By Kingsley Ezekwelu
AWKA: The level of positive
development in an environment,welfare and wellbeing of the people are
the basic yardsticks for assessment of leadership efficacy.
When
people continue to compare the administrations of the former chief
helmsman of Anambra state, Mr Peter Obi and that of the incumbent, Chief
Willie Obiano, it becomes baffling and I begin to question the
rationality of these minds.
It
is crystal clear that Obi’s administration and Obiano’s administration
are totally not the same and as such cannot be compared. To start with,
Obi did a total of 8 years of 2 tenures while Obiano is just 2 years in
office. No gainsaying the fact that the achievement of Chief Obiano is
enormous and have so far surpassed the achievements of most governors in
Nigeria in just a space of two years. Hence,this can be disputed as a
landmark achievement.
For
those comparing the two tenures and judging based on Obiano’s 2 years
in office, it is either they have decided to go blind on his
achievements which are visible to even the blind and so audible to the
deaf, or they have allowed themselves to go the way of mischief makers
or again it could be a case of confined incommunicado.
Paramountly,
looking at the federal allocations in the two administrations, it will
be considered too cogent without perambulating to reveal that Obiano has
consistently been receiving far lesser that what Obi received in his
8year of tenure. Obi received between 7.5 to 9 billion naira monthly in
his 8 years in office at a time crude oil was sold at an average of 100
dollar per barrel up to $140.
Obiano’s
administration arrived at an unfortunate time when crude oil fell below
40 dollar per barrel to the extent that it fell below 30 dollar per
barrel late last year.
Nevertheless,
being a great manager of both human and material resources, he has been
able to synergistically harnessed these resources judiciously and
prudently and administer them towards revolutionary development of
Anambra state.
Moreover,
these considerations based on the economic circumstances of the two
administrations encountered are only justifiable and compared based on
what they have generated or received from Internally Generated Revenue
and Federal Allocation.
Obiano’s
gigantic achievements in a space of just 2 years have surpassed
achievements of many state governors who have been on seat for several
years. His achievements, which include provision of security, job
creation, infrastructural development, quality health care delivery,
construction of four bridges and Accreditation of four nursing schools.
Others include renovating of over 30general hospitals, ongoing
construction of 11,000 affordable houses for public servants, provision
of 25 American styled vehicles, fully equipped, installation of American
styled street lights around the state among numerous others, are there
for all to see and admire except for individuals plagued by a wide
graphics of misguided information.
It
is just barely two years in Obiano's administration and it brought
about a great deal of investments to the tone of 2.2 billion dollars in
the state. This is in reference to the claim of attracted investment in
the state by Obi's administration in his 8yrs in office, whose
investments largely were unseen physically as they claim.
Spontaneously,
Obiano's investment today has drastically solved problems of
unemployment because these investments have now engaged over 52,000
Anambrarians as direct employment and 194,000 as indirect employment.
Obiano’s
administration has set an impressive record in Internally Generated
Revenue (IGR) with a remarkable increase from the N500m monthly that he
inherited from his predecessor to N1.3bn per month now. The “magic” is
not farfetched as he achieved this through a timely deployment of
innovative technology and a clinical wedding out of over 800 ghost
workers from the state civil service. His administration has made
several efforts to boost the state’s IGR; holding Strategic Retreats and
Summits to seek new ways of increasing revenues without raising taxes.
The governor’s mantra is “doing more with less,”. He has equally set a
target, which is to achieve N2.2bn in monthly revenue generation before
the end of this year.
Obiano a leader with human face,touching and impacting lives.
The
workers in the state today are singing the governor’s praises as
Anambra is second to none in the welfare of workers in the whole of
Nigeria. Anambra is the only state that increased the salary of workers
by 15% in 2015 at a time when many states were looking for bailouts.
Akpokuedike’s administration has also shown the humane side of
governance with a series of worker-friendly policies and gestures. For
instance,his administration has since cleared the N1.9bn arrears of
salaries owed the State Water Corporation staff as well as the
approximately N1bn pension owed Local Government retirees inherited by
his administration. Similarly, his government humanized governance by
granting amnesty to 25 prisoners serving different jail terms in Anambra
State to mark Nigeria’s 55th Independence Anniversary last year. These
ex-convicts are currently undergoing training in a school for skill
acquisition at Umueri and will be handed N1m each at the end of their
training.Also CAFE is another way of touching and alleviating lives by
Obiano,this pet program initiated by the amiable and supportive wife of
the governor Her Excellency Chief Mrs EbelechukwuObiano
(Osodieme),pontaneously empowering the needy,poor widows, and less
privileged in the society.
