The failure of the generality of political leadership in Nigeria has been arguably the single most debilitating factor against societal development and progress. And, since many of them were not on the people’s mandate, there was little accountability but a high level of clouded purposes, broken promises and venality in the conduct of public affairs.
Mercifully, a few have established that with a clear vision, mission and commitment, positive outcomes are assured in governance. The experience of Peter Obi’s administration in Anambra State has been significant.
Soon after his inauguration for a second term in early February, 2010, a challenge was thrown to the Governor on “The Consolidation Imperative”. Some 20 months later, there is a revealing picture of his administration’s many targets and direct hits. ( Continues below..... )
Photo Above: His Excellency Governor Peter Obi (Photo 1)
Coming from a career background of corporate excellence, Governor Obi had a bird’s eye view of the developmental imperatives for his State. The enormity of the challenges ahead probably informed the Philosophy of ANIDS [Anambra Integrated Development Strategy]. This aims at several targets within the framework of the internationally-acclaimed benchmark: the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs]. To put the administration’s programme of action in perspective, the MDGs are to: Reduce extreme poverty and hunger; Achieve universal primary education; Promote gender equality and empower women; Reduce child mortality; Improve maternal health; Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; Ensure environmental sustainability; and Develop a global partnership for development. The relevance of these goals to the realities of the Nigerian [including Anambra] state of affairs can hardly be over-stressed. So, what is the status reckoning for the present dispensation in Anambra State?
In typical fashion, the administration generated a Poverty Profile of Anambra State as a basis to tackle the twin challenges of reduction of poverty and elimination of extreme hunger. The Poverty Map identified areas of dire need and others of various levels of deprivation. In deference to the basics of agricultural and rural development in the fight against poverty, the Government strengthened its participation in the FADAMA III Project – in partnership with the Federal Government and international Development Partners. By fulfilling its counterpart requirements, the State opened up access the project’s goals of: funds & equipment to several hundred rural dwellers engaged in agricultural activities; financial support for thousands of the physically-challenged, widows and women to start their own ventures as well as to orphanages and care givers; revolving loans to women co-operatives in agro-allied businesses, including poultry/fish/pig/snail farming and supply of an assortment of equipment to set up cottage industries. ( Continues below….. )
Photo Above: Governor Peter Obi (Photo 2)
Still under this massive programme to combat poverty, there is a N2 billion intervention fund for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises [MSMEs]; extensive construction of rural roads to boost access to the various communities and optimize exploitation of their potential; construction of rural markets & lock-up shops, bore holes, abattoirs, cold rooms, VIP latrines; establishment of bakeries, rice threshers, palm kernel crackers, cellophane machines, mills for rice, cassava, feeds, palm oil, starch and maize; and procurement of tricycles.
The State Government’s investment in a Neem-based organic Fertilizer plant would expand the agricultural sector’s capacity to create employment and increase productivity. In a similar vein, thousands of jobs at various unskilled and skilled categories would be generated from other investments attracted by the Obi administration to the State. These include a South African Brewing plant at Onitsha and the Rice Mill at Omor – easily the largest of its kind in West Africa.
As observed by the Co-ordinator of the National Poverty Eradication Programme [NAPEP], Dr. Magnus Kpakol, “Governor Obi remains determined and dogged by initiating effective economic empowerment programmes”.
For Anambra-watchers since its creation some 20 years ago, the attainments of the Obi administration in the education sector will always bear repetition. To date hundreds of primary and secondary schools have been rehabilitated and renovated; many others built, furnished and equipped. Virtually all the Government secondary schools in the State now have laboratories, libraries, ICT facilities [desktop computers, laptop computers, and Internet connectivity], buses, bore holes, electricity – gestures extended to private institutions. At a record of 200 secondary schools, the State has the highest number of that tier in ICT facilities in the country even as it rates top in the establishment of Microsoft Academies.
In its second term, the Government is funding the construction of 1,000 [4-room] classroom blocks per year. The project is on course, verifiable from the town unions through which the funds are disbursed. ( Continues below..... )
Photo Above: Governor Peter Obi (Photo 3)
Tertiary education has continued to receive boosts in structures, facilities, faculty, welfare, accreditation and improved funding. Benefitting institutions include Anambra State University [and its various Campuses and Teaching Hospital]; Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe; School of Agriculture, Mgbakwu [with laboratories, hostels, classrooms, administration & staff offices and demonstration farms]; School of Nursing & Midwifery, Nkpor; College of Health Technology, Obosi; and Professor Kenneth Dike Central Library, Awka [for references and sundry research].
Much more than most other State Governments, the Obi administration has a decent number of women on its payroll in decision-making capacities. Barely two years ago, for instance, there were more female than male Permanent Secretaries in service. Of course, the full-fledged Ministry of Women Affairs and Women Development Centre are in place to ensure the pursuit of women’s rights and protection of the girl-child.
The health foundation of Anambra State is comparable to the best elsewhere. Existing Primary Healthcare Centres are being strengthened and new ones established to cater to maternal, child and reproductive health. Today, there are at least 5 [five] PHCs in each of the State’s 21 Local Government Areas. Added to these are refurbished and newly-constructed General Hospitals – all decently equipped and provided with personnel, essential consumables, water, power-generators, duty vehicles and ambulances.
Medical and general health education is also on the priority list with construction works, furnishing, installation of facilities and active pursuit of accreditation for Anambra State University Teaching Hospital & College of Medicine, Amaku-Awka as well as other tertiary health institutions across the State. ( Continues below….. )
Photo Above: Map of Anambra State, Nigeria.
The environmental challenges in Anambra State are quite enormous. Variously on its own and in concert with the Federal Government and Development Partners, the State Government has been steadily tackling the menace of erosion at over 1,000 sites. Dredging of blocked canals and waterways is also on-going even as the administration operates full-fledged agencies for waste management and for emergencies.
As indicated elsewhere, the infrastructural base of Anambra State today is easily one of the most solid in the country. The concrete evidence is reflected in the over 500 kilometres of intra-city and inter-city roads [including bridges and box culverts], water schemes power generating sets in various communities and several other urban development projects.
Staff welfare is also of critical concern. It should be recalled that it was the Obi administration that first gave Permanent Secretaries official cars, built decent houses for Judges Quarters, and constructed twin Secretariats to accommodate majority of the Ministries and civil servants. In the same vein, it has consistently fulfilled the salaries and basic allowances of civil servants. Despite the fraudulent lapses in the system before his tenure, Peter Obi demonstrated empathy for Pensioners in the State by sourcing funds to settle arrears of their gratuities and pensions from 1996 to 2010.
Commendations for the Obi administration have come from unlikely sources and from people who should know. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, Hajiya Amina Az-Zubair asserted that “Anambra State has made remarkable success in the implementation of the MDGs programme”. And such has been the prudent management of the public treasury under the present dispensation that Anambra State was declared “the least indebted State in Nigeria” by the Federal Government Debt Management Office [DMO].
The incumbent Anambra State Government has aimed at several targets and score many direct hits. With the fear of God and a clear vision, he has demonstrated that governance is all about the people and not some abstract statistics. Despite all the positive strides of the past five years, it is pathetic that erstwhile entrenched interests that had leeched on the State continue to sow the seeds of discord, calumny and hate among the citizenry. Would the people prefer the old style imprudence of allocating the State’s resources and funds to a few individuals at the expense of the common good? The Peter Obi they know would not do that! The good among us should not appear helpless, while the worst display their vile energy, so help us God.
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