Elected under the banner of the markedly
Igbo-interest APGA party, Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, a banker of international
repute, a philanthropist and cultural custodian, a devout Catholic, a friend
with a versatile sense for humor and a good son of modest background shall be
sworn in — in the afternoon of March 17, 2014 — as the Governor of Anambra
State.
First and foremost, to understand the realities and
dynamics of Obiano’s emerging governorship, we must situate him in the recent
political ecology of Anambra.
Anambra is homeland to some of the formidable
financial heavyweights in Nigeria and holds an impressive mix of talented
leaders.
Also, truth must be told that Anambra has, to this
day, more than its fair share of spoilers and
squads of acid-tongue, elbow-throwing
politicos who thrive in crises and malice. Lest I forget, there’s the motley of
pint-size political god-fathers and buccaneers for whom business gets its
highest returns from politics.
Over the past 20 years, Anambra has witnessed,
except for two or three, an unimpressive confetti of political charlatanry and,
in some cases, murderous events which turned away many well-meaning citizens of
the State from competitive public service. Many refused to be involved in the
partisan swindle for which the recent political business of the great State had
become synonymous….
Consequently, Obiano’s emergence, his selection by
outgoing Governor Peter Obi and subsequent election, I believe, reflect the
popular vote of Anambrarians to maintain a responsible handling of the
resources of Anambra. Evidently, the performance bar for Governors in
Anambra has been lifted higher by a hardworking, resourceful and populist Obi.
Obiano’s performance expectation, I must note, has been pushed very high.
Second, in the big picture of geo-politics,
especially ahead of Nigeria’s 2015 potentially explosive presidential election,
the Obiano-APGA votes fulfilled and secured the broad sentiments around the
Igbo interest for a relatively independent and symbolically autonomous
political community of Anambra. Therein lies the importance of Obiano as,
potentially, a key leader of the Igbo eastern states, at this crucial period as
Nigeria bifurcates along the geo-ethnic lines of the ruling PDP and the opposition
APC.
Third, all politics are local, as the political
maxim states. Obiano, understandably, in a way similar to Obi, prefers the PDP
over the APC. Mallam el-Rufai did not help matters for his APC party with his
November 2013 Anambra election drama at a hotel in Awka and useless insults at
the Governor Obi.
Chief Obiano told me recently, during an exclusive
USAfricaonline.com interview, that APGA and the Igbo voters “will get more
mileage” by supporting Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan (of the PDP) for
the 2015 elections.
My 100 minutes interview is, to date, the most
comprehensive insight to Obiano, the accomplished banker, who bagged the
USAfrica Best of Africa International Banker of the Year 2012 (long before he
had an eye on partisan politics). Obiano charts a path for his priorities
as Governor from March 17, 2014, speaks candidly on his relationship with the
outgoing, popular Governor Peter Obi who strongly backed him to victory in the
November-December 2013 elections.
He reflects on how he got into politics and governorship
campaign, and outlines why he considers security as critical to making Anambra
State a business destination of choice in Africa. On a personal level, he
speaks about his wife Chief Mrs. V. Ebelechukwu Obiano (Osodieme) who
introduced me directly to Akpokuedike Obiano in 2012.
Fourth, on the all-important issue of the direct
impact of his plans, the retired banker cited, like he did during his campaign,
that a number of the public policy pillars and economic enablers of his agenda
for governing will drive economic development and growth, exponentially, for
Anambra.
But governance and campaigns are two different
realities.
For the campaign, it’s largely an information
warfare and mobilization battle, and….
For governance, first, it’s about definable
achievements to be seen by the constituents; then followed, realistically, as
both information messaging and mobilization battle for the hearts and minds of
the governed/voters.
Why is this relevant to Obiano?
Even the best plans and initial achievements have,
sometimes, been drowned in the fire and thunder of the boisterous politics of
Anambra (and parts of Nigeria). But I believe that Obiano’s pedigree and
achievements show him as man who is determined to make history in Anambra for
good reasons.
The man who goes by the courage-filled traditional
title of ‘Akpokuedike’ cannot offer any less as Anambra beckons….
On balance, I believe that Willie Obiano has
the integrity, the intellection and clarity of purpose to lead the great
homeland of Achebe, Azikiwe, Ojukwu, Ekwueme, Osadebe, P-Square, etc. My brief
inquiry to his history and upbringing show a family value of spartan discipline
and resourcefulness —instilled by his late father, Sir Philip Onuorah Obiano, a
well-known headmaster in their hometown of Aguleri. Those two uncommon
attributes are needed for leadership roles, particularly as Governor of a State
with scarce resources and fiercely competing priorities.
Evidently, Obiano’s governorship promises to usher
in the dawn of a new era where policy lucidity meets relevant experience.
• Dr. Chido Nwangwu, Founder of USAfrica
multimedia and public policy networks, served as adviser to Houston’s
ex-Mayor Dr. Lee P. Brown on Africa business/issues, and appears as an analyst
on CNN, SkyNews London; is completing a book on Mandela & Achebe:
Footprints of Greatness. He established the first African-owned, U.S-based
professional newspaper published on the internet, USAfricaonline.com
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