How do you define a revolution? For our purpose, it is a radical sustainable change in state affairs that can have for-reaching economic consequences. Four years ago, no one would have described Anambra as an agricultural state. It was known for quite innovative manufacturing of essential commodities in selected fields-with activity catered in the cities of Onitsha and Nnewi, spilling over to adjourning towns and villages.
Governor Willie Obiano took power, just over 4 years ago, armed with an agricultural development blueprint that has led to the cultivation of rice, literally, on thousands of hectares of land, using modern methods and employing a huge army of agric workers.
Rice Mills
There is now a commodity called “Anambra Rice” acknowledged in the market for its good, wholesome taste. Modern rice mills dot landscape ready to mill paddy rice, at the push of a button.
And somewhere around Ufuma, near Nnewi, is the start of a centre to manufacture basic milling equipment. Arguably, a bit controversial in a nation that cannot feed itself, is the plan to export yams and others foodstuffs to earn foreign exchange.
Bagged on site
The thrust into Agriculture is not the complete story of Obiano’s dramatic initiative in economic transformation. In North West Anambra is a fast – developing complex, comprising a petroleum Oil refinery, a massive cargo airport,
residential accommodation and modern hotels being erected in partnership with a Chinese conglomerate. Around Ogbunike Lake and Cave, a planned foray into tourism. And at Awka, millennium city will change the atmosphere of a provincial capital into something much more cosmopolitan
A public/private partnership model is the framework for the developmental programme – the government retains a golden share, say 10 or 20 percent, to ensure continuity; the private sector partners push the process of profit making.
Modern
Rice Farm
So far Direct Foreign Investment commitments amount to over 7billion dollars and counting – an impressive figure by any yardstick. On the security front, the attention paid to law enforcement, and the equipment delivered to the police have paid handsome dividends, thanks to the governor and his partnership with a diligent police commissioner, Anambra is now regarded as a law and order state, despite the recent horrific massacre at Ozubulu, which observers continue to view as an, as yet, unexplained aberration.
What other evidence is there of Willie Obiano’s commitment to good governance and the economic empowerment of workers.
Anambra state is said to be fourth in the federation in teams of financial buoyancy, after Abuja, Lagos and Rivers. At a time many state governors are finding it difficult to pay worker’s salaries Obiano pays his civil servants, regularly, without fail. And –what is even more remarkable- he has started paying off completely arrears of pension gratuities owed to public servants for decades!
Back to our opening question – its Willie working? Yes, despite the buffeting of partisan politics, WILLIE IS WORKING.
Any surprise that at the governorship election last November, Willie Obiano won by a landslide in all the local government areas of the state, sometimes polling move votes than the PDP and APC combined! A few weeks later, his campaign, chairman, Victor Umeh won his Senate seat also by a landslide!
for Enugu city
shuttle service
delivery
MOU to import
Innoson made
cars – reputed
to be durable and
affordable
Factory employs 7000
workers
Approach to a bridge in AwkaYES, WILLIE IS WORKING!!!
The recent Federal Government recognition of Anambra State as one of the oil producing States comes as a major boost to the achievements of the re-elected governor. It is true that efforts to make Anambra an oil producing state started before Obiano’s first term. But he gave the project his maximum support. The F.G also approved the establishments of 11 modular refineries of which one is to be sited in Anambra.
Approach Roads to Awka, Capital.