By Abimbola Teniola

It is yet another election period and as usual, Anambra State has found itself in the frenzy of the democratic process, which requires elective office seekers to woo the people they wish to lead to vote them into power. Usually, in the bid to actualise this, the incumbent is naturally the number one victim of vociferous media attacks and castigations that could potentially reduce their achievements and Governor Willie Obiano has not been spared either. 

As the election date draws closer, the governor has had to face various orchestrated attacks with opposition political parties in the South-east state dangling carrots to the people as their candidates are already researching into how to outdo another. They are also taking their time to display their unique selling points that could set them apart from others in the race. But in all of these, some close observers have actually identified some of the reasons why Governor Obiano should not be dismissed, not only by his opponents but even the electorate.

For instance, early this month, an international media website known for advising on issues concerning politics and good governance, health issues and also reporting news worldwide, Viewers Corner News team visited Anambra State on a working tour and their conclusion was that Governor Willie Obiano has done so much for the state, which puts him ahead of other governors in the entire South eastern states.

Posted on their website after the visit was this message: Viewers Corner News team appreciates governor Willie Obiano’s efforts, most especially in making sure that the Anambra State senior pensioners and the workers are paid correctly and promptly too, which we value so much. Honestly, no matter how little a person’s income or allowance may be as long as the money is paid as and when due, the person or persons would be able to plan ahead and at that point hunger and other pressing needs, which the money can solve, would be taken care of. But if salaries and allowances of those senior pensioners are not paid as at when due, stress-related problems might set in, which is likely to take the person’s life.

Viewers Corner News team also gathered that security in Anambra State is great. The crime rate within the state has drastically reduced compared to how it was before Governor Willie Obiano came to power. Now, all these put together are great achievements for Anambra State. Therefore, in our opinion, if governor Willie Obiano can perform so well in his first tenure like we explained above, it is only reasonable for the people of Anambra State to vote for him again to continue his second and final tenure, because we believe that he has already been tested and can deliver nicely as always.

Again, we, Viewers Corner News team, are appealing to the people of Anambra State not to be carried away by promises being made by other governorship aspirants in the state. Sincerely, Governor Willie Obiano has been tested and has done remarkably well for the people of Anambra State but then, the decision on who to cast your votes for is solely yours, please do the right thing, because whoever you vote for to lead the state or represent you and your various communities would determine to a huge extent how successful things would be. Vote wisely and leave sentiment out of politics. Vote for who would get the job done for everyone in the state. This is part of what politics is all about.

One important thing Obiano has going for him in the face of intensified political attacks has been that the governor has maintained his impeccable pedigree, given a leadership that has shown adequate experience in repositioning his state through economic programmes and policies aimed at galvanising the potential of the state for rapid development.

Even in office, he remains a renowned philanthropist and leader with clout. Another proposition is that being a performing governor – as in football where a winning team is not expected to be changed – Obiano should simply be allowed to complete some of his landmark projects that his government commenced. He would be in the best position to see them through. 

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Another popular perception is that Obiano already enjoys a formidable edge over the other contenders and the election might as well be a mere formality, because groundbreaking achievements across all sectors will work in his favour. 

It was as a result of the dexterity brought in from the banking sector, where he was already a top manager with Fidelity Bank that he succeeded in listing the state as one of those that effectively contained the shocks created by the recession and for those with analytical minds and abilities in empirical evaluation of the positively improving indices, continuity is the best Anambra people should vote for to sustain and bring the much-desired transformation to fruition.

The indications are pointing to the fact the people of Anambra are appreciative of what Obiano has achieved and are still trusting his promised transformation. Governor Obiano has said the need to take development further to the grassroots in the state as well as to complete pending projects is the reason for his seeking a second term.

The governor, who spoke to journalists in Abuja recently said aside completing his legacy projects, he hoped to institutionalise the achievements he had made in his first term. One of such projects considered prominent in the governor’s agenda is to actualise projects like the Anambra airport that is already slated for completion in two years.

According to Obiano,  in less than three years, every town in Anambra State had experienced government’s presence to the tune of N40 million and his target was that by the time he had done eight years in office, every town in Anambra would have significantly improved on their infrastructure. 

In agriculture, the state is doing very well and has attained self-sufficiency in rice production. We consume 320,000 metric tonnes and now we produce 375,000 metric tonnes per annum, from 80,000 metric tonnes when we assumed office.

“What I want to leave behind as my legacy after eight years is to ensure that Anambra State is self-sufficient in  its revenue sources so that we will not have to be waiting for Abuja to run the affairs of governance,” said Obiano who has displayed enviable confidence that the people of the state will return him to power on the basis of the successes recorded by his government so far.

 

Teniola writes from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State