investnow2013:
This is Agulu Lake, Anambra State

nice

Ikengawo, why are you worried and envious. Why can't you for once use your backward useless worthless shithole imo state for the comparison? Onitsha is the economic hub and capital of the eastern Nigeria, that's why millions of Imolites are trooping to the city for greener pasture. Oya cry .

Ofodirinwa:

Past PH and Aba? idk about that. Just say you like the bridge bro

ANSMEDIA:
Onitsha 2nd Niger bridge getting ready. This bridge will further advance Onitsha the economic capital of the eastern region.

You are totally correct. Keep it coming.

Wow good news. Anambra international airport is the best and also the international gateway to the Eastern Nigeria. Not that pig farm ikengawo aka Ofodirinwa calls imo airport. Ofodirinwa come and cry for us.

ANSMEDIA:
Anambra Int’l Airport: We’re engaging France, Germany, others to commence operation — Commissioner

International flight may commence before the end of this year at the Anambra International Airport as the Anambra State Commissioner for Transport, Mrs. Patricia Igwebuike, in this interview with Prince Okafor, disclosed that discussions are ongoing with some airlines in France, Germany and United States to commence operations.

The domestic passenger airlines are flying through Anambra State at the moment, Air Peace, and United Airline are the only companies moving their aircraft through the state. The airport is located at Umuleri, has the second-longest runway in Nigeria, about 4km. The airport is located in a strategic position which is close to Onitsha and Awka, the state capital.

According to available report, from Anambra to Miami is just eight hours, so we are engaging with them to find out ways we can make it possible for airlines to carry passengers from Anambra to Miami directly.

Commerce is our second name, and we are always open for business. We are ready to build relationships and interface with our contemporaries around the world. We are also looking for partners from airports around the world. We are new, and the advantage of being new is that we get to do things in line with international best practices.

We are ready to use that level of standard. We are looking for investors and experts that will assist us in capacity-building. Also, we want to grow our revenue base.

Currently, we have just two airlines operating in the state. We are discussing with other airlines, including international airlines, and we are doing things systematically and learning from those who are already in the system.

We do not believe in reinventing the wheel. We have engaged with some companies in France, Munich, and now we are engaging the Maimi Dade County. We will seek a partnership or some sort of collaboration. We are going to acquire all the necessary footprints to make ourselves known

Anambra Airport is built as an international cargo and passenger airport and we are still growing. We have generated revenue from the airport for the government of the state.

It is very promising from the way we are going and when we grow it the way we want to grow it, both the commercial arm and others, it will be self-sustaining. That is where we are going.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/07/anambra-intl-airport-were-engaging-france-germany-others-to-commence-operation-commissioner/

UPCOMING EVENTS IN ICC AWKA ANAMBRA STATE






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snpoRy5j_lE

SCHOOL EXCURSIONS @ ANAMBRA INTERNATIONAL CARGO & PASSENGER AIRPORT UMUERI





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt1kRMRiVlw

U.S. Mission Nigeria wrote:

“This week Ambassador Leonard joined a delegation of international representatives to visit the governor of Anambra state Charles Chukwuma Soludo to discuss the state’s development opportunities and challenges. Many thanks to UNDP in Nigeria for organizing a really interesting trip!”

Soludo gives lower tax rates to commercial drivers in Anambra

For the very first time in his life, Papa Emeka, a keke driver who shuttle along Aroma to Book Foundation, Awka, will enjoy a tax rate that is cheaper, affordable and harmonized. He will now pay directly into the state treasury because he wants governor Chukwuma Soludo to provide social and public services. He is happy that the new system of collection has made it impossible for ndi-agbero/touts to continue extorting and multi-taxing, chasing and intimidating him on a daily basis.

Arinze, a mini-bus driver who shuttle along Afor-Igwe Umudioka to Afor Nkpor is thankful to Governor Soludo for keeping to his campaign promise of building a digital culture around tax collection system so as to stop the very few persons that enrich themselves and had in the past, refused to remit fund accrued to government treasury, and 2; Mr Emmanuel, Okada operator in Otuocha is grateful that Governor Soludo has shown empathy, human face, and as a leader who feels the pains of the masses, hence, held series of engagements with critical stakeholders in transport Union before arriving at the closure of multiple taxation across the state and 3; Chief Jerome, a taxi rider is grateful that he wouldn’t be paying the average #5,000 daily which is on a high side into the hands of touts hired by very few persons, who will at the end remit just #150 naira to the state treasury.

