The Governor of Anambra State, Sir Willie Obiano, is by all standards a proactive leader. He is anticipatory in nature and forward looking. Obiano acts in advance at all times to deal with expected eventualities. Hence, he has been successfully moving the state ahead beyond the expectation of even his political traducers.

Pro-activity means more than merely taking initiative. It means that, as human beings, we are responsible for our lives. Our behavior is a function of our decision, not our condition. We can subordinate feelings to values. We have the initiative and the responsibility to make things happen, like it is currently happening in Anambra state.

Highly proactive people like Governor Willie Obiano do not blame circumstance, conditions or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice, based on values rather than a product of their conditions, based on feeling. This is because man, by nature, is proactive; if our lives are a manifestation of conditioning and conditions, it is because we have, by conscious decision or by default, chosen to empower those things to control us.

In making such a deliberate choice, we become reactive. And reactive people are often affected by their physical environment. If the weather is hot, for instance, they feel hot. If it is not, it affects their attitude and their performance. Proactive people can carry their own weather with them. Whether it rains or shines, makes no different to them. They are value-driven, and if their value is to produce good quality work, it is not a function of whether it is conducive to it or not.

As keen watchers of Governor Obiano’s magical transformation of lives and environment in Anambra state, we have gladly noticed how he had taken the responsibility for the marketing strategy, promotion and advancement of our dear State, Anambra. He created the new image of the state and is packaging it for the very high price in a competitive market in a global challenge. As a leader, he is in total charge of the current developmental strides of our people. He has determined, to our greatest admiration, our skills, talents, abilities and core competencies, which we so ardently need to earn us the kind of respect we desire.

However, it is the responsibility of the people of the state, having so prepared us, to make the investment and take the time to learn and develop these skills, especially the skill of State building. No one is going to do it for us. The unavoidable truth is that no one really cares as much as we do.

Ndi Anambra should adopt the proactive position of our far sighted Governor, who has demonstrated great capacity to work hard and not to enjoy without scratching the fruit of other person’s labour, which has earned him, from far away Rome, Italy, a prestigious Papal award as the Knight Commander of the Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory the Great.

However, Ndi Anambra must be proactive too. Who takes over from Sir Willie? We must plan all the way to it, taking into consideration all the possible consequences, obstacles, and twists of fortune that might reverse our hard work and give the glory to ignoble, plebeians and political scavengers.

We must ask, should Anambra continue to be the safest state? What about the glimmering night life, youth empowerment through appointments, construction of roads and bridges, community choose your project initiative, security of life and property, health insurance scheme? Can we continue having an alert governor, most prudent helmsman? Will Anambra continue to be the least indebted state in the country? What about our agricultural exports, national and international exploits in education; micro, small and medium enterprises as well as gas plant?

By planning ahead, we would not be overwhelmed by circumstances and we will know when to think and act. Let us gently guide fortune and help determine the future by thinking far ahead. The destiny of this state is in our hands.

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