Written By: Hon. Timothy Ifedioranma

No doubt, even a blind man can see that Anambra is a state on a speed lane to its promised land. This is partly because a good leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. Above all, according to the scripture, when the righteous is in authority, the people rejoice. Since the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) took over the reins of power in the state, progressive and welfarist leadership has manifested, to the delight of the people.

Beacons are visible and the performance indicators show that since Governor Willie Obiano came on board, Anambra has fared better in the scheme of things in Nigeria. The picturesque new Awka with dazzling street lights and gleaming flyovers announce the birth of hope. The influx of investors leading to the attraction of about 5 billion dollar-worth of investments shows that Obiano has been making bold efforts to transform Anambra.

Same goes for the prompt payment of workers’ salaries and pensions when most states owe months of salary arrears. Graciously, the Most Worker Friendly Governor in Nigeria has assured, for the umpteenth time that he would be one of the first to implement the new minimum wage, when the modalities are released by the Federal Government.

The impressive growth in Internally Generated Revenue to make up for the drying allocation from the federation account as well as the offer of scholarships to thousands of students is exemplary. Anambra state, under Obiano, thought it wise too to introduce an economic stimulus package to ameliorate the harsh conditions imposed on Nigerians, including some traders, wheel barrow pushers and transporters.

Anambra under Obiano is the only state in Nigeria to have yearly given a bag of rice to every worker and pensioner in the state. People are still recruited into the public service. The alert governor is paying special allowances to teachers in hard to reach areas and those teaching special courses.

The state is leading in security and education sectors, while industrialization is doing well. Truth be told; Governor Willie Obiano has shown a great leadership promise that deserves an applause and encouragement. His vision of making Anambra State the first choice investment destination and the most preferred location to site new industries and his MISSION of creating a socially stable, business-friendly environment that will attract both indigenes and foreigners to seek wealth creating opportunities in Anambra State, indicate a perfect assessment of the needs of Ndi Anambra and their capacity to achieve them.

And in keeping with his usual drive for excellence, he has moved so swiftly to achieve his promises, especially his four Cs- Continue, Complete, Commission, Continue new projects. Hence, Obiano has not abandoned any project from his predecessor. In so doing, Akpokuedike has acted as though he is aware that in the words of Thomas Edison, the American born inventor of the electric light bulb, “vision without execution is hallucination.”

The present Anambra state government has also recently introduced a health insurance scheme in collaboration with the European Union, EU, in order to enhance the living standards of the citizenry. Ndi Anambra should exercise patience. There is no doubt that the rains are subsiding and very soon, massive construction and reconstruction of roads, bridges and provision of road infrastructure such traffic lights in different parts of the state will recommence in ernest.

Again, for the first time in the country, a government started a people- oriented program known as “Community Choose Your Project Initiative’’, where every community in the state was given twenty million naira to execute any project of its choice. With this development, no community has been denied direct democracy dividends by the government. The third phase of the scheme is on going

Equally, there is hardly another state that has established socio-economic outfit akin to the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency, ANSIPPA and Anambra State Small Business Agency, ASBA, in order to attract investors, and empower small and medium scale entrepreneurs. The programs of these agencies have attracted numerous awards to the state, the recent coming from the Federal Government.

Above all, Obiano’s administration possesses a magic wand with which it rapours very well with other arms of government such as the Legislature and Judiciary. The seventh State House of Assembly, last week, celebrated its one hundred days in office with peaceful co-existence with the Executive, unlike in some other states.

For all these rare and outstanding achievements of the Anambra state government, the best Ndi Anambra can do is to continue to support the government by being alive to their civic responsibilities.

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