Peter Obi’s tenure: Facts they don’t want revealed

DDM News

(DDM) – Peter Obi was first sworn in as Governor of Anambra State on March 17, 2006, following a landmark judicial ruling that declared him the rightful winner of the 2003 gubernatorial election.

However, he was controversially impeached eight months later, on November 2, 2006, by the State House of Assembly.

According to Diaspora digital media (DDM), he later disclosed that his refusal to inflate the annual state budget was among the reasons for his removal.

The Court of Appeal overturned the impeachment on February 9, 2007, and reinstated him.

Due to the prior occupation of the office by Dr. Chris Ngige, Obi’s legal battle extended into a constitutional interpretation of his tenure.

On June 14, 2007, the Supreme Court ruled that he was entitled to complete his original four-year term, which concluded in 2010.

Obi subsequently won re-election and served until March 17, 2014, when he handed over to his successor, Chief Willie Obiano.

A. Financial Management

• Sub-Sovereign Wealth Savings: Under Obi, Anambra became the first Nigerian state to establish a Sub-Sovereign Wealth Fund.

This was a pioneering step in fiscal responsibility within sub-Saharan Africa.

• Debt Profile: While other states accumulated debt, Obi maintained a fiscally disciplined administration.

He left over $500 million in local and foreign investments, including $156 million in dollar-denominated bonds.

• National Ratings:

• The Nigerian Debt Management Office (DMO) ranked Anambra as the least indebted state.
• The Senate of the Federal Republic adjudged Anambra the most financially stable state during his tenure.

B. Foreign Investments and Partnerships

• Obi repositioned Anambra from a diplomatic outcast to a preferred destination for international engagement.

• For the first time, Ambassadors and High Commissioners from the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Canada, South Africa, Israel, the European Union, and others visited Anambra.

• International development agencies like UNDP, UNICEF, World Bank, DFID, and the European Union began active operations in the state.

• Anambra was consistently ranked among the top states in Nigeria for development partnerships and governance reforms.

C. Education Reform

• Missionary School Partnership: Returned schools to missionary owners while the government retained salary responsibilities.

This strategic reform propelled Anambra from 24th to 1st position nationwide in WAEC and NECO results, sustained for three consecutive years.

• Global Recognition: The World Bank commissioned an Oxford-led study under Prof. Paul Collier to understand the model.

• Technological Advancement:

• Distributed over 30,000 computers, including 22,500 HP systems, marking the largest HP education deployment in Africa and the Middle East.
• Provided Microsoft Academies to more than 500 schools, described as the most extensive of its kind in Africa.
• Over 500 schools received internet access.
• Supplied over 700 school buses, boreholes, and constructed new classrooms across the 177 communities in the state.

D. Healthcare Development

• Church-State Partnership: Channelled over $50 million to mission-run hospitals for health services.

• Hospital Upgrades:

• Iyienu Hospital, Ogidi
• Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala
• St. Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha
• Holy Rosary Hospital, Onitsha
• St. Joseph Hospital, Adazi-Nnukwu

• Landmark Projects:

• Established the Joseph Nwilo Heart Centre at Adazi-Nnukwu, where heart operations are performed.
• Conceived and built the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, the first state-owned medical teaching institution.

• Global Recognition:

• Anambra won the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s one million dollar award for best immunization performance in the South-East.
• By 2014, more than twelve health institutions, including two hospitals, had secured accreditation. None had such accreditation before Obi took office in 2006.

E. Economic Development

• Industrialization Efforts:

• Attracted SABMiller, the world’s second-largest brewery, to build its first Greenfield brewery in Nigeria.
• Facilitated the rise of INNOSON Motors. The state government purchased over 1,000 vehicles from the company for official use.

• Resource Development: Secured oil-producing status for Anambra State under his administration.

F. Security

• Comprehensive Support: Provided more than 500 security vehicles to various agencies, including the Police, Army, Navy, DSS, and Civil Defence.

• Community Safety: Supplied each of the 177 communities, markets, and churches with security vehicles.

• Vigilante Reform: Professionalized local vigilante units, integrated them into the state’s official security architecture, and ensured close coordination with the police.

• The Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Mohammed, commended Anambra for recording no bank robbery in the last three years of Obi’s administration.

G. Youth Empowerment and Employment

• Revitalized the Anambra Youth Re-orientation and Empowerment Programme (ANSYREP).

• Launched a Youth Employment Fund that provided capital and training to thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs.

H. Infrastructure Development

• Undertook large-scale road construction and rural electrification across the state.

• Built the first centralized State Secretariat Complex, consolidating ministries that were previously scattered.

• Commenced major development of the Igbariam Campus of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University. Projects included the Faculty of Law, Auditorium, Faculty of Agriculture, and Administrative Block.

Other Notable Achievements

• Brought the World Bank’s erosion-control project, NEWMAP, to Anambra.

• Conducted Nigeria’s first Poverty Mapping to guide effective anti-poverty interventions.

• Participated in the State Peer Review Mechanism (SPRM), an initiative of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and DFID, to assess governance quality and transparency.

ANIDS: Anambra Integrated Development Strategy

Peter Obi introduced ANIDS, a groundbreaking, multi-sectoral development framework.

It synchronized planning and budgeting across sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic growth.

This approach ensured balanced and inclusive progress in all parts of the state.

Peter Obi’s administration redefined public governance in Anambra State.

Through fiscal prudence, visionary planning, and integrity, he left behind a legacy of transformational reforms and sustainable development.

His tenure remains a reference point in debates about good governance in Nigeria.

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