The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Obiano

  • Obiano and the year 2016

    Obiano and the year 2016

    When the biblical Joseph found himself in the land of Egypt, through an uncanny ingenuity he saved that nation and other neighboring countries from an impending economic doom by applying the principles of sound economic practices that gave room for savings during the seven years of surplus as a preparation for the subsequent seven years of scarcity.  Perhaps this scriptural account sums up more fittingly, the feat of Governor Willie Obiano in the outgoing year, 2016. It was a year that saw Nigeria falling into a deep coma of economic recession, passing through one of the worst periods in its history. Oil prices plummeted to the lowest possible point and the naira has crashed with it. Allocations from the federation account nosedived and left huge gaps in the revenues of states. The consequences have been severe and unpleasant. Many states now find it difficult to pay salaries and meet their obligations. But the story was different in Anambra State.  Like Joseph, Governor Willie Obiano and his team had foreseen the impending storm and made adequate preparations for the rainy day. As if he knew what was to come, his first move as a financial expert was to organise a strategic retreat for the state executive council members to prepare them for the task ahead immediately he assumed office.   This was as far back as March 2014 when he mounted the saddle of leadership in Anambra State.  It was at that retreat that they brain-stormed on the economy and detected the impending fall in oil price. This prepared the administration for the tough times that took place in 2016. The result is that while other states were grappling with this reality, Anambra was not only increasing salaries but also busy embarking on developmental projects. 2016 also saw the Obiano administration focusing on the four pillars of development, namely, agriculture, industrialization, trade and commerce and oil and gas.  These four pillars were firmly supported by what he called the 12 enablers without which every effort to develop the pillars would have been in vain.  These included fundamentals such as security, education, healthcare, power generation, the environment, finance, social and civil infrastructure, housing and urban development, hospitality and tourism, transportation, water and sanitation as well as youth and sports. He therefore progressed with the overriding vision of making Anambra the first choice investment destination and most preferred location to site new industries.

    Throughout the year, the governor sustained his agenda of transforming the state and it is no surprise that he has given the people a new lease of life.  The year witnessed consistent investments through the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) justifying the governor’s background as an investment banker with remarkable statistics. In this regard, despite all odds, the administration maintained its impressive record in internally generated revenue (IGR) of N1.3bn per month from the N500m monthly that it inherited. And this was done without any increase in tax.  This was achieved through a timely deployment of cutting edge technology and a clinical weeding out of ghost workers from the state civil service.

    These investments cut across agriculture, trade and commerce, manufacturing, hospitality, housing, electricity generation, waste management, health and oil and gas. With the quality of investments the government has attracted so far, the unemployment problem in the state was drastically reduced. Obiano also invested heavily in agriculture during the year, attracting $150m from Coscharis Farms Project in Anaku, $50m from Novtec Farms Ltd in Ndikelionwu, $160m from Joseph Agro Ltd Rice Project in Omor, $220m from Ekcel Farms Tomato Production Farm in Omasi and $50m from the Songhai/Delfarms Integrated Organic Farm project in Igbariam.

    Rehabilitating bad roads and constructing new ones continued throughout the year. These included a bridge in Ayamalum to facilitate the movement of people, pedestrian bridges in Awka as well as construction of the three arm zone structures, for members of the state executive, legislature, and the judiciary.

    Obiano also embarked on projects aimed at revamping the educational system, as well as equipping schools for optimal performance in academic activities. By these interventions, he has opened up Anambra to the world and made the state attractive to investors.  The education and health sectors were also being given priority as schools and hospitals were either re-constructed or built. The government did not also fail in tackling environmental challenges as it mounted a serious campaign to retrieve cities from the menace of dirt and instill a culture of cleanness in the people during the year. Brand new taxis and luxurious buses were procured. Some modern bus stops and bus terminals in strategic parts of the state were constructed. Public utilities were also been put in place such as the 47 solar-powered boreholes that will serve 27 communities in Aguata and Anambra East Local Government areas respectively commissioned during the year. The Governor did not also relent on rural electrification, expanding 33kva supply lines and installing transformers in strategic locations across the state amongst other projects as well as installation of streetlights.

    He also maintained the victory of Anambra state over kidnappers, armed robbers, drug-dealers and child-traffickers. The smashed crime syndicates remained subdued throughout the year under review.

    For these, the governor won several awards and other national recognitions of excellence.  One of the greatest achievements of the Obiano administration during 2016 is one that may not be easily noticed.   Being a year preceding the state’s governorship election, it was one full of serious political mudslinging against the governor as some politicians in the state who had held positions of influence and authority in the past made frantic moves to portray his leadership of the state in negative light. They used every opportunity that came their way to disparage the administration. But through it all, Obiano maintained his decorum and did not lose his candor and dignified calmness, proving to be a mature and exemplary leader in all ramifications. Despite all provocations, he never lost sight of the need for political decorum and peaceful coexistence in Anambra State. That was indeed a mark of true leadership.

    And as the year was winding up the governor also took the opportunity to say thank you to distinguished Anambra indigenes by organizing a ceremony in their honour. The event afforded him the opportunity of thanking them for their unflinching support to his administration which he said was reflecting in all facets and sectors of Anambra state.