Papa Emeka and others henceforth would not be chased or attacked by agberos/touts at parks, tax junctions or at other points of extortion. They will have free access to the designated parks, and could load and unload goods and services. This time around, according to the new rate, Okada operators pay N300 daily at N7, 500 monthly, N21, 000 with a discount of N1,500 for one quarter or N40, 500 with a discount of N4, 500 for half a year. Keke riders pay N600 daily at the cost of N15,000 monthly, or N42,000 with a discount of N3, 000 for one quarter or N81, 000 with a discount of N9, 000 for half a year

Shuttle/Buses' daily pay is N1,000 at the rate of N25, 000 monthly or N70,000 with a discount of N5, 000 for one quarter or N135, 000 with a discount of N15, 000 for half a year. The daily rate for Taxi riders is N700 or N17, 500 for one month. N49,000 quarterly with a discount of N3,500 while N94, 500 with a discount of N11, 000 is for half a year.

The rate of N1, 200 daily is for Township Bus operators at the cost of N30,000 for one month, N84,000 with a discount of N6,000 for one quarter and N162, and 000 with a discount of N18,000 for half a year. Pick up Van daily fee is N1, 000 at the cost of N25,000 for one month, N70,000 with a discount of N5,000 for one quarter and N135, and 000 with a discount of N15,000 for half a year.

Another good news is that, 5 % of every daily payment would go to Papa Emeka and other transport Unions treasury.

...Solution Is Here, Let’s Support The Initiative!

#AnambraStateNewMedia

Kick off at Awka City Stadium

Rangers International vs Akwa United.

Enugu State Commissioner for Sports, Hon Manfred Nzekwe and Ifeanyi Ojukwu an NLL match commissioner are among top officials here present.

(Credit)
Vincent O Ezechukwu
Awka,17/07/2022

ANAMBRA INTERNATIONAL CARGO & PASSENGER AIRPORT UMUERI



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JtXgFIFYP0

PROUDIGBO:
Good news about the airport. The state gpv't could also see if it's possible to persuade some countries like Uk, US, China, UAE, etc, to open consulate offices in Awka where visa applications can be processed or accepted for onward transmission to Lagos or Abuja for processing! This would compliment international operations at the airport nicely and help drive traffic.

The airport needs another terminal building if it's going to serve int'l as well as local routes. This could be private sector driven.

I'll keep the champagne on ice until i see the first plane take off from Umueri airport for a int'l destination or see one arrive! This is Nigeria......we all know what that means!

Soludo has massive global knowledge experience and I have no doubt he is aiming for the sky with Anambra.

This is why Simon Ekpa want Anambra destroyed but Anambra is too strong for 'em.

As soon as we get out IGR in order and starts massive infrastructures development I give Anambra 10yrs to arrive, by then I will be approaching 50yrs....I cant wait to touch down from US t my father's land.

Superb!!!!
From Anambra to the world

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44JaDdA2Ivo

investnow2013:
ANAMBRA INTERNATIONAL CARGO & PASSENGER AIRPORT UMUERI



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JtXgFIFYP0

Tochukwu Ezeoke does not have any credibility. I am happy that he was at least constructive enough in this video to give little credit to Obiano for what he did while asking the incumbent governor to improve on Obiano's achievement. I wondered for too long why Ezeoke refused to commend Obiano at all for this airport, and much of Obiano's other achievements. Until I realized that his massive attacks against Obiano were simply because he was denied an SSA position by that government.

Nobody is saying that Obiano is flawless. However, judging from his massive achievements INCLUDING building a truly modern international airport of 3.7KM runway, the tallest ATC control tower in Nigeria, with ILS CAT 2 landing systems and runway lights, a dual carriage access way to the airport, a dedicated power line from Agu-Awka sub-station and many others, it is clear that Obiano meant well for Ndi Anambra and achieved A LOT instead of giving excuses and complaining.

Ezeoke always likes to act as though if Umahi were doing very well, then somehow Obiano didn't do his best. Despite Umahi's generous endowment of free chippings, he still cannot be said to have achieved beyond Obiano infrastructurally not to mention in other areas such as education, health, agricultural revolution, or small-scale enterprises for poverty reduction. Not to mention that Umahi imposed a higher IGR on Ebonyi than Anambra. Besides, why can't we commend both Umahi and Obiano for serving Igboland well? Must we always look for someone to shade in order for anyone's achievement to be acknowledged? If they both did well for Igboland, then why not simply say so? Ezeoke's comments in his other numerous videos expose his emotional immaturity from being denied a job he thought he was the best candidate. I am glad he was more objective in this video than the others he had previously done on Anambra state or this airport.

