The governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has donated his salaries to the less privileged members of the society. Disclosing this in Awka at the weekend, Governor Obiano pointed out that he had sent a written instruction to his Principal Secretary, Mr. Willie Nwokoye to implement his wish with immediate effect.
The governor’s directive followed his long practice of philanthropy and public spiritedness which had informed his earlier decision to donate his salaries to the churches since he took his oath of office on March 17, 2014.“I have been donating it to the church since I became a governor,” governor Obiano explained and further pointed out that he figured that giving it to the underprivileged people in the society through properly structured charity organizations would make for more impact.
Speaking further, the governor said, “After spending many fruitful years in leadership positions in the private sector, I earn enough pensions to sustain the needs of my modest family. So, I felt that my salary would be more useful if it puts a smile on the faces of some underprivileged members of society to whom the smallest amount of money would make a huge difference.”
The governor further observed that he and his wife had always been deeply involved in charity and philanthropy, long before they went into public life. According to him, his administration has always carved out a place for the underprivileged members of the society, awarding scholarships to physically challenged students in the state and setting up a Rehabilitation Center for the destitute in Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area.
“We have picked up many destitute people, including mentally disturbed people whom we re-united with their families after healing and rehabilitating them to normalcy. We shall continue to lend a helping hand to people in need as long as the Lord provides us the resources and the good health to remember our obligations to Him,” Governor Obiano enthused.
Indeed, since he assumed office as the governor of Anambra State, Chief Obiano has continued to blaze a worthy trail in humanizing governance. The governor’s peculiar approach to responsive leadership is anchored on his short maxim that “ana alu olu, ana alu madu,” which loosely translates to “when we are busy fixing things, we should also remember to fix lives.” The governor’s many critical rescue efforts to victims of road accidents, domestic fire accidents and people living with disability is common knowledge.
Barely a week ago, Governor Obiano and his wife handed out 200 prosthetic limbs to physically challenged people in continuation of an elaborate effort to give meaning to the lives of Nigerians who had suffered the loss of one of their members.
The governor’s donation of his salary to the less privileged members of the society is expected to inspire many wealthy Nigerians who have yet to develop a thirst for the all-important intervention in strategic philanthropy and public spiritedness.
