By
Ifeanyi Afuba
The shrill claim by Mr Valentine Obienyem in several
weekend newspapers [June 13 – 14, 2015] that the Nkpor – Amawbia old road
recently commissioned by Governor Willie Obiano was started and completed by Mr
Peter Obi is incorrect and an unnecessary venture in controversy. Obi’s credentials as a former governor of
Anambra State are not under any danger of assault. His report card is out in
the public domain and as a public figure, no one individual or institution has
copyright on his record of service. On
the basis of verifiable accounts of his stewardship, leadership, social and
philosophical leanings, varying perceptions of his reputation have [naturally]
emerged.
Shortly
on completion of his second term of office in 2014, the hierarchy of the
Catholic Church found him worthy and conferred him with the honour of papal
knighthood. While he reigned as
Governor, a few of his appointees viewed some of his policies and practices as
flawed; so much so that they resigned from the Government. The former
Governor’s nomination for ministerial appointment in the twilight of Goodluck
Jonathan’s regime was greeted with protests within and beyond the PDP and the
nomination had to be withdrawn.
There are no grounds on which to suggest that Governor
Willie Obiano is interested in denying his predecessor the due credit of his
stewardship. At every opportune forum, the Governor has not failed to admit the
integral contributions of Ob’s regime to the developmental strides of the
present government. In the very second paragraph of his one year anniversary
address, Governor Obiano stated: ‘365 days ago, we all gathered in this place
to begin a journey of colourful dreams. But we have travelled through the stony
path of reality. We have experienced a tremendous leap of the imagination. We
have gazed into the eyes of tomorrow and we have returned to this great place,
after 365 days with a great harvest and a bouquet of new dreams! Now, before I
go any further, I would like to acknowledge the good foundation laid by my
brother and predecessor, Chief Peter Obi…’ In the month of May 2015, Obiano was
at the SabMiller complex Onitsha for the launch of the $150m expansion of the
brewery’s facilities at which occasion he duly recognized the leverage achieved
by Obi’s administration in the project.
The implied message in the protest over the
commissioning of the Nkpor road by Governor Obiano is that the regime lacks
projects ‘of its own.’ This suggestion would seem to gain plausibility on the
consideration that the regime is just fifteen months old. But beyond the
illusions of rhetoric, the evidence of our very eyes is that the Obiano
administration has been making phenomenal progress in the state’s development; one
that does not require appropriating anybody’s credit in order to be reckoned
with. Whereas most new governments in Nigeria spend the first six to twelve
months learning the ropes and readjusting their programmes based on reality on
the ground, here was a regime clear – sighted and mobilized at inception; and engrossed
with economic reconstruction as early as the third month. That was when the
first in the series of over $1.9 b investment inflow to the state economy achieved
by the regime to date was sealed.
Thus, the sprawling Coched Farm located at Anaku, alongside
at least a dozen other agro – allied enterprises in varying stages of
operation, are emerging landscapes of the regime’s agrarian revolution. The
industrial scene is made richer with Falcon Corporation Limited’s $100m natural
gas distribution project and Richborn Nig Ltd’s $50m automobile assembly plant
at Ozubulu. Awesome in scope and invaluable in services, the three flyovers
nearing completion in Awka, stand out as alluring landmarks of a long –
neglected capital city. Transformation of the desolate Ogbunike cave into a
world class tourist resort is underway. And on the much vaunted subject of road
construction, the present Anambra state government has set a record unrivalled
by any previous regime – military or civilian – with the award of contracts for
no less than 250 kilometres of roads in just one year. Prominent among these roads, some of which are
at advanced state of construction , are the 27kilometre Amansea – Ndukwuenu
road; Aguleri Uno – Oil Rig 42 kilometre road; Anambra boundary – Agu Awka 12
kilometre road and the 14 kilometre Umunankwo – Mputa – Ogwuaniocha project. A
Governor with such range of endeavours cannot be said to be in search of recognition.
It is possible that the assertion about former
Governor Obi’s title to the fixer of the said Amawbia – Nkpor road is hinged on
the presumption that some funds were set aside for the project by the past
administration. Making funds available
is however only half of the picture. The spectre of abandoned projects in the
country is in part about contractors absconding from site after collecting
hefty payment sums. Without monitoring
and supervision, government contracts would not be done or executed shabbily to
the detriment of society. Government is a continuum and any government worth
its mandate, will not hesitate to live up to the responsibility of ensuring
good value for public money. Accordingly, the resolve of the Obiano
administration to complete the said road, among many others inherited from the
Obi administration, is commendable. It is a verifiable fact that the road under
reference was only completed early this 2015.
There is a fundamental statement in the fact that few
days after the misguided criticism of road commissioning, Governor Obiano also
went ahead to declare open the Awkuzu – Igbariam – Achalla road begun by the
Obi administration but completed by the present state government. The 10 kilometre road had progressed to a
distance of 5.5 kilometres at the termination of Obi’s tenure. By going ahead
with the commissioning of another completed road in the prevailing
circumstances, the Obiano administration effectively and rightly put the issues
in perspective.
Project commissioning is not about political
capital. In the realm of accountable
governance, it serves as formal presentation of what is available for public
use. Governor Willie Obiano struck this
chord when at the unveiling of the Awkuzu – Igbariam – Achalla road, he invited
the people to take ‘ownership’ of the project and ensure its good use;
cautioning against the counter effect of practices such as burning tires on
asphalt and blocking drain channels with refuse.
Obiano
deserves compliments for his rare policy of continuity. It is in accord with
progressive political thought which regards the welfare of the people as the
highest law. As someone rightly said, politicians think of the next elections
but statesmen think of the next generation.
