The Obiano Administration As A Good Example Of Responsive Government

EGBUNA AMUTA

There is no denying the fact that the present administration in Anambra, is the most responsive the state has ever had since her creation twenty seven years ago. This assertion is not in any way suggesting that previous governments of the state did not do many useful things to address the yearnings and aspirations of the people. However, the plain and undiluted truth remains that the Obiano government has taken responsiveness several notches higher than former governments since the state was created in 1991.

Even as it is viciously but unfairly being attacked in the social media by hirelings of political opponents over the bad condition of some state and federal roads made deplorable by the ferocity of this year’s rainy season and flash flood across the country and other parts of the world, the state government has risen to the occasion. It has in earnest commenced palliative work on some of the roads in the three senatorial districts despite the fact that the rains have not completely stopped. This is clear evidence of responsiveness by government.

Other indisputable evidences of responsiveness of the present Anambra state government to fundamental needs of the masses include but not limited to efficient security architecture considered the best in Nigeria today. Arrangements have also been completed by the state government to relaunch “Operation Kpochapu” with more sophisticated and modern surveillance equipment. There is also ongoing agricultural revolution in the state coupled with the community choose your project initiative, health insurance scheme which is almost free of charge for those who registered for it. It is known as Anambra State Health Insurance Agency, ASHIA

In addition to these, the present administration introduced economic stimulus package which has ameliorated the plight of less privileged persons such as hawkers and wheel barrow pushers as well as parents of pupils and students in public schools. Levies previously paid by them have been abolished by the state government. In this period of very serious economic challenges when most governments in the country find it very difficult to pay civil servants and pensioners, the Obiano administration does it with ease. Unlike many other federating units of Nigeria, Anambra is not bugged down by the burden of repaying bailout funds given to them as loans by the federal government in 2015, to pay backlog of salaries and pensions. Due to its knack for prudent management of its lean resources the present state government politely declined the offer of the bailout funds by the Buhari administration.

Awka, the state capital which was obviously not given adequate attention by previous administrations has been transformed by the present state government which built three magnificent and illuminated flyovers on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway at, Aroma, Kwata and Amawbia junctions. Today, many streets and roads across the state have been adorned with street lights unlike previously. The light up Anambra program is still ongoing. The initiative has undoubtedly further strengthened the security architecture of the state and boosted socioeconomic activities at night. With the establishment of Anambra Small Business Agency, ASBA, many micro, small and medium scale enterprises are obtaining soft loans to thrive, thus sustaining the state’s enviable position as the leader in gross domestic product, GDP, in Nigeria and sub Sahara Africa. Little wonder Anambra, in August this year received a presidential award as the foremost supporter of MSMSE in Nigeria.

Another clear evidence of the responsiveness of the present Anambra state government is its recent building and commissioning of one of the biggest and most modern oxygen production plant in the country. With this positive development and introduction of ASHIA, there is no doubt that Governor Obiano places very high premium on the basic health needs and overall well being of Ndi Anambra. Apart from his renewed vow to continue massive construction of all ongoing roads and rehabilitate the ones despoiled by this year’s heavy downpour, the present state government is still poised to fulfill its promise to built  an airport at Umuleri, even as impressive construction is in progress at the International Conference Center, Awka. Another legacy project of the Obiano administration would soon be flagged off in the premises of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS, Awka.

With all these positive developments in Anambra, in the past five years and six months, all fair minded and unbiased persons in the state and beyond agree that the present state government is doing exceptionally well. They are also of the view that since the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, which sponsored Governor Willie Obiano and his immediate predecessor to office took charge of the government of the state since March 17, 2006, she has consistently enjoyed socioeconomic and political stability as well as unprecedented delivery of democracy dividends than any other states in the country. This is instructive, given the fact that since 2006, Anambra has not been governed by a political party which at one time or the other in this Fourth Republic controlled the Federal government of Nigeria. Ironically, the state witnessed very bad governance when the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which also held sway at the Federal level, was in charge of the Government House, Awka. In fact, many serious minded political analysts do not want this to happen again. They are of the opinion that Anambra and Ndigbo had always faired better in terms of socioeconomic development in political parties which the people consider as their own (nkea by nke anyi), as was the case in the First, Second and this Fourth Republics of Nigeria.

Egbuna Amuta, a concerned citizen, writes from Onitsha, Anambra State.