    • Okpala wrote in from Awka, Anambra State.
  • ‘Obiano ‘ll earn second term through performance’

    ‘Obiano ‘ll earn second term through performance’

    The Special Adviser on Political Matters to Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, Comrade Chinedu Obidigwe, in this interview with reporters in Awka, the state capital, speaks on the governor’s second term bid and the welfare package by the government to cushion the effect of the economic recession. Excerpts:

    What is your assessment of the Obiano administration? I will assert without any fear of contradiction that Anambra State is undergoing transformation in all sectors of governance. Governor Obiano is truthfully delivering good governance dividends to Ndi-Anambra. You all can bear me witness that Governor Obiano’s developmental initiatives have started yielding fruitful results. Ndi-Anambra are now reaping the benefit of our governor’s agricultural transformation. It is said that when the righteous is on the throne, the people enjoy and rejoice. Ndi-Anambra are rejoicing because it’s now crystal clear to them that Governor Obiano is poised to better their life. A lot of investments have been attracted to Anambra State throughthe Anambra State Investment Promotion Protection Agency (ANSIPPA). This is an agency created by Obiano’s administration for the sole aim of attracting international and indigenous investors to the State. The first thing the Governor did was to take the bull by the horn and tackled insecurity in Anambra State. He did this to create the enabling environment for business to thrive in the state knowing fully well that security of lives and property is the panacea for sustainable development. As far as I am concerned, ANSIPPA has actualized the purpose they were set up to achieve and they must be commended. Another agency that deserve commendation for living up to expectation of Ndi Anambra is Anambra small business agency (ASBA). At least the success story of Anambra rice you are hearing today must be credited to the agency. Our Governor burning desire for good governance delivery to Ndi-Anambra is a motivational factor for his political appointees.
    Today, everybody that comes to Awka will be proud of Governor Obiano’s achievement in the capital city. Awka is now a befitting capital city. Night life has returned to Anambra State, courtesy of the lighting of the state with street lights and security initiatives. You can do your business in Anambra till 2am in the morning or even day break without falling victim of robbery attack.
    How will you react to insinuations that welfare package by the Obiano administration is a ploy to curry undue favour?
    One thing you must know is that the opposition party members will always concoct falsehood against a ruling party to score a cheap political point. Obiano is a governor with a burning desire to ameliorate the sufferings of the downtrodden Ndi-Anambra. He has a heart overflowing with milk of kindness. Our governor has succeeded in making Anambra farmers millionaires through the grant of loan to boost their farming business. The recession our country is facing today was not created by Obiano but as a leader that feels the pain of the suffering masses, he thought it wise to roll out stimulus package for Ndi-Anambra to ease their sufferings under this economic recession. The stimulus package he rolled out for Ndi-Anambra are, tax relief program, special intervention program for small and medium enterprises, social intervention programme for low income households, intervention in infrastructure for jobs. As at today in Anambra, it is a crime to tax hawkers. To me, his stimulus package for Ndi-Anambra is a big relief for them under this economic recession. So, the opposition elements are just showing their insensitivity to the plight of Ndi-Anambra by playing politics with the welfare of our people. What it means is that Anambra opposition elements have nothing to offer our people except impoverishment and suffering.
    What are the governor’s selling points?
    Performance is his selling point. Our people used to say “Ochirimma ga achi ozo” the meaning that “if you perform creditably well in office, you will be elected again by the electorates. Anybody that wants to asses Obiano’s performance should put the economic situation of our country into consideration and if you do this, you will agree with me that Governor Obiano has performed well to the satisfaction of Ndi-Anambra. Senator Ben Murray Bruce was quoted of counseling other governors in Nigeria to go and copy Obiano’s model of governance and replicate it in their state. He made this assertion as an opposition party Senator that belief in saying the truth without minding whose ox is gored. Ndi-Anambra are happy with the developmental initiative of Obiano’s administration and that is the reason why they are wooing him to throw his hat in the ring for the 2017 governorship election race. They are of the belief that with Obiano as Anambra State Governor, their future is protected. The Governor has not officially declared his interest to contest the 2017 governorship election. But our people are wooing him seriously to contest the 2017 election, you talked of only Akpo and Old Aguata Union endorsement. Now let me authoritatively inform you that the whole traditional rulers in Anambra State have endorsed the Governor for 2nd term. They did that through a communiqué that was published in national dailies. Our people are not blind, they are seeing the good works of Obiano’s administration in their communities. This is a government that earmarked N3.5 billion for project execution in all the 177 communities of Anambra state. So the only thing I can tell you is that the recent deluge of endorsement for Obiano ahead of the 2017 governorship election is a testimonial of Ndi-Anambra for the good works of this administration.
    Obiano is being accused of bias in political appointments and project distribution…
    That is another concocted tissue of lies that can only fly in the warped imagination of those behind the falsehood. The Anambra State Executive Council membership consists of nominees from the 21 local government area of the state. So, the allegation of bias and favoritism is a cooked up moonlight tale that lacks veracity. As for project, the incontrovertible fact is that Governor Obiano continued the execution of projects started by Mr. Peter Obi; he completed and commissioned some of them. He also awarded contact for new project, but with the condition of Nigeria, he is now prioritizing on viable projects that will be beneficial to Ndi-Anambra.

