Obiano wins Episcopal Award for Excellence in Governance

Following his superlative performance in office in the past eight months, the Governor of Anambra State Chief Willie Obiano has won the Episcopal Award for Excellence in Governance. The award was conferred on him at the Synod Thanksgiving Service of the Diocese of Afikpo, Anglican Communion in Ebonyi State at the weekend.

Presenting the award to the Governor at the occasion, the Anglican Bishop of Afikpo, Rt. Rev. Paul Udogu extolled Obiano's performance in office in the past eight months of his administration and pointed out that the award was being conferred on him to encourage him to do even more for the people of Anambra State.

According to him, since his inauguration as the governor of Anambra State, Chief Obiano had demonstrated a keen thirst for excellence and a desire to leave the state better than he met it.

Bishop Udogu advised Governor Obiano not to be distracted by the vicious campaign of calumny mounted against him by critics who are surprised at the giant strides his administration had made since inception, reminding him that leadership usually comes with its own peculiar demands.

The Anglican Bishop of Afikpo also lauded the governor's achievements in the area of security and other aspects of governance which he noted had become the standard of performance expected from any Nigerian leader who wishes to be taken seriously.

Bishop Udogu urged the governor not to relent in his efforts to build a new Anambra State that would stand out as a model of excellence in the South East, pointing out that the state had the human and material resources to force a positive paradigm shift in the entire region.

Similarly, the Afikpo Diocese of the Anglican Communion has commended the courage of President Goodluck Jonathan for signing into law the anti-gay bill despite pressure from the international community saying it was an expression of African morality and value system.

Reading a Communiqué issued after a 3-Day Synod held in the Diocese, the Diocesan Chancellor, Hon Justin Henry Njoku also commended President Jonathan for showing courage in the face of all the turmoil and unrest in the country saying that a less competent leader would have buckled under the weight of the onslaught.

The Communiqué condemned in strong terms, the ravaging monster of Boko Haram which has made life precarious in many parts of the Northeast of Nigeria.

In his response, Governor Obiano thanked the church for considering him worthy of such honour as was conferred on him and pledged his determination to expand the frontiers of excellence in the governance of Anambra State.