Did Obiano betray or develop Anambra State?
3 min read
Chief Willie Maduabuchukwu Obiano, the immediate past governor of Anambra State whose tenure as the governor of the state fell on the bed of roses prepared by his predecessor, Peter Obi, ran the state with a method laced with shocks and surprises especially, in terms of financial recklessness. After he won his second term election, he was again sworn in for the second time to do a second term in the state and to complete some of the “projects” he had started. His second term came to an end on March 17, 2022 and an erudite professor of global acclaim, Professor Charles Soludo took office as the next governor of the state.
During the presentation of his inaugural speech, the scholar turned politician unveiled his transformation agenda for the state; how he will make the state to attract businesses and create jobs and above all, make the role of every citizen to count. The statement from Soludo came with a caveat: “If the resources are available.” This caveat explained by Soludo indeed made many Anambrans to wonder what must have gone wrong with the resources of the state. A couple of years ago, Mr Peter Obi who transformed the state declared to newsmen that he was not owing any contractor, retiree, civil servants or any bank both in and outside the state by the time he left office in 2014.
Despite not owing anyone, Obi told journalists that he left over $140 million and over N70 billion for the Obiano government. The wealth Obi created for the state was a part of the 50 year industrialization and development plans for the state. Surprisingly by 2022, just about 8 years after Obi had left office, Anambra State became a shadow of itself financially. In an Arise TV interview, the new governor of the state Professor Charles Soludo granted to the TV station, a Nigerian journalist Ruben Abati, asked the governor to explain the financial state of Anambra State. Soludo stammered a little and told the team of Arise TV reporters that he met between300 and N400 million in the treasure of the state.
On the debt profile of the state which is more shocking, the state is really in need of a financial facelift. According to nairametrics.com, Professor Soludo was quoted as saying that Anambra State is indebted to the tune of N109 billion under Obiano.
Political observers, Anambrans and top financial managers both in and outside the state have been asking, if Peter Obi, the high profile ex governor of the state with unstained integrity lied to his people when he announced how much he left for the state. If indeed he was honest which from all indications he was, what happened to the whole amount of money left in the care of Obiano for Anambra people? Did Obiano hand over to Soludo to cover his tracks of financial recklessness or to correct his political ills and sins?
Some Obiano supporters have been advancing the argument in certain quarters that the man did well for the state, at least for giving the state a standard airport, while others who disagree with this opinion hold the view that if Obiano was indeed innocent, why being in a hurry to run to the United States immediately he handed over to Soludo?
As the Obiano EFCC drama unfolds in some months to come, Anambrans and other observers will know if the man Obiana indeed developed the state or betrayed it.
