Mrs. Obiano Tasks Catholic Women On Constructive Criticism Of Leaders

By Owelle Mbaso

The wife of the Anambra State governor Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano has called on members of Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) of St. Mathew Catholic Church Amawbia to encourage constructive criticism of leaders as a means of promoting development and progress of the state.

Mrs. Obiano made the charge on Thursday when she attended the August Meeting of the CWO of St Mathew’s Catholic Church Amawbia, Anambra State.

The governor's wife told the CWO that part of their responsibility as Christian mothers is to proffer advice; encourage their wards and relations to call attention of leaders to issues that will promote growth of the family and the society and discourage those who dwell on name calling and spurious allegations that does not set good example for our children.

Said she: “Today I may be the wife of the governor but it is important to let you know that we started small and I want you to see the best in your fellow women and other members of the community, that is the way to avoid the ‘pull-him down’ attitude of some. As mothers and Christians we should encourage constructive criticism of our leaders at all levels.”

The governor’s wife told the women to advise their children never to allow themselves to be used as thugs to disrupt good programmes of government in the name of political differences. She urged the mothers to emulate the Virgin Mary by always living lives that will please God by not being dependent on material possession but rather helping the poor. She enumerated governor Obiano's socioeconomic and infrastructural development in the state and called for the support of Ndi Anambra to enable them do more for the state.

Mrs. Obiano who is the founder and promoter of the Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ), a non-governmental, non-partisan, non-religious organization which was founded with a vision to be a beacon of sustainable empowerment for indigent widows, women, and the less privileged, said that the NGO has remained steadfast in its resolve to change the fortunes of persons in need through its programmes and activities. She challenged the unemployed people of the state to identify with her empowerment Programmes to better their lives.

The wife of the governor outlined some of the projects of CAFÉ which provides succor and empowerment to indigent women and widows, such as the CAFÉ Housing for Indigent Widows which has seen the organization build ten houses across the three Senatorial zones of the state out of which nine were recently commissioned. She also mentioned the CAFÉ Market Toilet projects in select rural markets across the state as one of such projects which not only complements the state effort at ensuring a clean and healthy environment but most importantly, “aimed at promoting and preserving the dignity of the average market woman.”

Welcoming the wife of the governor earlier, the President of CWO St Mathew’s Amawbia, Lady Eunice Anemene, told her that the women were very happy to have Osodieme in their meeting, as a member of CWO in the parish and Nne Anambra. She extolled the virtues of Mrs. Obiano as a role model and thanked her for her simplicity, humility, and kindness; while recognizing the numerous work by the governor and commitment to the development of Anambra State.

The CWO President also called the attention and assistance of the governor’s wife to the needs of the organization like chairs and canopies for their meetings and programmes. In the same vein the parish Priest Rev. Fr. Valentine Oformata thanked the governor’s wife for coming to inspire the CWO and for the help she is rendering to the less privileged as well as the sterling performance of the governor.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the conferment of the CWO award of kpakpando of CWO St Matthew Amawbia and cutting of cake.

2: Anambra partners MAN on development
By John Ndu
The State government has opened the bid for expression of interest from World-class developers who would develop an auto-industrial layout on the 155 hectares of land it acquired at the Akwaihedi , Unubi and Uga axis of the State.

Governor Willie Obiano disclosed this when he received a delegation from the Anambra-Ebonyi-Enugu Branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria at the governor's Lodge, Amawbia.

The governor who revealed that government has also acquired lands in Idemili and Ekwusigo Council Areas, said the Akwaihedi Project when completed, will serve as a model for the kind of industrial estates which his administration has envisioned for the state which will possess the necessary infrastructure for industries to thrive.

Governor Obiano said in recognition of the key role the private sector plays in the realization of his industrialization agenda, his government has sustained its efforts at supporting private investors to seek business opportunities in the state, adding that through ANSIPPA, it has instituted a workable structure which guarantees that investors and their host communities get maximum benefits for investments.

He maintained that his administration has banned the use of agents for revenue collection while illegal tax and levies collectors are being clamped down on to avoid multiple taxation and urged the manufacturers to key into the industrialization vision of his government and explore virgin areas of partnership with the State government.

Earlier, the Commissioner For Finance, Industry, In­novations & Development Finance Institutions, Mr Ifeatu Onejeme acknowledged that the meeting was in line with the Present administration's efforts at institutionalizing gainful engagement with the organised private sector towards the development of the state.

He revealed that as part of its initiative to encourage manufacturers in the state, the present administration is working to domesticate the Federal Industrial Policy to enable industrialists develop long-term plans with huge economic benefits and also directed the harmonisation of the Tax and Levies Schedule of the state and local governments to avoid multiple taxation.

On his part, the Commissioner for Lands, Mr Okey Muoka revealed that it is the policy of the state government under its investment thrust, to process land titles for investors with dispatch, and assured the group that government will readily avail them the necessary support they require to bring their wealth into the state.

In his address, the Leader of the delegation and Chairman of the Branch, Chief Aloysius Okafor explained that the visit was to express their solidarity with the state government in its bid to transform the state, as well as to draw government's attention to critiical issues hampering their operation some of which included multiple taxation, epileptic power supply and poor infrastructure in existing industrial clusters and their non-involvement in industrial policy formulation processes.

In a vote of thanks, the vice Chairman of the Branch, Chief Chris Chidume thanked Governor Obiano for the result-oriented system his administration is running the affairs of the State and advocated constant interaction between them and the government in ensuring that the manufacturers who are critical stakeholders in job and wealth creation, are given the desired platform to operate maximally.

Owelle Onyeka Mbaso
SSA Political to Gov. Obiano
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