  • Anambra indigenes hail Obiano for projects

    Anambra indigenes hail Obiano for projects

    Anambra State residents have hailed the re-introduction of community projects in the 2017 budget proposal presented to the House of Assembly by Governor Willie Obiano.

    The N20 million projects in each of the 177 communities are the second by the governor this year.

    In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, indigenes and residents praised the governor’s effort in developing the communities.

    A trader, Chief Fabian Nwibe, said with the second round of development projects, there would be a transformation.

    He said: “With another N20 million to each of the towns making up Anambra State for community projects, definitely the towns will change for the better.

    “Already, the effect of Obiano’s first N20 million is visible.”

    Another resident, Mr. Peter Ikeotuonye, said Anambra would not remain the same if the governor wins next year’s election.

    His words: “With the pace at which Governor Obiano is developing towns in Anambra, the state will soon outshine other states.”

    Mrs. Ngozi Ubaka, a civil servant, said the governor would excel in politics.

    According to her, “as it is now that recession is here and our governor is performing, doling out money for development purposes, it means politically he will still go higher than his present position in politics.”

  • Obiano to convert Orizu College to varsity

    Obiano to convert Orizu College to varsity

    Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, plans to convert the Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe to a University of Education.

    He made this known during the 17th convocation of the institution for graduates of the 2014-2016 academic session.

    Represented by his Education Commissioner, Prof Kate Omenugha, Obiano said he appointed renowned industrialist, Chief Cletus Ibeto, as Governing Council Chairman, to midwife the process.

    “As you can see, we have a lot of structures going on. You see the crème of people that are in the council. These people would bring in what they have on the table in order to accelerate the entire process. As soon as they give us the report, it is just a pronouncement and this place becomes a university” said Obiano.

    Delivering the convocation lecture titled: “Teaching the teacher: Contemporary challenges and prospects of teacher education in Nigeria,” the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Kukah, lauded Southeast governors for their contribution to education which he said has placed the region on the highest scale in the country.

    The cleric, represented by Rev. Fr.  Peter Tanko, a professor, however, lamented that poor infrastructure and welfare issues were affecting effective delivery of education in the country.

    He called for this to be addressed.

    “We have so destroyed the school system and the teaching profession that the remnants of Nigerian teachers are largely a bunch of disgruntled, disillusioned, frustrated and depressed professionals. Lacking any motivation or encouragement, their output in terms of teaching, research and publication, is, understandably, low.

    “The cumulative result of all these is not only that we are producing graduates at various school levels who cannot compete on equal terms with their counterparts trained elsewhere, but more painfully, education is losing its pride of place in the Nigerian society, and that the teaching profession has lost much of its status of honour,” he said.

    Provost of the college, Dr Ego Uzoezie, expressed confidence that the graduands would excel in the labour market.

    “As Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe students, the graduands had worked very hard and had made sacrifices; life must have been very tough for most of them. But their tenacity, focused objective and determined sense of purpose have yielded for them an eagle’s feather in their cap. Like the raw metal, they have gone through fire and have come out refined gold,” she said.

    Ibeto said the council was making spirited efforts to reposition the college.

    The overall best graduating student for the 2016 set, Okoro Anthony Ekene of Mathematics/Physics Department, thanked God for seeing them through their programmes in the institution.

  • Obiano presents N115.5b budget

    Obiano presents N115.5b budget

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano yesterday presented a budget proposal of N115.5 billion for next year to the House of Assembly.
    Works and Infrastructure took the largest share of N24 billion.
    From the budget proposal, tagged: Budget for Economic Recovery and Inclusive Growth, the governor said the state expected to spend N56.6 billion on recurrent expenditure and N58.9 billion as capital expenditure.
    Obiano said as was the case in 2016, the state would continue to prioritise production over consumption, targeting a recurrent to capital expenditure ratio of 49:51.
    The governor said while preparing the budget, the state was guided by some policy thrusts, such as a more optimal resource allocation strategy with deeper emphasis on the economic pillars and enablers of the state.
    He said the state expected stronger collaboration with the Federal Government, particularly in social investment, works and infrastructure, education, healthcare and environment.
    Obiano said Anambra State would ensure a more holistic approach to development partnership interventions which would elicit greater support to the socio-economic sectors, particularly in poverty alleviation and eradication schemes, community-driven infrastructure programmes and youth empowerment schemes.
    He said: “We project a crude oil price benchmark of $42 per barrel, having observed a rebound of oil prices from $29.7 per barrel in January 2016 to $46.4 per barrel as at late November.
    “Daily crude oil production has been estimated at 1.92 million bpd, based on improving oil recoveries as a result of Federal Government’s continued efforts to address insecurity in Niger Delta.
    “The average naira to the dollar exchange rate has been estimated at N305 to a dollar.
    “Value Added Tax (VAT) is projected at N850 million monthly, which represents a 10 per cent increase on our nine-month actual, up from the 2016 average of N770 million. It is predicated on the effectiveness of reforms that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has already started.
    “Based on the above, our Federal Allocation receipt for 2017 is estimated at a conservative figure of N40.2 billion, which is an increase of 20 per cent on 2016 annualised actual.
    “We have projected N20.4 billion for internally generated revenues in 2017, which is an increase of 26 per cent on 2016 annualised actual. Madam Speaker, you may recall that.”
    Speaker Rita Maduagwu hailed the governor for what she called good implementation of 2016 budget in all sectors.
    The speaker, who described Obiano as the “alert governor”, assured that the lawmakers would sacrifice their Christmas holiday to ensure that the 2017 appropriation bill was given accelerated passage.
    Maduagwu said: “I call on ministries, ministerial departments, agencies and corporations to be ready for the budget defence as the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation as well as other committees will commence the budget defence soon.”

