The misconceptions of governance among citizens of Anambra state is that good leadership is popularly judged by road construction, sinking of borehole, and payment of salary. Apparently, Anambra governors take advantage of these mundane expectations and continue to run around a circle instead of taking the bold leap forward. For instance, between 1999 and 2003 Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju was declared a failed governor for his inability to pay salary which then led to striking action by teachers for over one full year.
When his era as governor is discussed, it is never mentioned that he was the one who built the government house and governor’s lodge. He in fact established all the necessary structures of government that enabled governance to takeoff in 1999. From 2003 to 2006 when his accidental government was truncated by the court, Dr. Chris Ngige was adjudged successful because of the roads he constructed, most of which are still in excellent condition to date. In her short stint, Dame Virgy Etiaba is hailed for her focus on the massive construction of roads, particularly in Nnewi.
But while his contributions in education remain outstanding, his road networks commendable though of very poor-quality construction that washes away in a few months; Obi’s contribution to governance in Anambra is generally average.
Peter Obi after absorbing the shock of the reality of political leadership in Nigeria and getting properly schooled by experience, set out to undertake proper governance with a mission to accord every sector the attention it deserves, relying on his Anambra Integrated Development Strategies (ANIDS). Peter Obi was the first governor of Anambra state to spend two terms of eight years in office and later had the very rare privilege to usher in his successor in the person of Governor Willie Obiano. Obi, especially his second term, made a concerted effort to improve the quality of the lives of Anambra people. But while his contributions in education remain outstanding, his road networks commendable though of very poor-quality construction that washes away in a few months; Obi’s contribution to governance in Anambra is generally average.
This is especially considering the enormous human capital and wealth that Obi would have easily tapped and transferred from Anambra people all over the world into Anambra state. By so doing transform the state into a modern mega economic hub. As at the time of his exit in 2014, Anambra remains a pariah state, backward even. The road leading to Governor Obi’s office was dilapidated, the state capital was thoroughly grimy and unenthusiastic, and it remained so to his exit much to the chagrin of travelers who often wonder if there is another Awka, the Anambra state capital.
In truth, it is not very clear what the Obiano’s led government focus is, however, he has consolidated the gains in the education sector.
Fiscal responsibility was another important hallmark of the Obi administration. Obi announced shortly after leaving office that his administration reserved N75 billion among other investments for his successor. It is important to note that 8 years is enough for a governor to transform his state if he is focused, dedicated, and visionary. Willie Obiano who has roughly less than two years to complete his two terms of eight years in office as governor of Anambra state did not adopt Obi’s ANIDS even though he is of the same political party under which Obi also served as governor. In truth, it is not very clear what the Obiano’s led government focus is, however, he has consolidated the gains in the education sector.
An earlier attempt was made by Obiano to woo Anambra people to come home and invest in Anambra state with the “Aku Luo Uno” mantra. A brilliant policy, but sadly lacks supporting structures that will make Anambra giants all over the world jump to the opportunity. Well, a few investors were attracted but that remains far inadequate and altogether far less what Anambra people are willing to invest if the conditions were right. But again, Peter Obi is remembered for bringing frugality into governance in Anambra state which in contrast reflects his personal attributes. However, Obi’s vaunted tight-fistedness made government unattractive in his time as a source of money-making, and it helped.
During his term in office, Obi was bitterly criticized and more was expected of him, although he couldn’t do more. But upon leaving office, many people now look to him as a champion of good governance in Anambra state, and across the nation, in comparison to his successor, and that says one thing: people are lowering the expectation of their government.
Governor Willie Obiano is often hailed by supporters for paying salary ( a track record started by Obi’s administration) when many states owed salaries in Nigeria. The import of this is that salary which is otherwise a right of a worker has become a privilege and a measure of good governance. With the shortness of time before his tenure elapses, it is perceptible that Governor Obiano is worried about leaving a signature project. If the governor is able to complete the multi-billion dollars Umueri Airport City project despite critics who deem it improbable, then it’ll go down as a significant signature project that’ll spur industrial and commercial explosion in Anambra. A successful Umueri Airport City is only a small aspect of what would have been achieved in Anambra in his eight years as governor of Anambra state.
For most Anambra people, their only anticipation is for government to construct roads for them, but this is terribly low expectation to have, and I suspect the governors are aware of this, so they spend all their time on politics and window dressing with nothing tangible. Lawmakers both in the State Assembly and at National Assembly are hailed for sinking borehole as constituency projects. By and large, there is no synergy to use the instrumentality of law to amplify the commercial fortunes of the state.
