NIGERIA – Obiano’s record is bigger and more substantial than even he allowed himself to admit

By Onyemaobi Augustine

Few States in Nigeria were as lucky as to have it wonderfully good, transiting from a good government to better, as each Governor seem to handover to a prospective better administrator.

From 1999, the state has experienced diverse political metamorphosis which to a large extent is providential. Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju’s administration was appraised to have contributed correspondingly in a different dimension.

Mbadinuju was replaced with Dr. Chris Ngige who lasted three years within which he became workaholic; embarked on unprecedented massive road construction.  The court’s gavel transferred the mantle to APGA, there emerged Mr. Peter Obi as the governor. For eight years, Obi, made the State the envy of all as the State was referred as Fast Developing State in Nigeria. Obi handed over a better State to His Excellency Chief Dr. Willie Mmaduaburochukwu Obiano.

Still, Excellency Chief Dr. Willie Obiano carried the baton a greater distance, and he leaves Anambra in a different place than he found it. Despite taking office in the midst of world economic meltdown which was harder on Nigeria, Obiano made record in education, security, health, industrial modernization, rural development, agriculture and transport. All hitherto seemingly abandoned towns substantially received senses of belonging particularly through road rehabilitations.

The results might not be fully understood but the effort cannot be called small.

Obiano, the man known as Akpokuedike Aguleri was relatively unknown in the political arena but providence brought him to the picture as he move immediately with the business of governance.

Here are a few of the many examples of his successes.

He made so much success on security that what he did made Anambra the safest State for 7years. He was adjudged the most security conscious Governor. In Obiano’s term, many security challenges came to a halt. He raised the bar for the Vigilante Services. By March, 2020, Anambra State successfully hosted the National Biennial Police Games – a prove to the whole world that indeed Anambra State is the best police friendly state in the whole of Nigeria.

Many things not possible in Anambra State and even in the whole of the Southeastern region like security, prompt payment of workers salaries, Health Insurance Scheme was second to none in the federation.

Community- Choose-Your -Project” was massive invention of Obiano’s Government the whole of 179 Communities got their own share whereby some was lucky to have gotten to the third phase of the programme. Hence, summarily, he made sure that criminals leave the State so that business can thrive. He chose to leave Anambra State better than he met it. He made sure he delivered legacy projects.

He stormed the aviation, to bring to reality the 30-yaer dream of Anambra Airport, building one of the biggest and modern international cargo and passenger airport which had been mulled, debated and dithered over for decades.

By our ancestral belief, evil spirits filled our lands and was impeding our progress and development then Ozoemezina took his courage to have a burial of our brethren that died during the Biafran war for their spirit to rest and for them to receive their due position in the land of the spirit.

Oxygen Gas Plant was a legacy we cannot forget. The plant supplied oxygen used throughout the country during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Much of Akpokuedike administration’s achievements, success and progress would be found in the book called “Akpokuedike: Duty Call in Anambra” By Ike Chioke.

He was not chosen on the basis of experience or for his role as leader of a party leader. Dr. Obiano was elected purely for himself— his persona and what he symbolized.

Indeed, Obiano’s record is bigger and more substantial than even he allowed himself to admit through much of his time in office.

Obiano did these with dignity and conscience. As was true at the beginning, it remains true at the end: who Obiano was mattered at least as much as what he did. And start to finish, he was an honorable man.

The State’s most exalted position has a way of humbling its occupants. Obiano leaves office more human than he entered it, a mere mortal with a track record and the gray hair to show for it. And that track record contains much more than his enemies—or even many of his friends—have been ready to acknowledge.

Thus, the choices of the people since the return of democracy have tremendously paid them. It is remarkable that Ndi-Anambra indeed have taken their destinies in their hands by untiringly ensuring that only adept leaders mount the podium as the governor of the state.

He has served his people and handed over a better Anambra to someone himself has said he will do better than himself, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo.

#Onyemaobi Augustine is the Youth Leader Nawgu Community in Anambra State, Nigeria

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