  • Obiano and Igbo radio

    Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State last week announced his intention to establish a radio station to transmit only in Igbo language. The move is part of his contributions to save the Igbo language from going into extinction.

    In addition, pupils in primary and secondary schools would wear Igbo traditional dresses to school on Wednesdays while folklore would be taught primary school children in the evenings of the same day. The governor harped on the capacity of folklore to build sound and good moral values with a promise to reinvigorate the law compelling everybody in the state to communicate in Igbo language every Wednesday.

    He also intends to liaise with the state House of Assembly to enact a law that would compel every resident of the state to wear Igbo traditional attire on Wednesdays. Before now, the UNESCO had listed Igbo as one of the languages that stood to go extinct unless concerted efforts are made to preserve it.

    Given these fears, the measures enunciated by Obiano especially the ones relating to the setting up of a radio station to broadcast only in Igbo language and the teaching of Igbo folklore in primary schools are right steps targeted at arresting the decline. There is no doubt Igbo language has been passing through serious challenges such that could lead to its abrupt death unless concerted and concrete action is taken to stem the decline.

    The UNESCO had identified a number of factors that could determine the vitality of a language which embodies the totality of a people’s culture, tradition and identity. Among the factors are intergenerational language transmission, absolute number of speakers, availability of materials for language education and literacy. The rest are government and institutional language attitudes and policies, community members’ attitudes to their language and the quantity of documentation available.

    Weighed along these vitality criteria, the intervention by Obiano represents positive action to address some of the factors that stand on the way to the survival of the Igbo language. The measures seek to change the negative attitude of the Igbo people to their language, avail them with materials for language education and literacy through the Igbo radio station. It is also targeted at changing community members’ attitudes such that will encourage them speak their language contrary to their current aversion to it.

    The governor seeks through the measures to reverse the dangerous trend whereby the Igbo people prefer to speak the English language to the detriment of their mother tongue. So Obiano is on the right path.

    But there are issues with his intention to reinvigorate the law to compel every resident in the state to speak Igbo language and wear Igbo attire on Wednesdays. Whereas it may not be out of order to compel employees of the state government to speak Igbo and wear Igbo attire every Wednesday, extending the same measures to every resident irrespective of their mother tongue will create serious problems of implementation.

    It is also bound to infringe on their personal rights. There will be crisis if every state toes the same line just to preserve their language. Before now, the same state government had passed a law on the same matter.

    Tagged “Igbo Language Usage Enforcement Law 2009”, it provided for the enforcement of the learning, teaching and speaking of Igbo language both at home and in the Diaspora and making the study of Igbo language one of the general studies courses in tertiary institutions in the state.

    If the 2009 law is given practical expression together with some of the new measures enunciated by Obiano, the state would have gone at lengths to redressing some of the factors at the root of the decline in the speaking, learning and teaching of the Igbo language. For, much of the problems we encounter in this direction relate to the attitudinal preference of owners of that language to what is foreign.

    This inclination is traceable to the cosmopolitan nature of the Igbo man who can be found in the remotest part of the world. For him to survive and do his business there, he quickly masters the language of his place of domicile. Such has been their experience with the English language bequeathed to us by our colonial masters. If this attitude could be tolerated outside Igbo land, the scandal of children in the remotest villages and urban centres in Igbo states shunning the speaking of the language cannot be pardoned. Parents and the schools are to be held liable for this mess.

    Besides the actions or inaction of the owners of the language that militate against its survival, there also exist external factors that work against the flourishing of the Igbo language. This has to do with the attitude of people of other ethnic groups. Following the events of the last civil war, some people for whatever reasons, have come to treat those identified with that language with some suspicion.

    That accounts for why even people from some Igbo speaking states who are by no means less Igbo than others are regularly seen denying their Igbo identity even when all their names are Igbo. Some have even gone to the extent of inventing English alternatives for their local names. That is what you find in the present Rivers State. That is why you find recent names like Godknows, Godspower etc. If you ask those who go by these names to give you their local alternatives, what you will get is Chukwuma, Ikechukwu etc. Yet, they claim they are not Igbo. And one is tempted to ask, what are they besides the names they, their fathers and grandfathers bear? What are they besides the language they speak, the local dialect notwithstanding?