Anambra occupies a significant advantaged position more than most states in Nigerian. For instance, Nnewi has the highest concentration of industries for a single town in Nigeria. The town also has the highest number of millionaires than any other town in Nigeria. Put differently, there is both technical knowhow and finance in Nnewi that a creative government can leverage to engender massive industrialization. In other words, there is experience and opportunity as well as investors in Nnewi for such industrialization effort. Yet, it is curious –even unimaginable that no governor is thinking along the line of using what we have to create a magnificent future for Anambra people.
Under the current Anambra government led by Willie Obiano, how many new industries have sprung up in Nnewi or elsewhere in Anambra?
During Peter Obi’s eight years in office, how many more industries were built in Nnewi and the rest of Anambra? How many were established on account of deliberate policies and actions of the government? Under the current Anambra government led by Willie Obiano, how many new industries have sprung up in Nnewi or elsewhere in Anambra?
These are some of the critical questions that must be answered so that we can say what the future holds for the people of Anambra state. The prevailing economic downturn in Nigeria could be ameliorated, especially in a resource-rich state like Anambra, if government is thinking strategically by incorporating enduring investment incentives to cushion the worst consequences of bad economic times. Such policies which might include infrastructure and tax-breaks might save industries that are distressed, and prevent total short down of many of them as is the case now. We are talking about thousands of jobs, opportunities for wealth creation and possible billions in revenue to government wasting away and leaving the future dangerously insecure.
Onitsha, on the other hand, has the biggest market in West Africa; drawing millions of buyers across Nigeria and all over Africa. A careful focus on these two industrial and commercial hubs –Nnewi and Onitsha, will transform Anambra into a modern satellite state with all the semblance of a modern cosmopolitan society without the Federal Government’s input. In eight years, a serious and forward-thinking government will deliver steady power supply to the economic hubs of Nnewi and Onitsha with good legislation, support systems and enabling environment that is growth-driven. This will draw natural positive response from investors who will come on their own without much effort to woo them.
Anambra’s comparative advantage lies in a strong educated populace, commerce and industry, yet, no governor of the state has made any effort to leverage on the existing commercial and industrial configuration of the state to drive development and link Anambra to world commercial and industrial centres. Anambra has so many growth potentials and robust resources left completely untapped. Yet, any government whose interest is to develop Anambra state has to key into the buzzing business and commercial activity in the state, create a most enabling environment, synergize with lawmakers at federal and state levels, to make supportive laws that will give way for expansion and ultimately transform the state into a modern industrial and commercial society.
The most outstanding thing is that Anambra has investors who will be more than willing to invest in the state’s transformation into a modern city and there is a pool of manpower to compel this vision to its realization.
But what have we gotten? Former governor Peter Obi who failed to commence a critical work of driving Anambra to realize full commercial and industrial potentials, continue to parade himself as a model of good governance almost eight years after his average performance as governor. What’s a bit disconcerting is for both Obi and Obiano engaging in a divisive political tit-for-tac –unproductive and distracting verbal exchanges, which doesn’t augur well for the “Light of the Nation” state.
So today, we have Anambra state, a giant among Nigerian states, crawling and begging for milk when it has all it takes to create not only its own cow but to also milk their cow and export to the world.
Till date, six years after, no passing week without Obi and Obiano (mostly through their proxies) going back and forth, arguing over who initiated what project or program or completed what projects or the N75 billion, or bought medical equipment or bought computer for schools, through their proxies. Denying the state the incomparable benefit Obi’s experience would have added to Obiano’s administration. Yet, these two men are the most positioned to transform the state, relying on its comparative advantage in business and commerce, to create an Asian Tiger model in Nigeria. Imagine Anambra for a joint sixteen years by the time Obiano completes his eight years in office. Both men have experience in the banking sector and business world and they are the only governors to have completed two terms in office. Sadly, not only that they did not do it, they also did not even start it.
Anambra state can only quicken development with concerted government policy and action geared towards entrepreneurship, business, commerce and industry. The state can produce and fabricate anything and market to the rest of Nigeria, Africa and the world, but the surface of this most critical aspect of governing Anambra has so far not been scratched.
So today, we have Anambra state, a giant among Nigerian states, crawling and begging for milk when it has all it takes to create not only its own cow but to also milk their cow and export to the world. Indeed, the cost of visionless, colorless government, and low expectation from by the people is appallingly ludicrous.
♦ Ebuka is a Senior Writer and Columnist with the WAP
