first time in the history of the state, a determined governor set bulldozers and caterpillars into remote villages and towns to pull down houses built by criminals with blood and ill-gotten money.

    Governor Obi’s political resolve as a leader has indeed led to the peaceful atmosphere that exists in the state today. If you want to catch a thief, like it is usually said in Igbo land, you have to be smatter than the thief. And if you can successfully puncture his ego and source of wealth and cage those who are behind him, the rest is history. This was what happened all over the state when the government began to go from town to town based on security reports and information to fish out the criminals and drive them into the abyss. This approach shows that no single person or group of persons can be stronger than the state.

    Obi must have taken a lesson or two from the tactics employed by former president of Brazil, Lula Da-Silva. When Da-Silva took over as the first democratically elected president in the history of Brazil in many years, the economy was in shambles. Ordinarily, Brazil had no reason to be a poor nation, given that there were abundant resources to make the society great.

    But Da-Silva went to work. He promised the people that he would cripple the economic powers of their generals who had impoverished the system for far too long. As a political hawk and a no-nonsense leader, Da-Silva truly stepped on toes, very huge toes for that matter in the process of sanitizing the system. Many people kicked, while others attacked him, threatening to unleash terror on him for daring to go where angels feared to tread. But Da-Silva remained undaunted.

    By the time he left office three years ago, Brazil had become the 6th largest economy in the world. All it takes to make a system work for the good of the populace is just the application of the necessary political will. This is what Obi has done, but he needs to do more. He needs to go after the so-called untouchables and bigwigs in the state. Those super-rich people who are really the ones sponsoring crime and gaining from the socio-political and economic turbulence that prevail in the state, need to be taught a lesson.

    No one can say exactly who these people are or where they get their money from which enables them to continue to torment the state. However, Obi can equally rely on the same tactics he has been employing so far or something more superior to hoodwink these people. He has to find them wherever they are, uproot them so as to make Anambra totally free from the grip of darkness, witches and wizards.

    It was a good thing that Chief Tobias Okemadu, a prominent community leader in the state could travel home for Christmas for the first time in three years. “I went home due to the assurances given to us by Governor Obi. I must tell you that I didn’t have any regret. I had no reason to fear for my life or those of my household” he said.

    In a place like Anambra State, a leader has to have a heart of stone to be able to rule and make the desired impact. Obi has such heart, and that is perhaps why a lot of people have chosen to call him Okwute.

    Okwute simply means the rock, a man with the heart of a lion. And Christ the Messiah had told Peter the Apostle in the scripture “you are the rock, upon you I’ll build my Church… Powers of the under world cannot prevail upon you…”

    Darkness and light do not meet. They have no reason whatever to meet either, if the people can fight conscientiously to free thousands from the hold of powers and principalities. In this fight to free the state, the people have to combine forces with the government to make it work; to make freedom and peace permeate the society.

    No leader, no matter how powerful or strong or committed he is can fight crime alone. It is the people who provide the information while the government puts in place the logistics and financial muscle to make the fight effective and purposeful. Obi needs the cooperation of the people to make the state an Eldorado, an investment haven for all and sundry so that all subsequent Yuletide celebrations in the state will be crime-free.

     

    • Udeze writes from Lagos.

     

  • Obi resumes visits to schools

    Anambra State Governor Obi yestertday resumed his visits to schools after the Yuletide break.

    The governor yesterday visited Marist Brothers’ Secondary School, Nteje; Model Comprehensive Secondary School, Nkwelle Ezunaka; New Era Secondary School, Onitsha; Army Day Secondary School, Onitsha; Community Secondary School, Awada; and Union Secondary School.

    He gave cheques to some of the schools to rehabilitate their structures.

    Obi urged others to evaluate their needs.

    At each of the schools, the governor inspected facilities, interacted with the teachers and pupils.

    He advised the pupils on the need to be serious about their education.

    According to him, education is the biggest asset those growing up should acquire, if they wish to be successful in a competitive society.

    Obi assured the pupils that his administration would upgrade the facilities in their schools.

    The governor regretted that the facilities were collapsing because past administrations neglected the schools.

    He recalled that before his administration, no school in Anambra State had basic infrastructure.

    Obi said his administration has rehabilitated most schools by providing basic infrastructure, including science laboratories, materials, computers with internet facilities, generating sets, boreholes, conveniences, buses, fencing, among others.

    The governor promised that all the schools in Anambra State would be equipped by the end of the year.

    At Model Comprehensive Secondary School, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Obi was moved to tears at the level of dilapidation.

