OBI AND THE NATIONAL AWARD

Jude Otuonu

Monday, November 14, the Anambra State governor, His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, added yet another glowing feather to his cap. The president and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , His Excellency, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, will confer on Governor Obi the national award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

The award which Governor Obi will receive along with a few other governors will put him in the unique league of being among the first serving governors in Nigeria to be so honoured.

This award is coming on the heels of several others bestowed on the history maker of Anambra State and Nigeria . Indeed, Obis achievement of many firsts since he came into the mainstream of the countrys politics has marked him out as the bastion of Nigeria s democracy.

It is on record that Obi made history as the first man to remove a serving governor who stole his mandate and sat on it for three long years. He became the first governor to quash an illegal impeachment when anti-democratic forces who thrived in anarchy and who lived off the fat of the state attempted to ease him out for denying them unfettered access to the commonwealth of the state.

Obi returned to the joy of the people of the state who had feared the worst. But he had hardly settled down to work when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the body saddled with conducting elections in the country, goofed when they held an election in Anambra State which should not have been. Before then the same body had contrived with politicians to disqualify Obi from that election which eventually threw up a ˜winner. But Obi again returned to court and sought an interpretation to his tenure vis-a-vis when it began and when it should end. The Supreme Court in a landmark judgement declared that the election that took place without him was illegal as there had never been any vacancy at government house Awka. It hinged its decision on the fact that Obis tenure began on the day he took the oaths of allegiance and office and must therefore run its full course of four years. Thus Obi returned to his seat.

This singular development opened the doors to staggered elections in the country and also opened the eyes of some other governors to the constitutional provisions of the country. Governors who have gained from this include: Adams Oshiomhole, Olusegun Mimiko, Rauf Aregbesola, Kayode Fayemi and Liyel Imoke, among others.

On taking full reins of governance in Anambra State, he quickly envisioned the pathway to the success of the state and chose the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as the vehicle for achieving that vision. This was anchored on what he termed Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS). Through this, he has touched and been touching lives in all sectors of the state at the same time, something even the most optimistic doubted could succeed.

Obi began to bequeath enduring legacies to the people of Anambra State and today the difference he has made is clear for even the blind to see. Critical sectors in the state such as health, education, infrastructural development, e.t.c. were all touched. Today the result is that Anambra enjoys the best road network in the whole of Nigeria. Unlike other states which only focus on township roads, the Obi administration has for the first time remembered rural areas, including those long since forgotten by past regimes. It is a fact that one can access the capital city of Awka from anywhere in the state under one hour!

Some health institutions in the state became accredited for the first time under Obis administration. The states first teaching hospital also came afloat and is nearing completion. Health centres sprang up in every local government area thereby bringing health care closer to the people.

In education secondary schools were given buses, boreholes, generators, computers, e.t.c.; while a block of five classrooms were built in every one of the 177 communities in the state. The first library after the one built in 1966 is being built today in Awka and is to be known as the Prof Kenneth Dike Library. Obi s administration has handed over 50 secondary schools to the churches. Under this arrangement, government provides funds while churches supervise.

Workers have also not had it so good as their salaries were increased four times. They were also promoted for the first time after a former governor had bluntly told them that promotion was not a right. He also built two magnificent secretariats for the workers.  

Enumerating all Obi has done will be enough to fill a book but suffice it to say that governments presence is today felt in every locality. To cap it all, government has for some time now been providing money at the end of each year to communities to address areas of greatest need. This is the first time this will be happening in the state.

In recognition of his achievements, several organizations have been pouring awards on him. In 2007 he won the Sun newspaper Man of the Year award. The next year he won Thisday newspapers award as the best governor on fiscal management.

As if to vindicate Thisdays decision, the federal government this year appointed Obi as a member of the nations Economic Management Team. It also made him an Honorary Adviser on Finance.

Then also came the clean bill of health given Anambra as the most financially sound by the Senate. It was not a surprise as Anambra remains the only state today that has not borrowed any money from any source within or outside the country. It has not also raised bond.

Before then, apparently in recognition of his leadership qualities, Obi had been appointed Chairman of the South East Governors Forum. He was later to become Chairman of South East/South South Governors Forum and then became Deputy Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum.

This latest award by the federal government as Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), is therefore an icing on the cake for the visionary leader of Anambra State. It shows his sterling qualities have been recognised and acknowledged by all and it will only serve to spur him to doing more for his people.

Jude Otuonu sent this piece from Nimo