I admit that Ezeoke has a right to hate Obiano for whatever personal reasons, but he should at least make a distinction between a project that promotes the overall development of Anambra state and attacking Obiano based on his personal vendetta. It was quite unbecoming of him to continue attacking the guy in several youtube videos many months after the guy had left office. I thank him for making an objective video on Anambra's developmental strides under Obiano for once. Let bygones be bygones, and let us focus positive energy on how to move the state forward and to greater heights for the sake of the future of Igboland.

The Anambra International Airport Departure Lounge is UPSTAIRS, not downstairs.
Currently, the cargo inspection room downstairs is used for departures as the shops are still being installed in the departure lounge upstairs.

Anyone visiting the airport would be told this by the staff there.

ChimaAdeoye:


Tochukwu Ezeoke does not have any credibility. I am happy that he was at least constructive enough in this video to give little credit to Obiano for what he did while asking the incumbent governor to improve on Obiano's achievement. I wondered for too long why Ezeoke refused to commend Obiano at all for this airport, and much of Obiano's other achievements. Until I realized that his massive attacks against Obiano were simply because he was denied an SSA position by that government.

Nobody is saying that Obiano is flawless. However, judging from his massive achievements INCLUDING building a truly modern international airport of 3.7KM runway, the tallest ATC control tower in Nigeria, with ILS CAT 2 landing systems and runway lights, a dual carriage access way to the airport, a dedicated power line from Agu-Awka sub-station and many others, it is clear that Obiano meant well for Ndi Anambra and achieved A LOT instead of giving excuses and complaining.

Ezeoke always likes to act as though if Umahi were doing very well, then somehow Obiano didn't do his best. Despite Umahi's generous endowment of free chippings, he still cannot be said to have achieved beyond Obiano infrastructurally not to mention in other areas such as education, health, agricultural revolution, or small-scale enterprises for poverty reduction. Not to mention that Umahi imposed a higher IGR on Ebonyi than Anambra. Besides, why can't we commend both Umahi and Obiano for serving Igboland well? Must we always look for someone to shade in order for anyone's achievement to be acknowledged? If they both did well for Igboland, then why not simply say so? Ezeoke's comments in his other numerous videos expose his emotional immaturity from being denied a job he thought he was the best candidate. I am glad he was more objective in this video than the others he had previously done on Anambra state or this airport.

I admit that Ezeoke has a right to hate Obiano for whatever personal reasons, but he should at least make a distinction between a project that promotes the overall development of Anambra state and attacking Obiano based on his personal vendetta. It was quite unbecoming of him to continue attacking the guy in several youtube videos many months after the guy had left office. I thank him for making an objective video on Anambra's developmental strides under Obiano for once. Let bygones be bygones, and let us focus positive energy on how to move the state forward and to greater heights for the sake of the future of Igboland.

Like I have said before, you shamelessly has no modicum of integrity nor sincerity in you. You hypocrite was one one the people who joined the disappeared globemoney to keep insulting Obi day in day out and here you are to point fingers at another man who has scrutinized Obiano and learnt he emptied all Anambra savings to build an airport why Onicha, Awka and Nnewi was left to rot. IGR was so poor we couldn't even pay our bill's but Obiano hid it from Ndi Anambra and never said how much was spent to build the ICC and the airport....why the secrecy?

Ndi oso chi egbu....aguba ndi Anambra isolu puta. You are a serpent and people like you end miserably. Otimkpu ten kobo!

ChimaAdeoye:
The Anambra International Airport Departure Lounge is UPSTAIRS, not downstairs.
Currently, the cargo inspection room downstairs is used for departures as the shops are still being installed in the departure lounge upstairs.

Anyone visiting the airport would be told this by the staff there.

I have used the airport at least 4 times. I am frustrated with the slow pace of work on the remaining areas such as arrival waiting lounge and departure lounge.

Though i don't think their lack of completion should be used as excuse to deny the Airport International operations.

Kano, PH and Enugu airport departure lounges , runway and other facilities are way smaller than similar facilities at Anambra International Airport. Yet they are allowed to operate International flights. I think Ezeoke was ill informed by insinuating that the airport was not fit for International operations.

Nonetheless, Prof. Soludo earmarked 4 billion naira in this year's budget to complete ongoing projects at the Airport. Thus soon we shall see a completed departure lounge as enemies of Anambra are already converging to use Ezeoke's excuses to frustrate the airport. As unfounded as that excuse is. This is Nigeria afterall!

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

The Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AiRS) wishes to inform Ndi Anambra that there will be a mega biometric enumeration and registration exercise in Awka for commercial transport operators in the Anambra Central Senatorial zone who are yet to participate in the exercise.

VENUE: Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka.
DATE: Tuesday, July 19, 2022, to Saturday, July 23, 2022.
TIME:: 9.00 am - 4.00 pm daily.