    The governor regrettable that Anambra indigenes, who he accused of celebrating vanity, did not show concerns about rebuilding the institutions where their children are trained.

    At Marist Comprehensive College, Nteje, the principal, Rev. Mike Iwu said: “It is on record that this school is one among many which have benefitted immensely from the generosity of your administration. We thank you for your interest in schools. This really shows that you understand that the children of today are leaders of tomorrow.”

    The Principal of New Era Secondary School, Onitsha, Dr. Ngozi Agbabamila said: “We cannot thank you enough for your vision for the state and your commitment to actualise that vision more than any other governor since the state was created. Your dedication, support, encouragement and love for education are beyond expression. Schools just resumed yesterday and here you are today visiting us, when some people are still busy holidaying.”

     

  • Obi pardons 10 prisoners

    Obi pardons 10 prisoners

    Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has granted amnesty to 10 prisoners.

    This was contained in a memo with reference AG/AN/S.198/VOL. V1/174, made available to The Nation in Nnewi on Friday.

    The document was signed by the Secretary to the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, M.C. Anyaorah.

    According to the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Mike Udah, the amnesty granted the prisoners is an annual ritual authorized by the Nigerian Constitution.

    Prior to the governor’s gesture, the prisoners were serving terms at the Onitsha and Aguata Prisons.

    A breakdown of the beneficiaries shows that nine of them were pardoned from Onitsha Prison, while one person was released from Aguata Prison.

    Those freed from Onitsha Prison are – Gabriel Onwuaana, Abuulmajeed Babalola, Daniel Chukwurah, Romanus Nwabueze and Adolphus Nwosu.

    Others are Okwudili Odife, Chidiebere Echefu,Joseph Akpan and Chikodi Nwoye .

    Mmaduabuchukwu Umechukwu, the 10th person was an inmate at Aguata Prison.

     

  • Obi: we’ll leave worthy legacy for Anambra

    •Community residents hail governor 

    Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has said his administration would not relent in rebuilding the state for future generations to be proud of.

    The governor spoke in Awka, the state capital, when people of Orumba, a community in the state, visited him at the Governor’s Lodge.

    He said this was the time to lay a strong foundation that would reposition the state for sustainable and comprehensive development.

    Obi explained that the massive infrastructural development of rural areas is to open up the grassroots for wealth creation.

    The governor called for collective efforts to keep the state on track so that it would not slide back to its difficult past.

    The leader of the delegation Chief Okey Ezeibe said the visit was to thank the governor for giving the people of Orumba North a sense of belonging.

    Ezeibe recalled that the Obi administration initiated and completed many projects in the local government.

    He noted that the projects, including the Odor Bridge, have direct impact on the lives of the residents.

    The community leader promised that the area would reciprocate the governor’s gesture by supporting his efforts to correct the mistakes of the past and maintain the present tempo of development.

    Also, a former deputy governor, Dr. Okey Udeh, noted that the Obi administration has stabilised the state financially, economically, socially and politically.

    He stressed the need for collective efforts to elect a worthy successor for him to consolidate on his administration’s achievements for continuity.

    At Obeledu, Obi assured the residents that he would fulfill his campaign promises to them to restore confidence in governance and entrench new consciousness among the people.

    Obi said the government was taking steps to secure the life and property of the people.

     

     

  • Obi presents N110.89b 2013 Appropriation to Assembly

    Anambra State Governor Peter Obi yesterday presented N110.89 billion budget proposal for the 2013 fiscal year to the House of Assembly.

    The amount represents 33.28per cent increase over this year’s N83.200billion budget.

    Of the amount, N70.895 billion is for capital expenditure while N39.995billion is for recurrent expenditure.

    An estimated N70.895billion is expected from capital receipts, which represents an increase of 51.07 per cent over the outgoing year’s N46.929billion.

    The Economic sector took the largest chunk of 32.39 per cent.

    The Social sector gets 19.13 per cent; Environmental, 10.62per cent and General Administration, 37.85per cent.

    Obi explained that the main thrust of the 2013 budget, tagged: People’s Budget of Integrated Development VI, are poverty eradication and hunger reduction.

    To promote the implementation of the progammes and projects that address the critical targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Obi said his administration would ensure tighter security of life and property, among others.

    He said: “We require a conducive social and political environment that will greatly facilitate our development efforts in our determination to continue to take our premier position in the comity of states.

    “It is our strong hope, therefore, that law and order will continue to prevail as indispensable requirements for socio-economic development.”