    Even with this pervading situation, many are still of the view that Igbo language and culture are still very loud and need to be tailored down for its speakers to live harmoniously with their host communities. In an article published in this column at the heels of the last tension-soaked general elections titled “fleeing for their lives”, this writer had looked at the penchant for people to flee to their ancestral homes at the least perception of danger and what such portends for national integration and survival.

    A legal luminary, Adeniyi Akintola SAN had in reaction, proffered solutions to this tendency. For him, “when you assimilate and integrate into the local culture without looking back into your biological origin, you blend easily and become one of the locals. A Yoruba man living in Enugu who takes delight in celebrating the Oro festival is courting trouble. Ditto an Igbo resident who loves celebrating new yam or Ofala festival in Lagos has wittingly set himself apart as stranger for the day of trouble”.

    For him, the antidote is to assimilate with the locals. Eat their food, wear their clothes, imbibe their culture and possibly religion; assume the local names, shun tribal associations and affiliations of ancestral homes. It is difficult to fathom where these fit in within the campaign to save the Igbo language and culture. But they have been highlighted to expose other dimensions of the challenge confronting the survival of the Igbo language and culture.

    Be that as it may, the efforts to save Igbo language and culture must be sustained. The Igbo radio station coming at the heels of plans by the BBC Foreign Service to broadcast in Igbo is most welcome. The survival of the Igbo language and culture is in the hands of the governments and people of the area.

    Through the various sensitization programmes; the teaching and learning of the language in primary and secondary schools, the decline will definitely be arrested. Anambra State must be commended for taking the lead in the campaign to save Igbo language and culture.

  • Obiano makes Igbo language compulsory

    Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, have called on Ndigbo not to allow Igbo language to go extinct.

    The two spoke at the weekend at the Prof Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre in Awka, during a summit organised by Otu Suwakwa Igbo group, led by Prof Pita Ejiofor, the former Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK).

    The programme was organised in collaboration with the Anambra State Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, Culture and Tourism.

    Addressing the crowd, Obiano announced that Igbo language had become compulsory in all the schools in the state, while students should be wearing Igbo native attires every Wednesday.

    Also, every school in the state must make speaking of Igbo language every Wednesday compulsory, while the era of folk tales should be brought back with immediate effect.

    The governor said with all these measures and establishment of Igbo radio in the state soon, Igbo language would not die as being speculated.

    He also promised to take one or two persons of the Igbo group abroad each year, during what he called Anambra Day and World Igbo Congress (WIC).

    For Umeh, any society that abandons its language would never go forward, adding that language binds the people together.

    He said speaking and writing of Igbo language in schools should be made compulsory, lamenting that Ndigbo had abandoned their language and culture for foreign ones.

    Anambra state Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Stella Onuorah, condemned private schools that flog their students for speaking Igbo language in their schools.

    She said by such act, they were helping Igbo language to go into extinction, adding that they should teach their students Igbo and encourage them to write it, just like what happens in the North and West.

  • Obiano to establish Igbo radio station

    Obiano to establish Igbo radio station

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has promised to establish a radio station that will broadcast its programmes in Igbo language.

    He made this known at a public event organised by an Igbo cultural society, “Otu suwakwa Igbo’’, headed by ex-Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University

    Prof. Pita Ejioforon.

    The governor said: “This is my contribution toward preventing the Igbo language from going into extinction.”

    He condemned the failure of parents to teach their children Igbo language and culture.

    Obiano said henceforth, pupils would wear Igbo traditional attire to school every Wednesday.

    He said primary school pupils would be taught folklore every Wednesday evening.

    The governor said the Igbo folklore he learnt while growing up helped in shaping his behaviour and guided his relationship with other people.

    His words: “Igbo folklore is powerful in building morals and values. I can’t forget my late primary school teacher, the way he used Igbo folklore to teach us great lessons.

    “Even as a governor, those stories about tortoise and other animals still guide my life.”

    He assured the cultural society that the government would strengthen the law that

    would make it mandatory for all to communicate in Igbo language and wear traditional attire on Wednesdays.

    Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Victor Umeh described language and religion as the true identities of a people.

    He said: “We should not allow Igbo language to die as predicted. For me, I have Igbo odour and I smell Igbo. My red cap is my joy as an Igbo man.”

    Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Culture and Tourism Mrs. Stella Onuorah urged the Igbo in the diaspora to teach their children the language and inculcate in them the cultural values.

  • Obiano faces tough re-election bid

    Obiano faces tough re-election bid

    Based on his antecedents, observers believe next year’s governorship election in Anambra State may not be a smooth sail for Governor Willie Obiano. The only governor on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) rode on the wings of former Governor Peter Obi to power three years ago. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI looks at the political situation in the state and the forces against Obiano’s re-election.

    THE next governorship election in Anambra State is about a year away. But aspiring candidates are already positioning themselves ahead of the polls. Since the creation of the state in 1991, only the immediate past Governor Peter Obi, who governed the state on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), had been able to scale the second term hurdle. With the exception of Imo, Anambra is different from the other states in the Southeast, in the sense that the state has been governed by two different parties since the return to civil rule in 1999.

