An overtly elated and confident Governor Peter Obi stood before a crowded hall in Awka, Saturday, and declared: “We have a state.. I am leaving Anambra far better than I met it”, stressing that even with the initial turbulence that heralded his administration, he was able to improve the general lot of the people, and save about N27billion and $155 million respectively for the future of the state. He spoke at the End of Tenure Event organised by the state’s Elders Council.
Anambra State was at a time a portrait of everything that is wrong with the national body politics, with charlatans taking over the political space and unleashing mayhem on the people and bringing the state to utter disrepute. But Obi turned the tide since fully assuming office. “Today nobody has reason to regret coming from Anambra State. We have rescued Anambra”, Obi said amid a deafening ovation.
“During my tenure of eight years, we have received all together about N620 billion in allocation which is about one year budget of some states in Nigeria. But with that we have built over 801km of roads, we are not in debt and we have bought about 1000 buses for our schools and other learning infrastructure including computers and laboratory equipment. We have reformed education, transformed healthcare and improved the general infrastructure of the state”, Obi told the crowd which included Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dagote, Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Group Managing Director of Access Bank, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Cosmas Maduka, Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha among others.
Dangote in his goodwill, said he was proud of Peter Obi and what he has achieved in Anambra. “He has shown that private sector people can excel in public sector. Everybody knows that governing Anambra State is not an easy task but Peter Obi has done a good job of it. He committed himself to serving the people not loading his pocket”, Dangote said. He charged Obi to pen down his leadership style and experience and make it available for others to copy.
Okonjo-Iweala said Obi has set the pace for the federal government in the area of cutting cost and visionary leadership that directly impact on the people. He has done in Anambra State what we are trying to do at the centre which is cutting cost. We are committed to it and we will achieve it, she said.
While describing Peter Obi as the true face of the Igbo man, she said even the World Bank has certified the way Obi pursued the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a model for others.
Speakers after speaker applauded the success Obi has made out of governing what used to be referred to as the most radicalized state in Nigeria. Obi will hand over to his successor Willie Obiano on March 17, this year.