    The governor urged the residents to support his administration to implement its programmes for the development of the state through God’s guidance.

    Majority Leader Harford Oseke (Awka South II) moved the motion for the first reading of the budget.

    Minority Leader Tony One-Week Muonagor (Idemili North) seconded it following an order of Speaker Chinwe Nwebili.

    The lawmakers reminded Obi of their lack of office accommodation at the Assembly complex.

    Chugbo Enwezor (Onitsha North I) presented the lawmakers’ demand to the governor.

    He, however, said this would not deter the members from ensuring that the budget gets accelerated passage.

    The lawmaker said the members need an accommodation to performing their duties more effectively.

    Nwebili said members have lost several documents because of lack of accommodation.

    She referred the budget to the Finance and Appropriation Committee with an assurance that it would be passed in January.

     

  • Injured Apam in for Joel Obi

    Injured Apam in for Joel Obi

    EAGLES coach Stephen Keshi will take a chance on injury-hit Onyekachi Apam for the AFCON but not Inter Milan midfielder Joel Obi. MTNFootball.com has specially gathered that Rennes defender Apam is being considered to plug the leaky central defence and even though he was not involved in the qualifying series for the Nations Cup and his fitness has been in doubt lately, Keshi is ready to take a chance on him.

    Apam has bounced back from a long-term knee injury which sidelined him for over 18 months.

    However, Italy-based defensive midfielder Obi is not so lucky and so will miss out on his first AFCON.

    Obi first suffered a muscle problem in March and recently staged a comeback, but the injury relapsed forcing to him out again.

    He has now returned to training with the hope of playing again before the year runs out.

  • Obi’s moves against underdevelopment

    Obi’s moves against underdevelopment

    Governor Peter Obi is a man in a hurry. He has barely one year to bow out of the stage in Anambra State. His budget just presented to the state House of Assembly is meant to illustrate his bid to ensure that anambra joins the league of relatively developed states of the country.

    Therefore, the administration of Anambra State Governor Peter Obi could be said to be footing the bills of those who elected him, through his Anambra State Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS).

    Besides, his land mark trade in fighting crimes in the state is enormous. This explains the number of vehicles his administration has given out to the state Police Command, the Military, Civil Defence and other security outfits.

    In the area of Health, Education, Agriculture, Commerce and Industry, Obi has really excelled in Anambra State not to talk of infrastructure.

    Not only that, there is a new lease of life in Anmabra State schools since he gave back over 1,000 schools to the churches in the state.

    The governor has spent over ten billion naira on schools in recent times, with each school getting between 10 to 20 million naira in all the 21 local government areas in the state.

    The only area where people believe Obi has not fared well is the non-conduct of local government election in the state, which according to investigation, has been prolonged following the court case instituted by former chairman of Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), Prof. Titus Ezeh.

    Obi has used his ANIDS programme to tackle frontally, all development projects in the state and thus, meeting the challenges of democratic development in the state.

    In his opinion, the member representing Anaocha 1 constituency in the Anambra House of Assembly, Hon Ebele Ejiofor, who spoke to The Nation a few days ago, Anambra State had never had it so good before now.

    The lawmaker is of the view that Obi is a kind of Messiah sent by God to deliver Anambra State from infrastructural decay and take it to the next level.

    Ejiofor said Obi had weathered the storm in the state and if it were possible for him to continue another term, the people of Anambra would love it.

    According to him, “ANIDS accomplishments in road construction are truly heartwarming, over 500 kilometer of roads have been constructed and these roads are there for people to see’’

    “The successful completion of the first ever electronic stock exchange building, completion of business parks in the state, the building of five star hotel in Onitsha which is on going and the steps being taken to revolutionalize commerce in the state.

    “Also, the jinx of portable water has been broken with the completion of major water schemes, which had before now defied all solutions. For example, the commissioning of Amawobia water scheme by Obi, the Obizi water scheme in Uga Aguata, which unfortunately was taken over by flood recently, and numerous water bore holes being provided.

    “ There has been a very big leap in the Agricultural sector with over 200 new tractors with full complements have been purchased, loans that have been given to farmers amounted to over two billion naira, while the State Collage of Agriculture in Mgbakwu has taken off longtime ago with many buildings.

    “My brother, what else can we discuss about Peter Obi’s administration, is it the Teaching Hospital in Awka, which has since been completed, is it youth and sports, though our athletes did not perform well in Lagos recently in Eko 2012.

