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Tag: Obiano

  • Touch your neighbour with love – Obiano

    As Christians all over the world mark the feast of Easter, the Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, has urged them to reach out and touch their neighbours with love.

    In a special Easter message delivered in Awka, the state capital, Obiano observed that there is no greater manifestation of unconditional love than the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the salvation of mankind which the feast of Easter represents.

    The governor, who has just resumed work after a brief holiday, said he purposely came back to celebrate Easter with Ndi Anambra because his heart belonged with the people.

  • I-FEST competition: Obiano hails students for winning bronze

    Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state has commended students of St. John’s Secondary School, Alor for their outstanding performance at the International Festival of Engineering, Science and Technology (I-FEST) competition in Tunisia.

    The students, Meshach Ugwuishi, Anthony Chuka- Umeora, Daniel Nwachukwu and Dominic Machi, came third out of thirty-one countries that participated in the exercise.

    Their work titled, “Adaptable Alternative Power Supply for Sub-Saharan Africa”, involved two innovations – an inverter which traps energy from the sun and a single fully backed solar technology panel.

    Receiving the students at Government House, Awka, Obiano pledged his administration continued investment in the education sector to assist students realize their potentials.

    The governor, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, lauded the students’ quality innovations, underscoring the place of focus and determination towards winning more academic laurels.

    Appreciating the students and their teachers for the honour brought to the state, Obiano called for more devotion from both teachers and students to realize his vision for the sector.

    Read Also: Obiano canvasses flag carrier status for Air Peace

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha attributed the victory of the students to doggedness and proactiveness.

    She observed that the efforts of the present administration on qualitative and functional education in the state were already yielding results.

    The Manager of the school, Rev. Fr. Francis Unegbu noted that the students’ devotion to the project was instrumental to the success story.

    He said the school competed in Electricity and Energy under Physics and attended with a manually made electric Inverter and solar panel.

    On his part, Principal of the College, Mr Samuel Otubah, noted that the encouragement provided by the school management contributed to the students’ feat.

    One of the students, Meshack Ugwuishi said they were poised to make the nation proud through their innovations amidst financial challenges.

  • Obiano committed to paying N30,000 wage

    The Anambra State Head of Service, Harry Udu, has reiterated Governor Willie Obiano’s decision to pay the new minimum wage of N30,000 to workers.

    Udu, who addressed reporters at the weekend, said: “Governor Willie Obiano has ordered the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) agencies to redouble efforts in raising extra N1.4 billion that will ensure that the promise is kept.

    “Obiano’s pledge in his address to civil servants during the electioneering period to be the first to pay the wage once approved is not a political statement. He remains committed to fulfilling the promise of being the first governor to pay the new wage once approved.

    Read also: Why Senate passed 30,000 minimum wage, by Ibrahim

    “The government is focused on making arrangements to move to the new minimum wage without having challenges in the legacy of the governor. Efforts are on to get additional revenue to sustain the practice of workers receiving salaries on 25th of every month.

    “Once those processes are done, then the promise will be achieved after due calculations.”

  • Jitters in Obiano’s cabinet over sack threat

    Threats by Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state to relieve some of his appointees of their duties has sent panic to members of his cabinet.

    Obiano had in a message to mark the first anniversary of his government’s second term in office, threatened to change any underperforming aides in his cabinet.

    A source from government circles who refused to be mentioned cited pruning of cost of governance as major reason for the shake off.

    According to the source, the governor has not been impressed with the output of some of the aides, having not measured up to his expectations.

    The source said, “Some of these appointments were made for political expediency. But from the look of things, we can’t continue with such huge retinue of aides. They must be pruned down in the interest of everybody.

    “Besides, the governor wants to make a mark at this last lap of his administration. It not a time to gamble.

    Read Also: I’ll remove underperforming aides, says Obiano

    “He wants to remain focused and expand the state economic performance in the next three years.”

    The aides likely to be affected in the shake off, according to the source, were community liaison officers without offices but have been taking advantage of their position to exploit unsuspecting residents, especially in the rural areas.