Every commercial Transport operator yet to register is expected to go to the venue to enrol.

There are arrangements to put the NIN registration centre in the venue.

This message is from Anambra State Internal Revenue Service.

Sylvia Tochukwu-Ngige
Head, Taxpayer Education and Enlightenment Team
For: Chairman/Chief Executive, AiRS

Anambra Deputy Speaker Calls For Speedy Decision On Gov. Soludo's Loan Application

By Juventus Chukwunweike Okoli

Ihiala State Constituency II was fully represented during plenary at the Anambra State House of Assembly on Friday, July 15, 2022, as the Deputy Speaker and Honourable member representing the Constituency, Rt. Hon. Dr. Pascal Arinze Agbodike joined his honourable colleagues to adopt the 2022 Revised Budget and Appropriation Bill as a working tool for the State.

The adoption was made during the State Assembly's House Committee of the Whole, in line with the report and recommendations of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, which was presented on the floor of the house by its Chairman, Hon. Obinna Emeneka. Having gone through its third reading, the House passed the bill into law; an act that gives the 2022 Revised Budget the full legal right and backing before the laws of the land to serve as an authentic working document for the government and people of Anambra State. The 2022 Revised Budget and Appropriation Bill were presented to the State's Assembly by Mr Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo at an earlier date.

As already mentioned, Ihiala, Constituency II added its voice as this all-important decision was taken through its representative, the Most Distinguished, Rt. Hon. Dr. Paschal Agbodike, whose voice reverberated lucidly through the hallowed chambers, as he laid bare the minds of his constituents as evidenced in the video attached.

His submission regarding the loan request made by the governor was in tandem with the standard practice in any sane society. And I completely agree with Dr. Agbodike who seconded the motion earlier raised by the majority leader, Hon Gee Nnamdi Okafor that one week - that is Thursday next week - should be enough time for the House Committee on Public Account headed by Hon. Somto Udeze, member representing Ogbaru II State Constituency, to work on Mr. Governor's loan application and report back to the house for an overall view, assessment, considerations and possible approvals, since "the loan is needed to fund the budget," as Mr DS emphasized.

Speaking further, Dr. Agbodike advised his colleagues in the 7th State Assembly saying, "Whatever we are doing, let it be in line with the progress and development we are seeking in this state." He raised a serious concern when he queried his colleagues, "If the budget is passed, how do we fund it without the loan?" Mr Deputy Speaker indicated that the reasons for the loan and why Anambra needs it are well and fully enunciated in the application. He, therefore, called on them to grant the application the urgency it deserves to allow it to complement the budget when approved.

I agree with the submission of the Deputy Speaker. I am, therefore, of the view that following Mr. Governor's repeated statement that the state's treasury is in red, it has become essential that he is granted permission to secure the loan which will enable him to fulfil his campaign promises to Ndi Anambra. Surely, the executive needs money to run the State and to bequeath modern infrastructure to the people; and where the State does not have enough funds, the wise counsel will be to grant the governor the authority to secure money (loan) through any legitimate means available, so long as the terms and conditions for securing the loan are reasonably good.

I have no worry, doubt or even fear that any loan given to Mr. Governor will not be fully utilized for the benefit of Ndi Anambra. There is no question about Mr. Governor's love for the State and Ndi Anambra. His financial prudence echoed by his impeccable services at the helm of affairs in the Central Bank of Nigeria and in other high responsibilities easily bear him out.

I therefore support Dr. Agbodike's position that the House should speedily give assent to the governor's request for the good of Anambra; otherwise, in the words of Rt. Hon. Dr. Paschal Arinzechukwu Agbodike, "what purpose will the approved budget now serve without a corresponding finance stream to execute it?"

Point on the Loan Request;

Much of the progress needed in Anambra State cannot happen without solid infrastructural base, especially the transport system. How do you start addressing the huge infrastructure decay and demand by citizens without borrowing in the short term?

Already government is drastically reducing the cost of governance, instilling the culture of prudence and value-for-money; addressing insecurity head-on, digitizing the revenue collection system to increase coverage and reduce leakages (to increase internal revenue over time), recruiting thousands of teachers and doctors; embarking upon aggressive urban renewal; to implement massive youth empowerment etc.

In the short term, debt is required to break the “trap” but with every kobo of money borrowed devoted to infrastructure financing and bankable projects — and fully serviceable from the IGR flows.

The government is embarking upon a massive reform of the internal revenue system. What is actually needed is about N250 billion, but N100 billion in the first instance, and future borrowing (if needed) will be contingent upon internal revenue growth and debt sustainability analysis.