    “So, Governor Obi has left an indelible mark that will be difficult for anybody to match in this state. What we are praying for him is that God should intervene in 2014 election to send somebody from APGA that can fit into Obi’s big shoes’,’ Ejiofor said.

    Furthermore, Obi has equally worked harmoniously with the legislative arm in the state, making tongues to wag that the assembly members are rubber stamps to the executive.

    His administration’s cordial relationship with the legislature which was lacking in Anambra State before now, has been the moving force in the developmental strides in the state.

    Ejiofor said,’’ Some people in the state have designed all sorts of names for the state lawmakers because of our relationship with Obi, but we can not go against the man who has turned around Anambra State.

    “Members of the House of Assembly and majority of the people in the state including our Speaker, Chinwe Nwebili, are happy with the governor, if we fight him without any cause, what people are witnessing today in this state will not be there.

    “When the lawmakers fought in the past against the governors, where did it lead us to, nowhere, rather, it dragged the state backwards, so, we do not regret working harmoniously with our governor, and he has done well for those who elected him’’

    “On industrialization, Obi has moved mountains by establishing SAB miller and the likes and thereby putting the state in the committee of industrial nations, which was lacking since the creation of the state”

    Recently, Obi drags the president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to Anambra to commission the Orient Oil Refinery, where he has invested the state’s billions of naira and very soon the state will start reaping the dividends of the oil sector as the state has become oil producing.

    As his tenure ends shortly, Obi has continued to commission new roads especially in virtually all the 177 communities in the state, a feat which other out-going governors can not do.

    “Anybody, who has any negative thing to say against Governor Obi is either a member of opposition or an enemy of progress; we have never had it so good in this state,’’ Ejiofor said.

     

  • Obi presents 21 vehicles to Anambra judges

    Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has presented another set of 21 new vehicles to judges in the state.

    The governor presented the Honda Accord cars at the Governor’s Lodge in Awka, the state capital.

    A statement by the Media Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Mr Valentine Obienyem, quoted Obi as saying the gesture was in appreciation of the judges’ contributions to the Judiciary.

    The governor noted that the vehicles would enhance the beneficiaries’ work to uplift the society.

    The Chief Judge, Justice Peter Umeadi, thanked the governor for his magnanimity.

    He noted that it was the first time a governor responded quickly to their request and provided their choice of vehicle.

    Justice Umeadi said Obi has a cordial relationship with the Judiciary, adding that he has never interfered in its activities.

    The Chief Judge assured that the vehicles would be used well.

     

  • Obi gives N60m to six mission schools

    Anambra State Governor Peter Obi yesterday gave out N60million to another six mission secondary schools returned to their owners by his administration.

    The schools got N10million each.

    They are: Girls’ Secondary School, Oba; Girls’ Secondary School, Onitsha and Comprehensive Secondary School, Onitsha.

    Others are: Dennis Memorial Secondary School, Onitsha; St. Monica’s Secondary School, Ogbunike and Ogidi Girls’ Secondary School, Ogidi.

    The governor ate with the pupils at each of the schools, visited their refectory, conveniences and other facilities and gave each of them a N10million cheque from the N20million they would get for the rehabilitation of the schools this year.

    Obi said he could have delegated his commissioners to tour the schools but chose to do it himself to see firsthand the conditions of the schools.

    The governor said this would enable him to determine the extent of support the government needed to give them.

    He hailed the neatness of the schools but regretted that previous administrations ran them aground after taking them over from the missionaries.

    With apologies, Obi promised his administration’s assistance to the schools until they are returned to their former glory.

    The governor noted that there has been an improvement in the schools since they were returned to the missionaries.

    The Anglican Bishop on the Niger, Rev. Owen Nwokolo, was surprised that Obi visited schools, ate with the pupils and accessed the infrastructure in them, when many other governors had bastaedised governance.

    The cleric hailed the governor for his interest in all sectors, especially with the church and in restoring education and improving health care delivery.

    He said the situation that kept recurring was Governor Obi’s genuine interest in the development of Anambra State.

    Rev. Nwokolo recalled that the governor had earlier provided schools in the state with computers, Internet access, and buses; provided them with boreholes, generators and above all, equipped their laboratories. He assured the governor that the Church would continue to remember him in prayers.

    The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Uju Okeke, noted that the Obi administration has heralded a glorious dawn in the state.

    She said the level of development in the present Anambra State could only be achieved by Obi, who she described as an exceptionally committed governor in making the state the best in Nigeria.

    The commissioner hailed Obi’s prudence, adding that this has made it possible for the state to achieve so much since the administration came to power.