    The tenure of Chinwoke Mbadinuju, who was sworn in as governor in 1999 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was marred by strife. His government was destabilised by a 10-month strike embarked upon by all government secondary schools in the state, following the withholding of teachers’ salary for a long time. Besides, before his emergence, secondary education was free, but his administration prescribed a tuition fee of N3,000 per term for all secondary schools. This led to an unprecedented massive demonstration by the secondary school students.

    Following the crisis that marred Mbadinuju’s first term, he did not get a second term. Many observers attribute his failure to political godfathers; a debacle that also trailed his successor, Chris Ngige, who was sworn in on May 26, 2003, also on the PDP platform. Ngige’s tenure was truncated in March 2006, when Obi dragged him to court on charges of electoral malpractice. The Court of Appeal in Enugu asserted that his election victory was fraudulent and ordered him to vacate the seat.

    Obi also had his own share of crisis. He was ousted by a faction of the Anambra State House of Assembly on November 2, 2006 and replaced by Virginia Etiaba, his deputy. Mrs. Etiaba handed power back to Obi on February 9, 2007, when the Court of Appeal nullified Obi’s removal.

    Andy Uba of the PDP emerged as the new governor, following the governorship election in 2007. But, the Supreme Court on June 14, 2007, removed Uba, on the grounds that his election was massively rigged. He was replaced by his predecessor, Obi. The court said the latter’s tenure had not ended and that there was no vacancy in the governorship. Obi was re-elected for second term on February 6, 2010, after a hot contest with Ngige; Prof. Charles Soludo, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Uba.

    Against this background, the incumbent Governor Willie Obiano is likely to face a big opposition from the two other major parties in the state: the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP. This is owing to the fact that both of them parade a number of political juggernauts that could turn the table in any election in the state.

    When Obiano was voted into power in 2013, he was a political neophyte. He secured the job on the strength of the backing he received from Obi, who was adjudged to have done well in his two terms as governor. But, since he has parted ways with the former governor and a number of APGA chieftains that worked tirelessly to get him elected, he has to rely substantially on what he has done in the last three years.

    Observers believe Obiano is going to face an uphill task in his second term bid. The governor is facing opposition because most of the developmental projects initiated by him are concentrated in his Anambra North Senatorial Zone, which had not produced a governor until Obi zoned the slot to the area.

    In addition, he has been accused of not running an inclusive administration. Observers say his kinsmen occupy most of the sensitive positions in his government. Most people in the state believe that the governor allows his wife to be the dominant force in the running of the government.

    Critics say those singing the praises of the governor are being economical with the truth. According to such critics, apart from the three flyovers erected by the Obiano administration in Awka, the state capital, the state has not witnessed much change, in terms of infrastructural development. The governor, they insist, is more of a noise-maker.

    Indeed, Obiano appears to have started making overtures to reconcile with Obi. For instance, his statement at a recent stakeholder’s meeting held at the Governor’s Lodge suggests that he regrets his fight with Obi. Admitting that the rancour was unnecessary, he said: “My brother, Obi, laid solid foundation for my administration. He is a great leader and I owe him gratitude. There is no doubt that without him we won’t be where we are today. Our feud with him was uncalled for. He is a good man.

    “I must thank my brother and predecessor, former governor Peter Obi, who as the first APGA governor laid a good foundation for my administration to continue the journey for a better Anambra State. When we took over the reins of leadership, we realised that my predecessor had done a lot of work in the aspect of setting the fundamentals or what I call the enablers.”

    Nevertheless, Obiano is believed to have done well in the area of security. He has also improved on agriculture a great deal, so much so that Anambra State has joined the league of exporting states in Nigeria, following the success recorded in the sector with the exportation of local rice, pumpkin and bitter leaves to the United Kingdom. But, whether these would be enough to guarantee him a second term is another matter.

    Given the personalities that make up the APC and the PDP, they are likely to constitute a formidable challenge for Obiano’s ambition for a second term. The ruling APC at the centre has a slim chance of winning the governorship; depending on who emerges as the party’s flag bearer. Ngige has not yet indicated interest to run, but he remains the best contender in the APC. The last governorship election, which Ngige contested on the platform of the APC, was more or less a two-horse race between APGA and the APC; the PDP shot itself in the foot with the division within its ranks and the controversy over its governorship ticket.

    Ngige, who is currently the Minister of Labour and employment, has repeatedly said that he has not finished the good work he started in Anambra State as a governor before his sojourn was cut short by the court.

    At a recent stakeholders meeting, Ngige declared that the APC would be the party to beat in the 2017 governorship election in the state, bragging that the good works he did while steering the ship would speak for him. He said: “The APC will be in serious contention for the office next year, because we are determined to take over the Government House.”

    It may be a bit early to say categorically who is contesting and who is not. But, those who are likely to contest in the APC include: Ngige; Hon. Tony Nwoye, a member of the House of Representatives from Anambra East and West Constituency and former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS); Chief George Muoghalu, the APC National Auditor; Senator Uche Ekwunife; and Barth Nwibe.

    Another aspirant for the APC ticket is Dr. Chike Obidigbo, an industrialist who was factional candidate of APGA in 2013. The Umunya-born industrialist, who is the proprietor of Osisioma Foundation, recently dumped APGA for APC with some members of his foundation.

