Anambra Governor-Elect Obiano Tells USAfrica: “My Election Reflects God’s Grace”
The high achieving son of Aguleri and banking technocrat Chief Dr. Willie Maduabuchi Obiano who — a few hours ago — was declared winner of the Anambra 2013 Governorship election, has told USAfricaonline.com, CLASSmagazine, and IgboEvents e-group Publisher Dr. Chido Nwangwu that “There are several extraordinary circumstances and events regarding my position today that only God's favour could have been at work. I am very thankful for these special blessings.”
During their exclusive chat, Obiano, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) who holds a B.Sc. degree in Accounting (1979) and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Lagos, offered “special thanks to the voters of Anambra State for their steadfastness, especially the incumbent Governor Peter Obi for his support and record of achievements as an APGA Governor. With divine grace everything is possible. As you, Chido, knew from day one when it all started, I believe that my election as Governor really reflects God's grace.” He is a devout Catholic with his wife Osodieme V.E Obiano.
Obiano of APGA was announced by Prof. James Epoke, the Anambra State 2013 returning officer in the governorship election, as having satisfied all the requirements of the law “and is hereby declared winner.”
The combined tally of votes from the November 16th election and the November 30th supplementary election showed Obiano as having won 25 per cent in 18 of the 21 local government areas of the state; more than the required two thirds.
Obiano's opponents from the APC (Dr. Chris Ngige), Labour Party (Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah) and PDP (Mr. Tony Nwoye) boycotted the November 30 supplementary elections taking place mainly in Ngige's main districts of relative strength. They allege irregularities and lack of voting materials in some stations. Obiano's vote tally from INEC has since put him on a commanding, insurmountable lead with at least 17 local governments (out of 21). They have also threatened to go to court over disagreements on the conduct and fairness of the elections -- an arena where APGA Chairman Victor Umeh has said the aggrieved parties should go to election tribunals.
Obiano retired as Executive Director at Fidelity Bank of Nigeria, and has several experiences and training in the corporate world. His candidacy was strongly backed by the APGA incumbent Governor Peter Obi.
In May 2012, in Houston, Texas, at the 19th anniversary of USAfrica and the annual USAfrica BEST OF AFRICA awards, Chief Willie Obiano was honored as Banker of the Year 2012; alongside dignitaries such as Nigeria's deputy Speaker Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, U.S Congressman Al Green and several oil and gas heavyweights.
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USAfrica notes that the immediate, next challenge for Obiano is moving past the combustion of the campaign, anticipated legal-court case(s) and partisan conflict with his opponents. Simultaneously, Obiano will have to move to the important task of governance and live up to the very high expectations of the APGA party faithful and thousands of non-partisan Anambra professionals who supported his candidacy.
As he balances those challenges and lays the framework for governance, Governor-elect Obiano should profit from the words of the greatest writer of African descent, Chinua Achebe: it's morning yet on creating day…. •Dr. Chido Nwangwu, Founder & Publisher of USAfrica multimedia networks, and the first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper published on the internet USAfricaonline.com, has served as adviser on Africa business to the Mayor of Houston (America's 4th largest city). He appears as an analyst on CNN, SkyNews, and is completing the 2014 book titled MANDELA & ACHEBE: Footprints of Greatness.