I’ll Finish Strong – Says Obiano

CHIDIEBELE OBIKA

Governor Willie Obiano has reiterated his administration’s resolve to continue working for the people till his last day in office even as he plans to handover over to someone who will be better than him.

The Governor gave the assurance at Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre in Awka during the public presentation of the book, Governor Willie Obiano: 7 Years of Delivering Good Governance in Anambra State, 2014 – 2021 and edited by Dr. Uche Nworah and Dr. Emeka Arinze.

The book, which has 244 pages and 54 chapters, was published by the Anambra Broadcasting Service and covers all the four cardinal building blocks of governor Obiano’s administration according to the book reviewer, Professor Frank Collins Okafor.

Speaking, the Governor pointed out that the authors did a great job but left out one aspect of his government which is his team. Governor Obiano took out time to commend everyone working with him in delivering dividends of democracy to ndi Anambra ranging from service chiefs to exco members and others.

He used the opportunity to inform the people that all the nine persons that participated in the attack at Isuofia where Professor Chukwuma Soludo was meeting with community youths have all been arrested.

Governor Obiano reassured of his administration’s resolve to arresting  the unknown gunmen that attacked some security formations recently in the state.

“Our airport is about the best in Nigeria today. We engaged the finest of local and foreign contractors and they delivered the best to us in fifteen months. All these happened during the peak of COVID-19. Our airport can land any aircraft in the world and has the capacity to land planes even at night. We’ve procured three very sophisticated fire fighting trucks from Germany and channelled all the the water from the airport into Oyi river. Our terminal building is the best in Nigeria presently. The trauma center, hospital and others at the airport are almost completed.”

“My administration went through two recessions but we insulated our economy by pumping money into the state. We began the community choose a project initiative and others, which took money to all the nooks and crannies of the state and kept our economy active. My government will continue working till the last day in office and with your support, hand over to someone better than myself and hope that history will be kind to me”, Governor Obiano said.

The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C.Don Adinuba, in his remarks said although Journalism has been described as history in a hurry but that the ABS has taken journalism to a whole new height.

Speaking he said, “Governor Obiano has built Africa’s best and most modern airport in just 15 months. Building an international airport in 15 months has never been seen anywhere in recent history”.

“Every week our Governor goes to the airport site to see and monitor pace of work for the past 15 months. That’s leadership. Our Governor has changed history. Most importantly, our Governor did not borrow even 1kobo from any bank or country. Obiano is not owing anybody. Just recently, the National Bureau of Statistics released a report on Nigeria’s unemployment rate. According to the report, Anambra with 13.1% unemployment rate is the lowest in the whole country while the national average is 27.2%. Governor Obiano has performed creditably well’ the Commissioner said.

Earlier in his opening address, the Managing Director, Chief Executive Office of ABS and Co-Editor of the book, Dr. Uche Nworah said the Commentaries read on ABS set the agenda for writing the book. The book according him is on amazon.com and available in all the libraries in Nigeria and other platforms”. 

Dr. Nworah praised the Governor for his huge investments in ABS which transformed the service. He appreciated Governor Obiano for the leadership he provides for the people and Dr. Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, Osodieme for all she is doing through her NGO, the CAFÉ.

Rt. Hon. Dr. Agbodike Paschal Arinze, the Deputy Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly while commenting on the book noted that people have been reporting the projects, programs and policy initiatives of the Governor but said the work will serve as material evidence of all that Governor Obiano’s administration has done in the past seven years.

He said anyone can pick a copy of the book especially Ndi Anambra in diaspora and read what the governor has done and therefore commended the authors for doing a great job.
Similarly, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. James Eze described the book as an illustrious effort to capture some of the highpoints of Governor Willie Obiano administration in Anambra State. 

While confirming that history will be kind to Governor Obiano for all he has done and doing for ndi Anambra, said the compendium will serve as a torchlight to upcoming political leaders and guide them to safe harbor in the quest for the advancement of our society.
On his part, the Anambra State Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prince Emeka Udodeme  commended the editors for the piece. He informed that Governor Obiano’s administration has developed all the sectors simultaneously.

Said he, ” Governor Obiano has dotted the state-scape with legacy projects like the international airport, the stadium, international conference center and a lot others. I rate the progress of work on the airport, 100% because everyday and night, work is ongoing there. I’ve been there and I can confirm that what Governor Obiano has done is highly commendable. History will be generous to him”, the Ohanaeze Chairman said.