By Chief Ody Chukwube
As someone who served in Anambra State as Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and later as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity and as someone who has consulted over the years to national and international organizations, one can say without any fear of contradiction that Governor Willie Obiano has successfully emerged as a statesman, and not a politician. A politician sets his sights on the next election while a statesman is keen on his or her place in history.
Chief Obiano has well-established credentials as a statesman than many Nigerians may realize. Most presidents and governors are lame-duck officials in their last year in office. In places like Nigeria, most state governors don’t do much in their second tenure. In fact, many spend the last two years making money for themselves. But Obiano, who is leaving office next March, is telling a different and compelling story. He has in his last year built one of the best international airports in Africa. The magic is that he practically delivered the airport in a mere 15 months, without borrowing a kobo from any bank anywhere in the world. He is also completing Africa’s biggest international conference, with a 10,000 sitting capacity. And with no kobo credit from any bank! In addition, he is completing anytime from now a modern stadium in Awka. As usual, without borrowing! Only a statesman can do any of these things, all the more so in a particularly difficult economic time in the world.
One would like to cite another example. Obiano is the first and only governor in Anambra State to recognize all his predecessors and give them their dues, regardless of their political leanings. Things would have been far more difficult for his predecessors today, but for his policy of inclusiveness. Still, Obiano has never spoken in public about the courtesies he extends to all former governors, including Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, the first elected governor since the state was created in 1991. This act is still unknown to most ndi Anambra.
Lastly, one would like to emphasize that Governor Obiano relates well with his opponents and others who belong to other political persuasions. History cannot forget his starring role in the funeral of the venerable Alex Ekwueme, Nigeria’s first vice president who led the PDP nationwide in its most critical time. No wonder, at Obiano’s re-inauguration in March, 2018, leaders of all parties were present. Even the very candidates who ran against him in the election, in which he won in all 21 local government areas of the state, were physically present. Political violence in Anambra has understadably become a thing of the past. We now have social harmony more than any state.
The good news is that Professor Soludo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the November 2021 Gubernatorial elections is steeped in the same tradition of peace, inclusiveness, solidarity and rapid progress. He has not uttered any negative sentiments against anyone in private or public. He has rather been preoccupied with the strategy for Anambra’s rapid development. Soludo recognizes that Anambra can become an economic miracle like Taiwan, Dubai or Singapore only when there is tremendous peace and solidarity in society. He and Obiano are cut out to be statesmen. These are really good times for the people of Anambra State.
Chief Chukwube is Ichie Ugwumba of Ihiala, Anambra State.
odychukwube@yahoo.com.
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