    Reacting, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C-Don Adinuba, said he was not aware of the planned layoff.

    “I’m not aware of the plan to dissolve the cabinet. They are all rumours,” he said.

  • APGA hails Obiano on achievements

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has congratulated Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano on his fifth year anniversary. It said Obiano has enthroned good governance.

    The National Chairman, Dr Victor Oye, in a statement yesterday in Awka, said Obiano has shown commitment to good governance and given it human face since he assumed office in 2014.

    According to him, Anambra residents were satisfied with his quality of leadership in the first term and so renewed his mandate in 2017. He urged Obiano to continue to pilot the state with the fear of God and love for humanity.

    The statement reads: “You have, by your commitment and candour, redefined leadership and given governance a human face. Your development initiatives and administrative acuity have combined to place Anambra in an enviable position on the global map.

    “Our prayer is that God will continue to guide your steps in his love and through you, liberate our people from the shackles of neo-imperialism and underdevelopment.”

    Obiano was sworn in on March 17, 2018, for a second term in office.

  • Obiano: I’ll be first to pay new minimum wage

    *declares Friday work-free day

     

    Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state has announced that the state government would be the first to pay the new national minimum wage.

    The governor who made the disclosure on Wednesday in Awka during a parley with State Civil Servants reiterated that staff welfare would continue to be on the front burner in his government.

    He revealed that the state government had received report by the Labour Committee and would soon commence its implementation to address workers’ grievances and agitations.

    “The welfare of the state workforce has been paramount to my administration. This, of course, has been possible because of the dominance of members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the House of Assembly,” he said.

    While declaring Friday work-free day for workers to enable them prepare for Saturday’s election, Obiano canvassed for total votes from the workers to enable him consolidate on his previous achievements.

    He said, “Electing legislators from opposition parties will derail my welfarist policies, especially your salaries, gratuities and pensions.”

    The Head of Service, Bar. Harry Udu assured the readiness of the state workforce to support the governor in view of his numerous welfare packages to them.

    He listed some of the packages to include payment of salaries, pensions, gratuities, Christmas largesse, ongoing renovation of the Secretariat, among others.

    In a vote of thanks, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Jerry Nnubia, solicited for the cooperation of the workers to ensure improved quality governance.

    “Since the governor has agreed and pronounced that he will be the first to pay the New National Minimum wage, civil servants in the state should rally support for APGA candidates to ensure consolidation of his good works,” he stated.

  • Obiano, Ngige fail to deliver Buhari in Anambra

    …as Obi shows class

     

    Anambra state Governor, Willie Obiano and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, have failed in their bids to give president Muhammadu Buhari’s victory during last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections in Anambra State.

    Instead, it was the former Governor of the state and vice presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Mr Peter Obi that triumphed.

    Obi and his presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubarka, won the 17 local government areas in the state already declared by the independent national electoral commission INEC.

    Before now, Ngige had raised the alarm that the process was flowed including the malfunctioned card readers that failed to capture his finger prints during the election, though, he later voted.

    In his local government of Idemili south, the President only got 2,220 votes for APC, while PDP polled 17,039.

    Also, the state Governor, who was said to be working for APC in the presidential race, mustered only 6,755 votes in Anambra east local government area, with PDP coming tops with 13,422 votes.

    Incidentally, Obiano and Hon Tony Nwoye, who was made national youth mobilizer, Muhammadu Buhari campaign council hailed from the same area.

    In the same vein, Senator Andy Uba, the Anambra state campaign coordinator for Buhari campaign organisation, lost the presidential election in Aguata, his council area too.

    The presidential candidate of APC scored 1,955 to trail the PDP candidate, who polled 32,328 votes.

  • Obiano, Ngige, Obi, Ezeemo express concern

    ANAMBRA State Governor, Willie Obiano, said yesterday he was taken aback by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Speaking with The Nation through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Awka, Mr. C-Don Adinuba, Obiano said his party was already prepared to deliver all its candidates in the state before the unfortunate postponement.

