- Ugochukwu Oputa

With Professor Chukwuma Soludo’s emergence as Governor-Elect in the just concluded Anambra State Gubernatorial Election, there have been many narratives around the election and the many factors that influenced it. Amongst them, is the role of the incumbent Governor, Chief. Willie Obiano, whose position and status, both as the incumbent Governor of Anambra State, as well as the national leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA were at stake.

Governor Obiano's preference for Prof. Soludo as his successor, was one of the major factors that influenced the eventual landslide victory and emergence of the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, as Anambra State's Governor-elect.

However, a deep observation of the various factors and scenarios that abound will show you that Gov. Obiano charted a course that not many Politicians of his status would follow should they be in his shoes.

In our political clime, where it is almost a norm for incumbents to find for a successor, someone who they can control, micro manage and by proxy, extend their grip of power, Gov. Obiano‘s choice for a successor with such towering reputation and personality, seem like an odd one.

To put in perspective, Gov. Obiano was an Executive Director in Fidelity bank when Soludo was already the head of Nigeria’s Banking Sector as the CBN Governor.

It can be said that at some point, Soludo was his Boss, but that did not deter the Aguleri-born Politician to see in him, a more befitting successor for Anambra State.

On 21st of November 2019, Gov. Willie Obiano inaugurated the Anambra 50 Year Development Plan Committee with Prof. Soludo as it’s Chairperson. This further placed Soludo in a position to get a closer and clearer insight of the State's unique challenges and put together, long term strategies and solutions in repositioning Anambra state.

The Soludo project was a well calculated and deliberate one by Gov. Willie Obiano; one which at the very core of its execution, was the sole interest and greater good of Anambra State and _Ndi Anambra._

Another display of Gov. Obiano’s strength of character, was what Soludo described in his acceptance speech during the 2021 APGA Guber Primaries, as “Iron clad commitment”.

Beyond resolving for the candidacy of Soludo years back, he remained committed and consistent all through, amidst the numerous pressures from all quarters and political interests.

Gov. Willie Obiano might have had his challenges in some areas, in the course of his stay administering the affairs of the state, but his decision to support a successor beyond personal gains, by putting the interest of the state first, has distinguished him as a different breed of politician and a man who, amongst other things, has shown a golden patriotism for his people and the state.

With the results of the November 6th Governorship election, one can say that indeed he supported the best candidate for the people.

May history be kind to him

Ugochukwu Oputa
November 11, 2021

Cc Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Soludo please perform

Solsix:
Soludo please perform

He will be rest assured

OreMI22:
Gov. Obiano's greatest attribute is putting Anambra's interest above his own personal interest.

Many in his shoes would not complete projects started by his predecessor so that the praise would not go to their predecessor instead of them. A tragic example of this is how subsequent Enugu governors abandoned the 95% completed 5,000 seater Enugu International Conference Center and started their own petty projects!

Obiano understood that this flawed logic was the reason why many states remained littered with abandoned projects and remain backward. He made sure to complete all his predecessor's projects for the benefit of Anambra state. He completed the Agulu Lake 5 star hotel, Onitsha Mall, Anambra state university teaching hospitals, many roads & bridges, and many other projects started by his predecessor Mr. Peter Obi. It must be noted that he completed Peter Obi's projects despite not being in good terms with him!

Again Peter Obi secured the site of the present Anambra International Cargo airport but did not pay the compensation. A typical Nigerian governor would have hidden under that excuse to move the airport to his village. But not Obiano. He completed the compensation already started by Peter Obi and went further to build a world-class facility on that site.

I hope that Obiano's patriotism to Anambra State will be rewarded in the future by immortalizing him to serve as encouragement for others to always place the interest of their state above their own personal interest.

I agree. He has a good heart

TonyOputa:



I agree. He has a good heart

Also what do you mean by having challenges in some areas. I hope it’s not the usual stale propaganda by opposition that he failed to perform. I’m contrast he’s easily the best SE Governor ever having constructed the biggest project by any SE gov since 99. The Anambra international airport! Not to mention the world class ICC, Golden Tulip hotel, Awka Flyovers, Over 15 bridges across the state, all while paying workers ever 26th of the month.
Soludo was just the icing on the cake on his performance

Mynd44, Lalasticlala this deserves FP

Obiano admitted that he sacrificed so many political friendships and allies

that he chose merit over his own personal interest for the well-being of Anambra State


History will be kind to Willie obiano!