Ever since the old Anambra was divided into the present Enugu and Anambra states, the fate of the traditional Anambra people in terms of governance has been topsy-turvy and dicey to say the least. Because Enugu State acquired most of the old state’s previous investments, the new Anambra dispensation basically inherited the short end of the stick and started from scratch.
I remember visiting the government house at the time with my dad as a young lad and thinking to myself; “this is a construction camp for the Italian company that built the Awka expressway”. The chaotic nature that one encountered when entering the bridge head and Upper Iweka district was unimaginable, and even though the successive governments that followed showed sporadic signs of infrastructural development, the entire state for the most part was bedeviled with political quagmire and economic brigandry.
Fast forward to the Peter Obi/Obiano dispensation and the change is absolutely stunning. Just last month I was coming in from Port-Harcourt (which by the way is an absolute eyesore and infrastructural disgrace), and our bus stopped at Onitsha to refuel. My younger brother woke me up and I remember asking him where we were, thinking that we were in Asaba-Delta State. He laughed and told me that this was Onitsha, and I literally argued with him for a few seconds till he showed me the bridge and I took a good look around. I was like wow! The roads were smooth and solid with no pot-holes, the behavior of the populace was very well organized, with all the commercial vehicles and motorcycles operating in a very well organized manner, the traffic lights worked, and there was a sense of safety that is unlike few places in Nigeria today.
I remember telling my younger brother that it felt like a dream, because Upper Iweka was a dreaded criminal haven where law and order seemed to evaporate. This is just in the span of the last two governors; now just imagine if every governor showed that level of dedication, consistency and continuity; the impact would be absolutely phenomenal. Being a natural son of the soil from Anambra myself, I couldn’t be more proud. Anybody that can rationalize Upper Iweka and Onitsha can successfully rule Nigeria and even the entire world effortlessly. Of course there is still a lot of work to be done, but if you understand how abandoned the Onitsha area used to be about ten to fifteen years ago, then you will appreciate what I am telling you right now. Compared to places like Abia and Port- Harcourt, Onitsha seems like Washington and London today.
Crime has literally disappeared. Everything seems to be moving at a steady and structured pace and all these changes are trickling down from the top to the bottom, with the masses loving every bit of it.Considering that leadership has been Nigeria’s main political problem, especially in post Biafra Igbo land, the current trend of advancement in Anambra can only reflect the character and integrity of the Obiano dispensation. I understand that the strategy was initiated by Governor Peter Obi, but I give kudos to the Obiano government specifically because Nigeria has not been known for continuity and consistency, and even though one government may have good intentions, the following dispensations do not always continue and complete the socio-economic programs of the predecessor.
But the Obiano government has not only continued and improved where the Peter Obi government has stopped, but has initiated its own brilliant drive towards economic and social advancement in a tangible way for all to see. At the root of this socio-economic progress is the assurance of safety and security in Anambra state while previously known to be one of the most unsafe places in the world, to the point where her sons and daughters dreaded coming home, is now one of the safest places to be. Not only has the governor taken the bull by the horns by initiating operations ‘kpochapu’ and the newly inaugurated Operation Sheba, but the sophistication of creating a web of closed circuit TVs and hidden cameras has produced a psychology of orderliness even where there is no visible police personnel around- absolutely brilliant. In just months of assuming office, the governor has literally ensured the absolute security of all peoples living or visiting the state.
This is groundbreaking considering the state Anambra has been in, post civil war. This is perhaps the first time that citizens of the state can breathe an air of safety in their own home. Consequently, with security speedily restored, Governor Willie Obiano has embarked on infrastructural development that is today unrivaled in any state in Nigeria. In the area of accommodation, the governor is on pace to completing the 40 apartment complexes initiated by his equally brilliant predecessor Peter Obi, and this is just scratching the surface. The Anambra international market, Oba, “a commercial hub not just for the south/east region but for the entire country as a whole” is set to be in service by April 2015, and this includes the upgrade and dualization of its associated road network.
This is supposed to augment the Onitsha main market (the largest commercial center in West Africa), and also transform Anambra state into perhaps the commercial epicentre of West Africa. In line with commerce and economic empowerment, the governor is currently working on the Onitsha shopping mall, which will hold international hotels, commercial outlets, and convention centres accommodating over 5000 people! -A megalith and commercial Mecca that may dwarf the Shoprite mall in neighboring Enugu and similar malls in Lagos. In terms of sports and tourism, the governor has embarked on a massive fiscal assistance to the esteemed Rojenny games and tourist village, Oba. I visited this place myself and although built by the industrious entrepreneur –Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, and having hosted the successful Fanny Amun under 17 World Cup champions, it has somehow been outside the radar of previous state administrations, until now.
The stadium complex is transformed into Olympic size standards: there is a volleyball, basketball and swimming pool sport complex being currently developed, and the entire place under Governor Obiano has received the desired fiscal assistance and encouragement it requires to be a world class sports and tourism resort. The governor is also working on international tourism projects that highlight the deep history of Igbo culture and geared to expose world sites like the mysterious Ogbunike cave, Nri kingdom and the amazing Igbo-Ukwu metallurgy. All in less than 150 days in office! Apart from the governor’s personal mission to “create a socially stable, business friendly environment that will attract both indigenes and foreigners to seek wealth creating opportunities in Anambra state”, he is also a hands, on administrator: he embarks on personal inspection of projects and supervision of contracts to meet stipulated deadlines.
The man is all business and has been known to revoke contracts that don’t meet the completion deadlines. This attitude is new in the sphere of governance in Anambra and indeed Nigeria as a whole. His Excellency, Governor Willie Obiano, is truly the jewel of the Niger. He has brought light into a place that was full of darkness and chaos, and it is visible for all to see. His integrity and straightforward governance is exemplary and should be emulated by all administrators and statesmen in Africa. He truly deserves to be addressed by the term “His Excellency” because his conduct and statesmanship borders on excellence. If it took just months for him to transform Anambra state from a downward spiral to a heaven bound paradise, ask yourself what he would achieve in four to eight years.
We give a big thank you to the best governor in the country of Nigeria today and pray for his continued progress and success in transforming Anambra into the paradise that it deserves to be.
