Anambra state is currently undergoing a lot of changes under the government of Mr Peter Obi. The accelerated pace of integrated development in the state has touched, for the first time since the state was created, all aspects of human endeavour.

Before the Obi administration, developments were not visible in the state. Where it was, only an aspect of these developments was undertaken. Ex Governor Chris Ngige in fact started the real development of the state via road construction projects. His approach to this sector was quite aggressive to the admiration of citizens of the state. But that was as far as developments in the state could go.
Developments in other sectors were either infinitesimal or non-existent as states that were created alongside Anambra took their turns to develop while the state stalled. The state capital at Awka was nothing short of a glorified local government headquarters.

Such was the state of affairs when Governor Obi mounted the saddle of governance in the state. The governor’s two years in office, which catalogue his achievements so far, have shown that the thrust of development is all encompassing. The simultaneity in the development of the state is a trail blazer in committed leadership as it may be difficult to witness this type elsewhere in Nigeria.

In a quiet celebration of his two years in office and while going through a flier showing a compendium of all his achievements within the period in question, you will but continue to marvel at the volume of achievements so far.

In a developing country like ours and where there is genuine determination for success in government, Obi’s developmental push should be used as a model. It may be difficult to enumerate in its entirety all the sectors that have received Obi’s integrated development so far. Suffice it to say that developments have touched education, health, road, commerce industry, judiciary, environment, sports, and human resources department.

These developments are on ground, verifiable and not just a creation of the press. We urge sincere appreciation of Obi’s government which has come to salvage the state from years of neglect. In doing this we must eschew politics of sour grape because we understand how difficult it is for the opposition to give quality appraisal of an opponent’s achievements. After all, it is difficult for a cockroach to be innocent in the gathering of fowls.

The flyer entitled Governor Obi: Two Years of Landmark Achievements is a reflection of the Governor’s achievements in pictures. You will be quick to notice that even with the volume of achievements as recorded in the flier, the administration of Obi has remained rather quiet on publicity.

In the area of road construction, it is on record that about 250kms out of the 400kms embarked on by his administration have been tarred. The Omor –Igbakwu-Ifite-Ogwari has been asphalted, while the dualization of Zik’s avenue Awka with its street lightening is on going. The Aguluezechukwu –Ogboji-Akpu-Ajali road about 1.8kms and the one of Nibo-Umuawulu-Awgbu Amaokpala with a spur at Agulu and two bridges have been constructed. In Awka North, the otherwise neglected Amansea-Ebenebe-Ugbenu-Ugbene-Awba-Ofemili road about 32kms with four bridges have been tarred. Nwangene River was also dredged by the Obi administration.

The education sector is witnessing a glorious reign under Obi’s leadership. Obi has fortified secondary education in the state by re-equipping laboratories, making them IT compliant by donating computers and generating sets. Boreholes were also sited in virtually all the secondary schools in the state. University education was not left out. Anambra state university with campuses at Uli and Igbariam have their faculties of engineering,law,mass communication, library blocks, hostel accommodation and workshops built by this administration to resuscitate the dwindling academic pursuit in the state and to give it the vibrancy it deserves.

Ditto for health services. Accreditation has come the way of Onitsha General Hospital after years of neglect. A heart centre with cardiac /kidney dialysis centre and maternity complex have been put in place and so were residential doctors quarters to give fillip to the health needs of the poor masses. At Amaku General Hospital, a special medical ward has been constructed. So also, medical/pharmaceutical stores while the accreditation is being awaited. The administration has procured ambulances for all state hospitals, rebuilt Umueri General Hospital burnt down during the 1995 communal clashes and built a complete school of midwifery with administrative, demonstrative, hostel, cum class room and auditorium blocks at Nkpor School of Nursing.

With the gale of development going on in the state, Obi has nailed the lie of those who have underdeveloped the state to the counter by hitting developments on all cylinders.
Commerce and industries did not receive less attention from the government of the day. The opening of CBN Currency Centre in Awka has revolutionized banking in the state. While the Automated Stock Exchange which opened shop in Onitsha thus engendering modern trading in the state and the entire south east is on course.

The administration has carefully plugged all loopholes where the state loses revenue accruable to it by sanitizing the markets and parks in the state. The construction of Onitsha Internally Generated Revenue office and Business Park are all geared towards smooth running of business in the state. Not long ago, the government commissioned the Omor Brown Sugar industry which was a tripartite undertaking between the state government, Federal Ministry of Technology and the people of Omor.
In the area of information technology, Obi’s administration has moved some notches up. Before him though, this aspect was non existent. He quickly built an ICT and Microsoft centres at Onitsha. Obi, not one given to being in the dark in a modern world of accessing and disseminating information had to reconstruct the ABS building with a new mast and a modern radio transmitter. Note that reactionary forces in the state burnt this building and that of Government House Awka, in attempt to make the state ungovernable for the then governor, Chris Ngige.

For water projects, the government has awarded contracts for water boreholes in all the local governments in the state while undertaking the Enugu Agidi water project for Awka Water Scheme.
Another visible project which the Obi administration gives serious attention is housing project. He has bequeathed the state a befitting secretariat complex phase one. Before now, offices were scattered all over the place. The phase two of this secretariat is undergoing serious work. A new housing estate has been completed at Nkwelle Ezunaka so also, the Ngozika Housing Estate at Awka . The state has equally undertaken the construction of local government headquarters in Dunuokofia, Ekwusigo, Awka South, Onitsha North et al to make for administrative convenience.

The judiciary has recorded some giant strides as the Customary Court of Appeal and Federal High Court have been caused to establish in the state. It has followed it up with the state- of- the- art construction of Ministry of Justice building and Judges Quarters in Onitsha. The administration equally built the Chief Judge’s residence at Awka.

Obi did not forget the importance of agriculture in the lives of the citizens of the state. He procured farming implements, tractors, and seedlings for mechanized agriculture and distributed same to farmers in the state at subsidized rates.

In view of security, the citizens will attest to Obi’s wonderful achievements in this regard. There was relative peace during both Christmas and Easter holidays. It is noteworthy that these periods are veritable times for robbers to have their field day. Acting in concert with security agencies like the army, police, and even civil defense, the administration has made Anambra state crime- free. Obi donated patrol vehicles, communication gadgets, and generating sets to boost security surveillance in the state.
The effect has been great as the rate of violent crimes in the state has been reduced.

In transportation in the state, the Obi administration has added to the fleet of the Anambra state transport over forty Peugeot expert mini buses and established the Anambra State Traffic Agents (ASTA) with buses for smooth running of its duties.

Sports development in the state since the Obi administration has received a great boost through the building of stadia in Onitsha North and South local governments. Another stadium at Awka and an Amphitheatre at Women Development Centre in the same Awka are nearing completion as seen in the flier.

With all these developments going on simultaneously in Anambra state we have every reason to celebrate Governor Obi. Obi has done pretty well and has accorded the state its pride of place in the country.

E. Ejike Anyaduba
Okota ,Lagos