I won’t tolerate laxity, laziness, Obi warns new commissioners
From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka
Friday, April 02, 2010
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/apr/02/national-02-04-2010-007.htm

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State yesterday inaugurated his new cabinet with the swearing in of 16 commissioners and four special advisers with a stern warning against non-performance.

The swearing-in ceremony which took place at the Governor’s Lodge without the usual fanfare associated with such activities followed the clearance of the 20 cabinet members by the State House of Assembly.
Addressing the cabinet members who were all returned from the first tenure cabinet, Obi stated that he was impatient to actualise the vision of the government, hence he would not tolerate laxity, laziness and complacency.

He, however, gave any member of the cabinet the opportunity to quit if he or she was not ready for the job as anyone that performs below expectations would be shown the way out without hesitation.
The state chief executive while thanking them for the services rendered to the state in the first tenure, urged them to be of good cheers and love their ministries.

He also charged them to be at peace with themselves, their ministries and local government areas, insisting that now was time for reconciliation and not for hostility. “No ministry is better than the other. It depends on what individual Commissioners make out of it. This calls for creativity and ingenuity on the part of the Commissioners. At the end of the day, you will not be judged by how rich or poor your ministry is, but how you used it to serve the people of Anambra State and humanity,” he said.

Responding on behalf of the cabinet members, the Commissioner for Lands, Barr Peter Afuba expressed gratitude to the governor for the renewed opportunity given them to work with him in his “undoubted vision of transforming Anambra State.”

Afuba noted that Obi scored another first by being the first governor to return his cabinet, stressing that the gesture was a vote of confidence in them which he pledged on behalf of others to strive at all times to justify.
“Our return by the Governor is a mark of recognition that we worked well with him and a challenge to even do better. We shall not let you down, whatever we did well, we will do better. Whatever we did not do well we shall amend. We are bound with you in your desire to transform the State,” he assured.

Speaking shortly after the swearing-in on why the occasion was without fanfare, the Commissioner for Information, Chief Maja Umeh said it implied “that work has started in earnest and that there is no room for partying or epicurean indulgence,” adding that all the commissioners were retained in their former ministries.
The commissioners are Professor Chinyere Okunna (Economic Planning And Budget), Mr. Calistus Ilozumba (Works), Lady Chinwe Anowai (Youth And Sports), Mr. Dubem Obaze (Local Government And Chieftaincy Affairs), Mr. Emeka Nwankwu (Public Utilities), Chief G. C. Ezenagu (Agriculture And Natural Resources), Dr. Michael Egbebike (Environment), Chief Maja Umeh (Information) And Mr. Alloy Egwuatu (Science And Technology).

Others include Mr. Emmanuel Chukwuma – Attorney General And Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Eze Echesi (Finance), Mr. Chima Okafor (Commerce And Industry), Dr. Kay Onyechi (Education), Mr. Peter Afuba (Lands And Survey), Professor Amobi Ilika (Health) And Dr. Ego Uzoezie (Women Affairs And Social Development).
The Special Advisers are Mr. Chuks Iloegbunam (Communication), Chief Sylvester Nwobualor (Parks and Markets), Chief Law Chinwuba (Housing) And Mrs. Victoria Obi (Internally Generated Revenue).