By Chiedu Uche Okoye
DR. Willie Obiano, the Anambra State governor, is a courageous man, who is not daunted by challenges and vicissitudes of life. Soon after he won the Anambra State governorship election, he was confronted with the hurdle of electoral litigations instituted by other political contenders for that governorship post. But he surmounted it and settled down for the task of offering the Anambra people qualitative and purposeful political leadership. He assumed office not being unaware that his predecessor in office, Mr. Peter Obi, had raised the bar of leadership in Anambra state with his stellar performance.
But has the modish and industrious Mr. Willie Obiano not performed creditably and excellently as the Anambra State governor so far? The fact is this: even his implacable political foes and harshest traducers cannot produce proofs that would convince us that he hasn’t acquitted himself well in office. His landmark achievements can be seen by all and sundry.
His preparedness for the arduous task of governing Anambra State helped him to achieve so much within his short stay in office. Being acquainted with Anambra’s multifarious problems long before he won the governorship election, he formulated a programme of actions and policies that would guide him in governing the state. So, soon after he was sworn in as the Anambra State governor, he hit the ground running.
Knowing that an anarchic situation in the state would stall development there, he mapped out strategies and executed them to rid the state of pickpockets, armed robbers and kidnappers. He would demolish buildings built with proceeds from kidnapping.
And he boosted the morale and the capacity of the police personnel for fighting sundry crimes. Not surprisingly within a short while of his occupation of office as our governor, armed robbers and kidnappers, who always terrorized Anambra people, fled the state. Thankfully, today, security of lives and property is guaranteed in the state. Night life has returned to Onitsha, which used to be the hideout and safe-haven of hardened criminals.
And we are conscious of the fact that economic and commercial activities can take place only in a safe and secure environment. Since the state is now safe, secure and peaceful, industrialists, who dreaded and gave Anambra State a wide berth in the past, have returned to it to set up their industries. These industries, some of them agro-allied industries, had recruited workers. This has reduced the number of unemployed people in the state.
More so, Governor Obiano has embarked on infrastructure development of the state. He has built bridges in Ayamelum Local Government. And he built fly-over bridges in Awka, the capital territory, to solve the problem of traffic gridlock there while not neglecting the beautification of streets in major towns of the state.
A man with an uncommon sense of aesthetics, he has continued to ensure that the state wears beautiful looks. The organization charged with disposing of refuse in the state, ASWAMA, has been performing its duties punctually, conscientiously, methodically, meticulously, efficiently, and at optimal level. Now, orange and banana peelings, dirts, and debris do not litter and dot our streets and roads anymore.
Not only is he ensuring that the road-sides and streets are clean; but also he is repairing dilapidated roads and constructing new ones. He is aware that good road network opens up a state for rapid industrialization and growth. Now farmers in the state enjoy speedy and smooth conveyance of their farm produce from the rural areas to markets in urban towns.
These farmers have continued to laud the governor’s deeds as he has been boosting their capacities to engage in the practice of agriculture. He boosted agricultural practice in Anambra by implementing policies that serve the needs of local farmers in the state. Today, Anambra rice is the preferred rice in the state. People of other states in Nigeria have chosen it above other varieties of rice cultivated in other states of Nigeria, too. Anambra is an agricultural state, now. So the state earns humongous revenue by exporting vegetables and other cash crops to other countries.
The revenue it generates from the exportation of cash crops to foreign countries augments the monthly financial handouts it receives from the centre. That’s one of the reasons why the state’s finance is not in the red. While some other states in Nigeria owe their workers backlog of salaries, Anambra State meets and fulfills its financial obligations to its workers and retirees. Governor Obiano caters to the welfare and well-being of Anambra State civil servants.
In the recent past, the state government conducted a free glaucoma eye- screening exercise for Anambra State civil servants to detect those with eye problems with a view to treating those eye ailments. Who doesn’t know that good eyesight can enhance the productivity of civil servants tremendously? Obiano also donated buses to workers to ease their transportation problem. In return for his good gestures and commendable deeds, the state civil service has been lending him support in order that he can achieve his leadership goals and objectives for the state.
Owing to his laudable and sterling performance, his popularity with the Anambra people is soaring. His achievements and kindness have continued to endear him to us. He abolished the payment of levies and dues by hawkers, petty traders and other low income earners so as to alleviate the suffering caused by the economic recession besetting Nigeria. He has contributed to demonstrate that he is a leader with a common-touch
Okoye writes from Obosi, Anambra State.