Obiano was made Governor by the strength of his predecessor’s political magnanimity and desire for trusted continuity in the administrative interest of Anambra state.
But like what had happened and keeps happening in many states those that imposed their successors on the people were all disappointed by their anointed ones!
Orji Uzor Kalu single-handedly made former Governor Theodore Orji governor winning a gubernatorial election in Abia state for him while he was languishing in the EFCC detention facility!
But Senator Orji had betrayed Kalu and even sought to ‘kill’ him politically in the state.
He rubbished his achievements and reputation leading to the two engaging in war of words and recriminations.
Ex-Governor Gabriel Suswam and his supposed ‘godfather’ George Akume had variously waged ‘war’ on each other with each camp claiming the other looted the treasury and performed poorly while on the saddle in Makurdi, Benue state.
Obiano and Obi had antagonized each other in the recent past with claims of how much left in the treasury by the Obi administration constituting the subject of discord.
Whilst Obi was claiming that he had left millions of naira in the treasury Obiano insisted he met an empty treasury!
Obi is more trusted than Obiano and he is more gentle and statesmanly; Obiano must show respect to whom it is due!
Recently the two men had reportedly met and reconciled their differences at the burial mass of the late Rev Fr. Nicholas Tagbo under whom both leaders were once students held at the assembly ground of their alma mater — Christ the King’s College (CKC) in Onitsha.
Obiano had publicly apologised to Obi embracing him in the presence of other old students and dignitaries including former Rivers state Governor, Peter Odili, Prof. Pat Utomi and others.
The departure of their former college Principal to the great beyond brought home the fierce urgency of fraternal reconciliation — something of a good tiding which is a good omen politically for the state.
Gov. Obiano seems to be engaged randomly in telling official lies about his government programmes and actions.
He reportedly lied about rice production in the state and equally told bare-faced lies about attracting “$3bn investment” to the state.
He is said to be a man that likes drinking choice wines and living blissfully big especially when is vacationing abroad.
The Aguleri-born former banker must have been overwhelmed by the trappings of power and the nasty attitude cum nuisance value of his wife does not help matters.
Obiano was involved recently in an online controversy over ‘ugu’ and onugbu’ export abroad.
Ugu in Igbo language means pumpkin leaves and onugbu, bitter leaves.
A detailed investigation by the New York-based SaharaReporters had revealed that Mr. Obiano falsely claimed that Anambra state had earned $5 million in vegetable exports!
As a part of this campaign promoting the south-east state’s agricultural industry Gov. Obiano used images of vegetables that he claimed had been grown in and around the state.
That claim however was found to have failed the test of authenticity by the popular online whistle-blowing website.
When SR subjected the pictures to a reverse image search it was revealed that they had been pulled from other websites!
While one believes there is some truth in the exportation of vegetables to Europe, America or South Africa by the Anambra state government and the subsequent realisation of millions of dollars in the process, we deplore the attempt to deceive the people with some graphic figures and facts emanating from the figment of imagination of the Obiano team.
When you are doing the right thing you do not need to fool anyone or yourself as it were.
You do not need advertisement for developmental trends in the administration you run; your good works would find you out and speak for you.
Making noise in the media and publicising hyped (up) achievements diminishes any leader and exposes them to mediocrity.
We hereby warn Governor Obiano to desist from brandishing spurious claims or peddling lies and instead get cracking on the developmental challenges of our beloved state.
Perhaps he knows quite well that mendacity cannot be associated with great leadership.
Sunny Chris Okenwa; soco_abj_2006_rci@hotmail.fr