The
Mass Transit Scheme introduced by his administration has continued to
receive undiluted applauds from Ndi Anambra. Obiano initiated the modern
mass transit scheme that covers the three major cities in the state
with 200 brand new taxis and 40 luxurious buses. This was followed up by
the construction of modern bus stops and bus terminals in strategic
parts of the state. This initiative was recently expanded to include
marine transport with 24 Speedboats and Water Ambulances and one Gunboat
for the Nigerian Navy. The idea is to open access to the riverine
communities in the state and ensure that no part of the state is cut off
from the phenomenal development spreading around the state.
One
cannot talk about Obiano’s achievements without mentioning his
remarkable strides in the Educational Sector which is impressive in the
past two years. His administration approach education in three broad
areas – infrastructural development, pupils/students development, and
teachers’ welfare. In the period under review, the state has maintained
her enviable position in NECO and WAEC examinations. Similarly, the
brilliant school children took the Third position at the World Schools
Debate Championship in Singapore last year. It is also worthy of note
that the state contingents are current champions in the national
Pre-basic Debate Competition. The same debate team defeated the debate
team from 80-year old Katung Secondary School in Singapore in January
this year. To crown the efforts of the state government in Education,
Rose Nkemdilim Obi from the state won last year’s national Teacher of
the Year Award to underscore the silent revolution that is going on in
the educational sector. However, in terms of funding for schools,
Obiano’s administration has disbursed the sum of N733 million to mission
schools, renovated 1000 units of 10-classroom blocks and awarded
scholarships estimated at N30 million to over 200 students.
There’s
no gainsaying the fact that governor Obiano has done credibly well in
the Agricultural sector as he has always affirmed that Agriculture is
the leading pillar of his Economic Blueprint. His unprecedented stride
sector is already yielding fruits as Anambra has become an exporter of
farm produce to Europe. Songhai Farms has reached an agreement with
SABMiller for the supply of Sorghum, produced in Igbariam for brewing
beverages. The wholly indigenous brand of rice known as Anambra Rice has
already flooded the market and it is competing favourably with other
brands in the market. The state government has so far attracted $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. There are
also Grains & Silos with $40m investment in storage facilities,
Lynden Farms with the $61m poultry farm in Igbariam and Tricity
Integrated Farms with $11.4m ultra-modern abattoir in Awka
The
governor is creating a zero corruption environment, by leading with
example. He has invigorated the fate and trust of the people back to
believing in the process of governance again. His administration has
given dignity and respect back to our monarchs, by barring security
agencies especially the police from intimidating, arresting ,invitation
of all sorts to our traditional rulers rather he made it mandatory that
security agencies visit our monarchs in their palaces as it’s been done
in the northern and Western Nigeria.
Ideally,
two years is hardly enough time in the life of any administration to
make a lasting impression on the people, but Obiano’s administration has
demonstrated a strong ambition for greatness. It goes a long way to
show that given time and resources, his administration can turn Anambra
state into Nigeria’s new postcard for excellence.
Despite
the economic quagmire ravaging the country, the dwindling oil price,
and the depreciating value of naira and not to forget the allocations
from the federation account which have dried up and left huge gaps in
the revenue of states, Anambra state under this man with lofty plans
watch has stayed afloat.
Many
right thinking minds have been wondering how the governor have been
able to do so much with little under a short time. Myself have been
wondering too.
The
governor has vigorously pursued his vision and mission for the state
which was to make Anambra state the 1st choice investment destination
and a hub for industrialization and commercial activities together with
making the state a socially stable, business-friendly environment that
would attract both indigenes and foreigners to seek wealth-creating
opportunities. In realization of the two statements aforementioned, he
and his team constructed a blueprint known as the four pillars of
development, which revolves around Agriculture, Industrialization, trade
and commerce, and oil and gas.
Call
him a light bearer that lite the state and I will show you a leader
without discriminations. An exceptionally best and credible leader of
the year awarded by sun newspaper has laid a testimony of his legendary
testimonies just
In
conclusion, Obiano had a marshaled out plan before he came into
governance, which is why he has achieved so much in less than 2 years
spanning from the key pillars of his governance which include security,
basic infrastructure, upgrade of education standard, investment in
agriculture, real estate, industrialization and oil and gas. Obi's
administration was anchored in ANIDS which were never mentioned
specifically to keep people off from assessing his performance on those
key sectors of the governance.
I
might want to conclude by making a case that the name Obiano is an
acronym which reads, “Objective, Brilliant’ Incorruptible, Articulate,
Noble and Organized leader. This great name encapsulates the personality
of our performing governor.
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