    What are the chances of the APC? After the 2015 general elections, where the PDP was dislodged as the ruling party at the centre, the fortunes of the APC in Anambra and elsewhere in the Southeast has improved considerably; as many political heavyweights defected from the former ruling party to the APC. Besides, a number of APC chieftains in Anambra have benefitted from appointments at the federal level and would definitely campaign for the party in their respective domains during the election.

    But, comparatively, owing to the perception among the Igbos that President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments are skewed in favour of the North and against the Southeast, the party has not been embraced by the generality of Igbos and this is likely to affect its chances in the election.

    A lecturer in the Political Science Department, Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, Dr. Godwin Dappa, equally believes the perceived dismal performance of the APC at the centre so far may mar the chances of the party in the coming election in Anambra. He said: “The ruling APC at the centre has not addressed the fundamentals, which is making sure that the economy is on a sound footing and can put food on the table of the average Nigerian. If the party continues like this, it may not augur well for it in the near future.”

    Dappa said Nigeria is still trying to perfect the art and science of democracy and it is not there yet. He said the best legacy the Buhari to Nigerians in its current quest for electoral reforms is to truly make the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) independent. He added that if INEC is truly independent and the electorates are allowed to decide what they want, “it would eventually lead to a better allocation of values”.

    The lecturer believes that the recent election in Edo State was manipulated in favour of the ruling party. His words: “The recent governorship election in Edo State was manipulated in favour of the ruling party and this is likely to repeat itself in Anambra 2017 election.”

    On its part, the PDP parades the following aspirants: Senator Andy Uba and Walter Ubaka Okeke from Anambra South Senatorial District; former Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Chief and former Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka, from Anambra Central. It also includes Dr. Alex Obi Ogbolu, from Onitsha in Anambra North District, who is making his third attempt to clinch the ticket; having ran for it in 2010 and 2013 respectively.

    With a combination of Obi, Uba, Stella Oduah, Chief Chris Uba, and Senator Annie Okonkwo clearly makes the PDP a formidable platform in the state, despite its defeat by the APC at the centre in last year’s poll.

    Ifeanyi Ubah, the Nnewi-born billionaire businessman, is apparently rooting for Obiano’s second term, a possible indication that he may not be contesting the election.

    Other likely contestants are Godwin Ezeemo, a billionaire businessman and philanthropist, and Charles Chukwuma Soludo, former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor. Ezeemo is believed to be eying the governorship seat on the platform of the Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA). Although Soludo is not linked to any political party for the 2017 governorship race, he remains a beautiful bride that may be snapped up by any of the fringe parties.

     

  • ‘Allegations of non-performance against Obiano, infantile, laughable’

    ‘Allegations of non-performance against Obiano, infantile, laughable’

    Senior Special Assistant on Media, Strategic Communications and Legislative Matters to Governor Willie Obiano, Prince Oliver Okpala, offers reasons for the political tension in Anambra State and responded to criticisms and allegation that the governor has failed to deliver dividends of democracy. Excerpts 

    It is understandable that whenever an election is coming everyone will get into the fray and in such circumstances there would be mudslinging, unwarranted attacks and lies just to curry favour and to smear the image of opponents.  This is today what is playing out in Ananabra State by opponents and detractors of Anambra State Government under the leadership of Governor Willie Obiano. There is nothing to fight for rather the opposition has gone all out to discredit the government and Governor Obiano for cheap political gains.

    “But it must be understood that seeking power by all means is not a virtue but a sign of depravity and moral bankruptcy.  The legendary Martin Luther King Jnr. even warned his fellow comrades while they struggled for their legitimate right to self actualisation in The United States. He said: “In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force”

    “This is the least that is expected of those who must fight to gain any manner of victory, be it political or otherwise amongst civilized people anywhere. But unfortunately, some would – be aspirants or candidates in the forthcoming Anambra State governorship race have already saturated the media with venom even when the campaigns have not begun. This is an ominous sign that things may get very messy if they don’t call themselves to order.

    Some of these would – be aspirants have even gone into the fray of creating enemies for themselves instead working hard to promote their candidacy and their questionable image. They have set up media teams just for the sake of attacking Governor Obiano.  They use all sorts of strategies such as blackmail, name calling, lies and rumours for no just cause.

    But Obiano is not perturbed, neither is he moved because he knows that it is the people that would deliver him when the time comes. He has remained in touch with the people, listening to them and ensuring that their wishes and aspirations are taken care of. And this is all that matters to the amiable, focused, principled and visionary governor.

    “These political jobbers are only interested in their pocket and therefore throw caution and discretion to the wind in discharging their hatchet job. They should be called to order because Anambra State is bigger than any individual or group of persons.  Sometimes one reads with concern, materials they circulate on the social media like a recently one purportedly written by the CEO of a conglomerate who hails from Anambra State.

    They make boastful and extremely inflaming comments that anyone who understands the burden of leadership and has love for the people would never dare to make. The truth is that most of these ill hearted attackers should go for political self-development.

    “They should know that politics must not entail spewing lies against political opponents neither should it degenerate into invoking fire and brimstone against fellow citizens who share contrary views with theirs. Anambra people are wise and discerning; there are many of them who know the truth and cannot therefore, be hoodwinked into following empty loud – mouthed political contractors. These angry politicians should not take their personal weaknesses and moral failure into the political arena of Anambra, a state that prides herself as the Light of the Nation.

