History was made yesterday in Anambra State as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the last governorship election in the state, Chief Willie Obiano, was sworn in as the new chief executive of the state.
At the colourful inauguration ceremony which held at the Dr Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, the state capital, the immediate-past governor, Peter Obi formally handed over the mantle of leadership to Obiano, a former banker.
Thousands of people across the nation especially those from the state thronged the venue of the event to witness the inauguration.
It was an emotion-laden ceremony which ended the eight year tenure of Peter Obi whose election was validated by the Court after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Dr Chris Ngige of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the 2003 governorship election in the state.
Speaking after his inauguration performed by the Chief Judge of the state, Peter Umeadi, Governor Obiano unfolded a four-point agenda with a promise to launch Anambra into a new economic phase. He said his administration would achieve that through four pillars of development including aggressive mechanized agriculture, oil & gas, trade & commerce, and industrialization.
He said the four pillars of the Anambra Wheel of Development constitute the treasure box of Anambra State and the ignition through which his administration will light up what he called the enablers.
His words: “We shall engage in a serious production of cassava, maize and rice, where we have a comparative advantage. In addition, we will re-train, re-equip and organize our farmers into cooperatives to enable them share resources and attract funding from donor agencies and financial institutions.
“These efforts will lead to massive increase in food production in the medium to long term and the emergence of agro-based industries in the area of storage, processing, manufacturing and packaging. That will create a lot of jobs for our people.”
On the oil and gas plan, the governor said: “We will provide the enablement for oil and gas companies to prospect for natural resources in our state and set up a refinery within one year of my administration. Commencement of a refinery will attract oil & gas ancillary companies to come to our state. This has a lot of job creation potentials for our people.
“We shall provide an enabling environment for our traders to switch from importation to manufacturing the goods they currently import to Anambra. We shall introduce e-Commerce and build ultra-modern markets and shopping malls and revamp existing ones with new amenities; while in industrialization, the state hosts a large number of industrial clusters.” He said his administration would strengthen the advantage with an appropriate policy framework that will boost the state’s indigenous capacity in the sector, adding that it would have direct impact on wealth creation and bring down unemployment rate.
“When we create jobs and boost the earnings of workers, we are strengthening the family. When we subsidize education and revolutionize healthcare delivery in the state, the family is the ultimate beneficiary.”
When we secure our communities and build new estates with first class infrastructure, we reinvigorate the family. All over the world, the role of the family as the first point of civilization is fully acknowledged. Sadly, today, we are too driven by narrow pursuits to build strong families and stronger communities,” Obiano said.
President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented at the ceremony by his Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, said that he appreciated Mr. Peter Obi’s works in Anambra State and promised to make him one of the members of the Federal Executive Council very soon.
He congratulated Governor Obiano and urged Anambra people to support his administration to enable him succeed like Peter Obi.
Earlier, former Governor Obi, said it was the first time Anambra state was having a hand-over from an outgoing governor to an incoming one.
He recalled that Dr. Chinweoke Mbadinuju did not hand over, adding that Dr. Chris Ngige was not around when he ( Obi) was sworn in as governor.
Obi recalled also that he came for his inauguration in his own car while he was leaving behind a brand new bullet-proof car for his successor, Obiano.
The former governor said that Obiano was stepping into the leadership of the most financially stable state in the country and appealed to the people of the state to always pray for and cooperate with the new governor to enable him achieve more success.
He declared that Chief Obiano had no agreement with him , but with the people of Anambra State.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included the Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji and his wife; wife of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Iyom Bianca Ojukwu.
Others are former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Emeka Sibeudu and his wife; Hon. (Mrs) Uche Ekwunife and billionaire businessman, Prince Arthur Eze among others.
-Sun News
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