WRITTEN BY UZODIMMA NZERIBE
The recent two-day retreat, organised by the Anambra State government for members of the new Executive Council as well as permanent secretaries,

heads of agencies and selected directors was simply exemplary.  It is the seriousness the Anambra State government approaches development issues that prompted Governor Willie Obiano to invite the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, and the Director of the Code of
The governor went out of his way to ensure the participation of the foremost anti-corruption bodies to demonstrate acute commitment to transparency, accountability and integrity as well as due process. It was his way of telling both the new members of his administration and old ones that corruption, which has paralysed the country’s development, would not be tolerated in the state, especially in its second term. Obiano is of the opinion that if corruption is not treated with iron fists in the state right from the beginning, his plan to leapfrog the state’s development would end up a mirage.
It is on record that Obiano’s Anambra is the first state Magu has ever attended a retreat. Whereas most government officials run away from anti-corruption bodies, Obiano brings them nearer. His administration is in excellent standing in the eyes of these bodies. As a social science professor observed recently, Anambra’s substantial social capital, or stock of values like trust and integrity, is a critical driver of the rapid progress in the state in the last few years. 
 Obiano was at the retreat with his wife and Deputy Governor Nkem Okeke, an economics lecturer, and sat throughout the two days, constantly making robust contributions and asking difficult questions and regularly comparing figures. Lead participants included Professor Chukwuma Soludo, ex Central Bank governor; Osita Ogbu, another engaging economics professor who was the Chief Economic Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo; Dr Okey Orama, President of Africa Exim Bank; Bismarck Rewane, the chief executive of Financial Derivates Ltd based in Lagos; Fela Durotoye, a Lagos-based charismatic transformational speaker; Collins Onuegbu, the CEO of Sasware, Lagos; and Twinkle Oruwari, an engineer and management consultant.  
The other speakers included Solo Chukwulobe, the Secretary to the State Government and Barrister Harry Udu, the state Head of Service. Before the speakers made their presentations, Gov Obiano reeled out the name of each of his commissioners, their portfolios, bio data and professional accomplishments. He did not look at any piece of paper, showing a good knowledge of each person. He added that he carefully chose each person and refused to be influenced by lobbyists. This intimate knowledge contrasts sharply with what is obtained from most leaders about their cabinet members.
 Another area in which Governor Obiano behaved like American leaders is in nominees: he disclosed early enough the ministry to which every nominee would be assigned.  This development is reminiscent of the fact the Senate, in 2015, passed a resolution asking the Nigerian president to henceforth disclose early enough the ministries to which ministerial candidates will be posted.  
One particularly striking revelation about the retreat is Governor Obiano’s insistence on frank assessments from his commissioners and consultants, urging them to concentrate on analyzing areas which call for improvement rather than where his government has excelled. He stated that the performance of some memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed by his administration has not been exemplary. Obiano seems to belong to the class of leaders which social scientists refer to as authentic leaders, that is, leaders frank enough to admit errors and apologize for them. Such leaders are very rare in Africa.
The governor equally assured that he would start to pay surprise visits frequently in order to see things for himself. Obiano’s resolve to start paying surprise visits to facilities brings to mind the theory of management-by-walking-around which requires leaders not to rely completely on reports from subordinates to know how things are going on, but to leave their offices frequently to pay informal visits to the frontlines to see for themselves the true
 
 
state of projects, facilities, equipment and how workers actually feel on key issues. The strategy is now world famous because of its acute effectiveness.
 No doubt, Public Administration researchers will find Obiano’s Anambra State a rewarding case study in contemporary leadership.

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