    “All the allegations leveled against Governor Obiano are at best infantile and laughable.  So far what is glaring is that the nauseating posture and utter lack of decorum by these individuals do not positively portray anyone with the ambition to run the affairs of Anambra State. They ought to know that making controversial, unfounded, malice-ridden public commentaries against real and imagined political opponents is not a mark of brilliance but of mischief and bad manners. As the Igbo’s say “he who brings home ant-infested faggots should expect the visit of lizards”

    One of them has even floated media outfits and is now in the habit of unleashing his editors on the governor just to pull him down. And in their desperation, they lack political education, finesse and have no sense of limit. These traits are a threat to the political future of Anambra State and the people must all rise up to make sure that these political misfits do not pollute the political air of Anambra State. The truth is that Governor Obiano does not deserve this atrocious campaign of calumny.

    “Some of these emergency social media activists live in Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and other cities and so are completely unaware of the sterling performance of Governor Obiano in Anambra State. They should come home, because nobody drove them from their homes, and they ought to remember that they cannot write the story of Anambra State with their China made smart phones in distant lands as they try to destroy Anambra which could also be a producer of such phones if not for their perfidious and sabotaging attitude.

    Great societies and nations are built by citizens who are patriotic, not grumblers and spoilers.  Anyway, the good thing about all these is the governor is calm, collected and focused on his job, which is to make Anambra people continue to smile. The governor has refused to be distracted by the political charlatans and jobbers who see nothing good in a governor that has brought much finesse and humanity to governance just because they are bent on pulling him down.

    For instance, in recent times, the social media especially has been awash with stories portraying the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, as a failure. But this smells of a well funded smear campaign launched with mercenaries and several social media attack dogs.

    But if we must not be deceived we have to revisit the meaning of failure. Now, if a man who, in less than one year in office cleaned up Anambra State of crime and criminality is a failure then one must prefer to be a failure.

    In the not too distant past, Anambra was a no- go- area, a forbidden land of a sort and a place which people dreaded to visit. But Governor Obiano wiped the state clean, chased out kidnappers and armed robbers from the town, cleaned up Upper Iweka and restored the confidence of Anambra people in their home state.  Having tackled the issue of crime, today there are people from the Netherlands, India, Australia and other parts of the world working in the state without any incident.

    If a man who started an agricultural revolution programme that has placed Anambra on the agricultural map of Africa is a failure, then let me be one!  Recently, the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, the Governor of the Central Bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the Kebbi State Governor and Chairman of Agricultural Committee, Senator Atiku Abubakar Bagudu all were at Coscharis Farms in Anaku, Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State to witness the impressive and uncommon collaboration between the state government and Coscharis Farms that was facilitated by the Obiano administration. As the gigantic Combined Harvester deployed on the expansive rice farms came alive, the guests were full of appreciation for the governor’s visionary leadership. The Chairman of the Coscharis Group, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, could not hide his admiration and gratitude as his almost 30 year-old dream had come to pass.  Indeed the rice farm project is a clear sign of the commitment of the government to providing the enabling environment for businesses to thrive. If his is a failure then let me fail like this!

    “If a man who built six bridges simultaneously in two years while the country’s economy was sliding into a recession is a failure then that must be a good failure, for it is true that in the past two years governor Obiano has built bridges including Arroma Bridge (Awka), Kwata Bridge (Awka), Amawbia Bridge (Amawbia), Ebenebe Bridge (Awka North), Aguleri-Otu Bridge, which is the longest in the South-East, and Iyiora Bridge in Anam. These bridges are there for all to see.

    This is an unusual feat accomplished in the history of Anambra State. With this record, Governor Obiano has demystified the once unapproachable and unthinkable task of building bridges in this clime, especially by state governments. If this fit into the narrative of being a failure, then I pray to be one but in the mould of Governor Obiano!

    “This so called ‘failure’ of a man increased the salaries of workers by 15% at a time when other state governments were borrowing to pay salaries.

    Only recently, he abolished several levies and taxes as a way of cushioning the effects of the recession which the country is going through. In that uncommon feat, he abolished some critical levies and taxes in the state, a move that left many Nigerians dumbfounded and in awe of the exemplary and courageous leadership style of the governor. The overwhelming feeling was that the governor came out to show the way in an unlikely manner, because in times such as this, governments look for more ways of taking from the people, but the Obiano administration instead, chose to sacrifice for the common man. If this is failure, then it is a positive failure which considers the people before any other thing.

    “It is a well known fact that the Obiano administration has also set an impressive record in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) with a remarkable increase from the N500m monthly that it inherited to N1.3bn per month. This was achieved through a timely deployment of cutting edge technology and a surgical weeding out of over 800 ghost workers from the state’s civil service.

    Therefore this so called failure must mean something else. It must mean a governor that failed to satisfy the cravings of a few cabal, a governor that has failed to be intimidated to do the wrong things and mortgage the future of Anambra people and a governor that has stood up to ask questions where necessary for the benefit of the people.