On March 17th, 2014 a new Governor will be sworn into office in Anambra; state outgoing Governor peter obi would ordinarily have become history, but that won’t happen not in Anambra, not in Nigeria simply because by his incredible footprints Peter Obi has made history in governance nay politics in Nigeria. The norm is to praise people when they come into office; but this write up is a testimonial I could have titled it “Testimonial to Peter Obi.”
As I write this, I am staring at a picture that was syndicated in several newspapers it shows Governor obi flanked by, the executive secretary of UBEC, Suleiman Dikko, the Archbishop valerian Okeke of the Catholic Church and Archbishop Christain Efobi of the Anglican Church displaying blow-ups of Bank drafts in billions of naira. The picture was captioned “Obi present N5 Billion cheques for continued rebuilding of anambra schools.” As a valedictory, the typical politician will be cleaning out, Peter is cleaning up, Peter is “sharing” money, Peter is commissioning projects after projects; Peter is working, Peter is fishing not just strong but powerfully strong, he is intimidating nay sayers by stellar delivery on democratic dividends.
After a battle to reclaim his mandate which took longer than three years, Peter obi who won the election in 2003 only assumed office in 2006; he quickly settled down to business by first presenting a well packaged and visionary development plan called Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS). This was his work plan.
In a nutshell, ANID was conceived and executed to service the entire gamut of social economic life of the Anambra person; from physical infrastructure to services, education health, environment, agriculture, civics, and even moral orientation. Peter set about this with missionary zeal; glaring by its absence was no posturing with white elephants and gladiose sounding or looking projects. Anambra of 2006 lacked basics, no running water, functional hospital, education in the doldrums, name it, if it elevated the man it was lacking or absent, save for an improved network of road by the Ngige administration Anambra had nothing to showcase in 2006. So Peter started form the basics.
It was this derelict and almost hopeless state that Peter Obi came to work. Male school enrolment was at the abyss when Obi became governor, Obi set to work, today, tap water yes municipal water system runs in Onisha; Anambra has the best network of roads, Anambra is the number one in the national school enrolment, Anambra has UNICEF certified operational health system in several state general hospital; Peter’s most novel and creative engagement is the strategic partnership with churches who are now running their originally owned schools and hospitals with funds and logistics generously provided by ANSG under peter obi. Anambra is not just working in progress,, under Peter Obi, Anambra is working.
Peter Obi will leave a memorable legacy with the traditional institutions in his state as he has respected them and catered for their welfare in a very dignifying manner.
As a very well known, Peter Obi’s political party is APGA; and recognition of his outstanding service to the party, he was elevated to the status of National Leader and Chairman Board of Trustees at the NEC meeting of the party on January 18, 2014. Making him National Leader was a very good and logical decision by the party because Governor Obi has shown remarkable leadership qualities; he has been the Chairman of South-East Governors forum for 7 years and was Deputy Chairman of the NGF before trouble started; his political alliances with key political partners across party line, has protected and preserved the integrity of APGA. His background as a key player in the banking and economic circles of our nation as a member of the Presidential Economic Management team invaluable.
A very successful and very wealthy man in his own right: don’t be deceived for one second by his simplicity and disdain for official protocol, Peter Obi is a thorough bred stallion who belongs to the acme of high networth technocrats in key areas of our economy.
As Peter Obi leaves the governorship seat of Anambra state it gladdens the heart to hear President Jonathan reassure that he will remain a member of the Economic Management Team; but Obi has far greater contributions to make governance and political management in Nigeria both at micro national level and the state level.
Hitherto governors of non-oil producing states like Anambra (used to be) lamented that they could not develop their states because of the paucity of funds, Peter Obi has today made all such people liars; because, by revenue allocation from the Federation Account, Anambra ranks one of the lowest, but Peter Obi’s stellar achievement has earned him plaudits by even men who we thought only relished in criticsm; today such men like Archbishop J. V . A Obinna of the Owerri Ecclesiastical province who is the moral beacon of the South East celebrate Obi for the peerless achiever he is. So Obi has work to do after this office.
Lee Kwuan Yew the founder of modern Singapore and the First Prime Minister of that Nation was made a mentor minister by the subsequent Prime Ministers; this honorary office was created to aneble Lee Kwuan Yew mentor not just future Prime Ministers but the entire governance system to ensure continuity and focus. Singapore has been the better for this.
In the Governorship election 2013 in Anambra State, APGA won because of the acknowledged achievement and track record of Peter Obi; APGA is relying on Peter Obi who is clearly the apple of the eyes of all development minded Igbo people to be the open sesame as the 2015 elections draw nigh.
In celebration of a man who was the only elected person in the entire South East on the platform of APGA in 2013, whose industry and accomplishment has ensured the elevation and recognition of the APGA brand as a performing brand and a people loving machine who has claimed the unusual socio-political turbulence that was Anambra polity, let us celebrate Governor Obi who is leaving cheques in the hands of managers and proprietors of schools and hospitals, not just state schools, indeed donated N100 million to Tansian University and hundreds of millions to Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Peter Obi has left footprints in the sands of time; and leaves with his head held high in a blaze of glory and admiration. Okwute well done!!
Chibuzo N. Ziggy Azike
