Obiano Moves to build Brotherhood in Anambra, Holds Meeting with Top Leaders

The Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has made a bold move at reconciling all political and ideological differences between Anambra's many illustrious sons and daughters to enable them forge a common ground that would speed up the pace of development in the state.

The governor who addressed a gathering Anambra's best and brightest in Awka at the weekend polled together some prominent industrialists, entrepreneurs, traditional rulers, members of the clergy, members of the political class, elder statesmen, and leaders of women groups and others who form the bulk of the upper crust of society to a session of fruitful and candid interaction.

Setting the agenda in his opening address, Governor Obiano explained that the time had come for Ndi Anambra to set aside their political differences and pull together on the altar of common brotherhood in the overall interest of the state.

Arguing that it was wrong to continue to pursue narrow political differences long after elections were over, the governor observed that in all civilised societies, citizens usually set aside all political acrimonies once elections were over and come together to build a better society for themselves.

Calling for a stronger bond of brotherhood between Anambra's many distinguished sons and daughters, Chief Obiano pointed out that the only way that Anambra would attain an admirable height in all round development was for the citizens to forge a common front, pool their resources together and pursue a set of goals, further noting that the world was never in doubt of the capacity of the state to transform itself because of the quality of its human capital.

He called for greater kinship and brotherly love between Ndi Anambra wherever they found themselves on the planet and pointed out that as the governor, he had a natural role to play as a consensus builder across personal, political, religious and ideological lines.

Governor Obiano who was roundly applauded by the stakeholders for drastically cutting down the rate of crime in the state in less than two months after his inauguration further assured Ndi Anambra that the state was safe enough for indigenous and foreign investors.

According to him, it had become important for Anambra citizens who were reputed to have multi-billion Naira investments across Nigeria and overseas to look homewards with a view to setting up business in the state in order to create wealth and provide employment for the teeming population of the unemployed in the state.

Arguing that his administration was determined to ensure that Anambra's good citizens would not perpetually flee the state in fear of a handful of criminals armed with guns, Chief Obiano declared that his administration's crackdown on criminals in the state would be sustained till the end of his tenure.

Also speaking at the event, Nigeria's Ambassador to Spain and widow of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu observed that the gathering was a clarion call for Ndi Anambra to look inwards and discover for themselves the imperatives of building a cohesive society in which everyone would see their neighbour as a brother and not a rival.

Re-enforcing her argument with the famous story of Igbo Landing on the marshes of Dubar Creeks in Georgia in 1803 that stands out in the narratives of pivotal resistance to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, Ambassador Ojukwu reminded the gathering of the need to ensure that their success abroad was not eclipsed by their resounding failure at home.

'We build impressive mansions at home that no one has any plans to occupy; mansions where our friends and relatives will gather to bury us when we die. What sort of life is that?' she wondered and further emphasized that governor Obiano deserved the support of every well-meaning Anambrarian to sustain the good work he was doing in making the state a habitable location on the Nigerian map.

In his own brief remark, a former governor of the state, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife commended Governor Obiano for his security policy and expressed the hope that before long the state would begin to reap the benefits in the number of local and foreign investors that would find it viable for investment.

Similarly, speaking at the ceremony, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe commended the governor for his efforts to turn the state around and further identified the need for the administration to set up independent power plants in the state as a precursor to the realization of the full potentials of the administration's four pillars of development. He also emphasized the need for a comprehensive social campaign that would give the people a completely new outlook to life.

The Chairman of the All progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh commended the governor for taking up the initiative of inviting Anambra's stakeholders for a brotherly dialogue and further advised that the initiative should be held on intervals in a year to ensure greater effectiveness.

Also speaking, a former gubernatorial aspirant in the state, Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu commended the governor for demonstrating a deep sincerity of purpose and assured him of his support as well as his belief in his ability to deliver on his promise to Ndi Anambra. In further demonstration of his support to the governor's initiative, Mr. Ukachukwu announced that his $140m investment in Awka would soon be ready for commissioning while he was perfecting plans to cite more industries in other parts of the state.

In their two separate speeches, two prominent industrialists, Chief Ernest Obiejesi of Nest Oil and Chief Chidume Oranu all assured the governor of their readiness to invest in Anambra State as the environment becomes more conducive for investment with his exploits in securing the state.