With what happened at Umueri Airport yesterday, it is clear to every doubting Thomas that Anambra is indeed the light of the nation. It is clear as daylight now that Governor Willie Obiano has not forgotten Winston Churchill’s memorable quote, which he deployed in his acceptance speech as the candidate of APGA in the November 2013 election that made him a governor. Chief Obiano had declared to his fellow party faithful in Churchill’s own words, “history will be kind to me for I intend to write it”.

Exactly seven years and seven months down the line, Obiano has written a fascinating piece of history for himself and Ndi Anambra. He has changed both the landscape and the mindscape of the state with his compelling vision. And now, in the closing year of his tenure, the outlines of Obiano’s renascent Anambra have emerged from the canvass.

Seven years and seven months down the line, the World Bank rated Anambra among the Top-5 Most Improved States in ease of doing business in Nigeria. The state was given a presidential award for this achievement. It must be remembered that this was once a state where no serious entrepreneur would risk a visit, only a few years earlier. As a corollary to Anambra’s impressive showing on the ease of doing business index, foreign investments have been flowing into the state.

Again, the National Bureau of Statistics reports that in 2020, Anambra attracted foreign investments worth 10.2 million dollars. It is interesting to note that not even the COVID-19 pandemic could get in the way of these investments. And of course, we are talking about a state which most people would rather stay away from, just a few years ago.

The most distinctive of Obiano’s building bricks of greatness so far is in the fight against poverty. The National Bureau of Statistics reports that in 2010, the level of poverty in Anambra State stood at 53% on the national average. Interestingly, ten years later, Anambra rates 14.8% on national average.

Six out of these ten years were under Obiano’s watch. And we may wish to note that within those six years, Nigeria has experienced two recessions and other economic calamities such as #ENDSARS protest, national insecurity and COVID-!9 but Anambra was totally insulated from those shocks through Obiano’s competent handling of the local economy.

Meanwhile, the crowning glory of the Obiano years is the Anambra International Airport, Umueri and the International Convention Center in Awka. These are two audacious legacy projects that have given Anambra a sturdy foot into the future. But only those with a level of discernment can see the emerging outline.

Only such people can see that if you are adjudged the safest state in Nigeria for many successive years, the world would want to do business with you. And for you to host the world, you need a world class facility; an International Convention Center. And if you build a 13,000-capacity Convention Center, how will the world access it if you don’t have an airport?

How would some of the largest professional bodies such as the Bar Association, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Society of Engineers, Medical association etcetera access the facility if there is no airport?  If you have the largest market in West Africa, wouldn’t building an airport enhance the potentials of that market by increasing the footfalls in and out of it? Can anyone doubt the economic import of hosting major conferences in Anambra?

When you connect the items on this canvass with a clear line, what will emerge is a solid outline of a new Anambra State.

Successive governments in Anambra state can expand the airport and add to the pioneering and visionary work started by Governor Obiano, who conceived and built the airport within 2 years. That is why we must think APGA come November 6. God bless Governor Willie Obiano for all these!

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