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige, said INEC’s action came with mixed feelings of disappointment because his party was ready for action.

    He however added that having listened to the INEC Chairman and his reasons, “anything worth doing is worth doing well, they should take their time.”

    However, Ngige said the electoral body should do the needful by concealing all the materials that had left the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) premises to different destinations.

    He said his party was already poised to deliver the President and other APC candidates at the polls in Anambra State.

    Also, the former Governor of the state and Vice Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi, described it as unexplainable.

    His media aide, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, said Obi was calm as ever, but regretted that people had lost heavily in every aspect as a result of the postponement.

    However, many others were already counting their losses over the action by the electoral commission, having travelled from far and near for the February 16 election.

    Mr. Chidi Okafor, told The Nation that some of them had lost resources in the market, adding that they left their states of abode to come back home to vote only to be confronted by INEC.

    Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, PDP stalwart in Anambra, described the postponement as a huge embarrassment to Nigeria.

    Prof Stella Okunna, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, said the situation was a very sad one, leaving a bad precedence for a nation’s political life, adding, “This election was not impromptu, INEC brought shame to this country.”

  • ‘Obiano in a hurry to develop Anambra’

    Anambra State Governor is in a hurry to develop the state, the government said yesterday.

    The government appealed to Presidents-General of associations, Ndi-Igwe and other stakeholders to ensure their communities were not left behind.

    A statement by commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, said the government has set aside N20 million, amounting to N3.58 billion, for development of each of the 179 communities in the third phase of Community-Choose-Your-Project Initiative

    The statement reads: “The Anambra State government is in a hurry to develop all its communities. The government is about to launch the third phase of the N20 million Community-Choose-Your-Project Initiative. Communities which have yet to complete the second phase will, however, not participate in the third phase.”

    The statement, however, regretted that about 50 per cent of communities were yet to finish the second phase because of communal politics and squabbles.

    It added: “The government notes that only 78 communities have completed the second phase, and are, therefore, ready to start new development projects in the third phase. The internal politics and squabbles are slowing down the progress of not only the affected communities, but also the state.

    “We urge them to resolve their problems immediately and complete the second phase of the initiative. The people and government of Anambra State are proud of this initiative which has brought concrete development to every community. It has been copied by some other states.

    “The strategy has earned praise from researchers and development experts as a perfect example of the bottom-top approach to development, which is recommended in the democratic setting, as opposed to the traditional top-down style which sees top government officials decide projects for communities without bothering to find out what the communities actually want or need.”

  • Obiano: additional Igbo state feasible under Buhari

    GOING by the words of Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, an additional state is in the offing for the Southeast under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    The region has five states, the Northwest has seven states, Southsouth, Northeast, Northcentral and Southwest have six states each.

    Prominent of the Southeast have been agitating for the creation of an additional state to bring it at pal with other geo-political zones.

    Obiano made the disclosure when members of the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo (Lagos State chapter) visited at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, Anambra State.

    The governor expressed hope that the Federal Government would set aside November 16 as a National Day for Zik’s Memorial.

    He described Ohanaeze as one united group, calling on members to remain a socio-cultural, non-partisan body with the goal of pushing the Igbo agenda.

    Obiano, who clarified that he was in good terms with the group’s President-General, John Nwodo, regretted the group’s decision to fix a meeting on a day the President was in the state to inaugurate the Mausoleum in honour of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who remained a world hero of Igbo extraction.

    Reaffirming his support to the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and all other candidates, the governor reiterated his support for restructuring.

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo delegation said they were in the state to show solidarity to the Obiano-led administration.

    The Igbo group, led by its President Sir Nnamdi Nwigwe, lauded Obiano’s negotiating power, his “Think Home” philosophy, among other notable initiatives.

    He said: “We are particularly happy with your position on appreciating President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s good gestures to the people of the Southeast region and Anambra State in particular.

    “The completed Zik’s Mausoleum which is a national monument, the ongoing second Niger Bridge, road projects and other infrastructures lay credence to the fact that the Buhari administration has not forgotten the region.”