OBAZE: I WANT TO DO THINGS RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF ANAMBRA
which have merely boosted the egos of those in the corridors of power.
If you say you are developing Awka, you have to start from little basic things of life such as water, electricity and health services. If you are sincere about developing Awka, the state capital, why did you evacuate over 50 per cent of the electricity supply meant for the city to other places - when you could have supported the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to secure alternatives that will not affect supply to Awka?
Again, before Peter Obi left office, plans had been concluded to build an Awka, Greenwood Project at Agu-Awka. If the N15 billion fritteredaway on unplanned fly-overs was committed to the project, it would have had better, more enduring effects.
If that N15 billion was alternatively used to complete the dual carriageway to Umunya, where Obi stopped, you are aware it will have more positive impact on the people of the state and re-imbursement by the federal government is guaranteed. Alas, this government constructed fly-overs without even the permission of the federal government– a willful waste of resources.
You mean you would not continue with what the present governor is doing?
I have not said so. Purposeful and adaptive leadership and governance, is about weighing options and determining what is most beneficial to the people. Certainly, good public-interest projects and programmes will be evaluated positively and further enhanced; others will be tweaked and mainstream or grandfathered with a view to yielding higher public interest dividend and return on investment.
Since we must adopt global best practices, I will also review projects and programmes commenced by the Obi administration which may have been abandoned. In the end, we shall settle for what is best for the people of Anambra State. It's common knowledge that Mr. Peter Obi attracted some industries and gave others required support to start seamlessly. These included SABmiller, Krisoral, Innoson, among others. Before he left government in March 2014, Distell, another world giant, and Niemeth Pharmaceuticals had concluded arrangements to set up their facilities in the state. We shall revisit these investor programmes and ask pertinent questions why some became moribund and others sold to investors who did not follow through on their contractual obligations. Ultimately, our goal remains to attract foreign and domestic investors who like the industries Obi supported, stand ready to offer employment, directly and indirectly, to our people.
What is your message to the people of the state?
We are at the cusp of a new dawn in Anambra. I encourage Ndi Anambra to study scrupulously the bona fides and antecedents of those presenting themselves for election and make informed choices. Let the choices be predicated on known values; more so, the record of incumbent administration and tangible realities on ground, if any. Furthermore, interpersonal relations, justice, equity and an appreciation of the dynamics of good governance must serve a critical variables for any evaluation.
With all modesty, I understand fully what international development partners are looking for. Focus, transparency and results-based programmes remain imperative. As an interlocutor, agencies, funds and programmes in the United Nations common system, seeing me as one of their own, will be well disposed to offering Anambra State the assistance it may require. As a consultant, I have proffered options to federal and state governments. If I can do that for them, you can imagine what I can do for my own state. With my international connections, nobody is better placed than I to attract other international agencies to the state. I did it under Mr. Peter Obi and I will do it again – if I am offered the chance to serve.