Commentary: Anambra Attains Maturity At 27 Under Obiano

^{WRITTEN BY PETER NWASIKE}
Anambra State was created in 1991 with military governors as administrators. Democracy started in 1999, with Governors Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Chris Ngige and Peter Obi.

They all had their systems of administration. In 2014, Governor Willie Obiano came on board. Imbued with the virtues of patriotism, the governor formulated his Vision and Mission, backed by economic Blue-print, tagged Four Pillars of Development. These were anchored on Twelve Enablers. He understood that the primary objective of Government is safety of lives and property.  Thus he put security on the priority list.
Governor Obiano’s astuteness in Agriculture is to make Anambra self-sufficient in food supply. His brand of agriculture is one of modern implements such as tractors, harvesters, threshers, de-stoners, irrigation machines etcetera. He instituted a Commission of Enquiry for Agriculture and implemented their recommendations. Thus, Governor Obiano maintains private sector driven economy anchored on public, private partnership (PPP) for the actualization of mechanized agriculture of his dream.
He established the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) for accelerated processing of documents for business registration and acquisition of land for investments. Akpokuedike also established a system of aiding small scale farmers, by creating access to capital investment with Two Billion Naira, on loan of single digit interest to farmers and other investors.
It is the combined efforts of these farmers that help to produce the vegetables such as Ugu and Onugbu that were exported to Europe. A former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar, testified that he saw farm products from Anambra in food-shops of Britain and America.
In fact, in 2017, the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Godwin Emefiele, the Chairman of Task Force on Agriculture and Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Abubarkar Bagudu, visited Anambra state and testified that Anambra, under Obiano, is supreme in food cultivation. They described Anambra as partner-in-progress with the Federal Government in food sufficiency, with the prospect to stop importation in 2020. They pledged Federal support to sustain the excellent record of Anambra.
Similarly, Obiano applied sagacity and involved the private sector for good result. He invited the Federal Government, and so the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and the Minister of Commerce, Mr. Okey Enelema, visited the industrial clusters at Onistha and Nnewi, and appreciated the efforts of Anambra in industrializing Nigeria. Obiano created the Anambra Small Business Agency (ASBA), and floated pool of refundable loan with Two Billion Naira. Many people have benefitted through ASBA, among them women and youths.
Governor Obiano introduced innovation with what he called “Education for Employment” by sending teachers to Singapore for technical training. The partnership with Mission Schools, with good financial intervention, has helped to ensure qualitative education, with many schools winning national competitions, and representing Nigeria in global competitions, one of which is the recent exploits by students of Regina Pacis Secondary School, Onitsha.
On health, Governor Obiano has signed into law, the National Insurance Health Scheme (NHIS), and refurbished many General Hospitals and Primary Health Clinics in the villages, to make it successful with quality health care delivery to all citizens, both the rich and the poor.
He has also intensified efforts for Federal Government to approve Anambra’s status as “Oil Producing State”, and get her rightful royalty. Governor Obiano has equally anticipated the prospects of the oil and gas deposits, so that the crude oil from Aguleri Oil Wells and Refinery could be sold in the Cargo Airport, to all the Aircrafts flying in Nigeria and beyond, in need of Aviation Kerosene. With this, Anambra’s oil and Gas shall be maximally appropriated.
During the “Economic Recession” of 2016, Obiano introduced the system of “Twenty Million Naira Choose Your Project Initiative”, for all the 181 Communities in the State, which made them choose any development project of their priority need. Akpokuedike mandated that the workforce of contractor, labourers, service providers etcetera, shall come from the villages, so that cash can circulated among the villagers.
Governor Obiano has succeeded in his objective of making Anambra become the first choice investment destination and hub for industrial and commercial activities and achieved food sufficiency in the State. So, Obiano has led Anambra to achieve social upward mobility as a mature man of 27, by being independent in most of her socio-economic needs. To God be the glory.