That’s the pathway to transformation and growth in the face of a literally empty treasury and Oil revenue down to zero with statutory allocation barely able to pay salaries. Attached is page 54 of Soludo's manifesto and his thoughts on funding options.

-- Mazi Ejimofor

investnow2013:
Point on the Loan Request;

Much of the progress needed in Anambra State cannot happen without solid infrastructural base, especially the transport system. How do you start addressing the huge infrastructure decay and demand by citizens without borrowing in the short term?

Already government is drastically reducing the cost of governance, instilling the culture of prudence and value-for-money; addressing insecurity head-on, digitizing the revenue collection system to increase coverage and reduce leakages (to increase internal revenue over time), recruiting thousands of teachers and doctors; embarking upon aggressive urban renewal; to implement massive youth empowerment etc.

In the short term, debt is required to break the “trap” but with every kobo of money borrowed devoted to infrastructure financing and bankable projects — and fully serviceable from the IGR flows.

The government is embarking upon a massive reform of the internal revenue system. What is actually needed is about N250 billion, but N100 billion in the first instance, and future borrowing (if needed) will be contingent upon internal revenue growth and debt sustainability analysis.

That’s the pathway to transformation and growth in the face of a literally empty treasury and Oil revenue down to zero with statutory allocation barely able to pay salaries. Attached is page 54 of Soludo's manifesto and his thoughts on funding options.

-- Mazi Ejimofor

They should probe and prosecute Obiano and his band of looters. How do you consistently have 50 billion year in and year out for 8 years and the only thing you have to show for it is awka flyovers cost 13 billion, icc cost 10 billion, airport cost 30 billion, oil rig bridge 5 billion, omambala bridge 15 billion. Where is the other 300 billion?

Obaze was right after all.

Obiano – The Sandglass Metaphor, by Obaze
4 months ago

The sandglass is a befitting analogy for Gov. Willie Obiano’s eight years of governance of Anambra State.

By depiction, the sandglass is perceptibly colourful and efficient, yet a crude, coarse and fragile time-keeping instrument. Obiano’s government mimicked those traits. Despite Obiano’s governance disambiguation, and effective masking of frivolities with social media flourish, the only variable that mattered was time. In the fullness of time and by constitutional dictate, time ran out for Obiano. His sandglass came crashing, proving the transient nature of power and Plato’s contention that “The measure of a man is what he does with power.” Predictably, some trenchant apologists for Obiano’s government, whose unbridled tongues chanted “Willie is Working,” were among the first to chant “good riddance.”

I’m averse to gloating over another’s misfortunes. But on this particular issue, I was and remain an interested party. Anambra is my home state; and I’m invested in her well-being. I served and live I Anambra by choice. Undoubtedly, Obiano misruled Anambra. Terrible decisions were made, but he did so with the help of some enablers- APGA apparatchiks, some Anambra political elite, clergy, traditional rulers, sycophants, etc. As Obiano’s governance process unfolded, there were discernible movements without telling progress, as State resources were symmetrically siphoned from one spectrum to the other; from public to private coffers. Lamentably, when Anambra was being badly misgoverned those who should have spoken up, failed to speak truth to power or tell Gov. Obiano the inconvenient truth, lest they lose access to power or their munificent largess deriving therefrom.

These people obviously were not attuned to Martin Luther King’s admonishment that the, “Ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.”

When I left the Obiano Government on 8 June, 2015, I knew that his 15-month old government was a derailing. The telltale signs were obvious.

Impeachable acts combined freely with grand larceny. In the latter part of 2016, I made public my intentions to challenge Obiano for the governorship. On 20th December 2016, Obiano through a Catholic priest close to him offered an interlocutor a mind-boggling sum to get me to stand down. The offer was rejected. My position: Anambra was not for sale; and certainly was not Obiano’s to sell.

* Obaze

Since I separated from the Anambra government in 2015, even though I live in Awka, I have entered the Governor’s Lodge only once, for a one-on-one meeting with Governor Obiano, at 11am on 17 January 2017. At that meeting, I told Gov. Obiano why I was challenging him. The reasons were threefold: First, to protect the Anambra North mandate, which he held in trust. Second, to impress on him, that honest assessments of his first term rated him very poorly. And third, to forewarn him that absent immediate remedial measures, he and his spouse would likely to end up in the EFCC dragnet. Gov. Obiano did not seem to understand the import of the visit.

After all, we were schoolmates and also friends. Neither did he grasp my felt obligation to rescue him and Anambra. He asked if there was still anything he could do to dissuade me from running. I said there was nothing. He then boasted that he will be re-elected, “even if it means emptying the Anambra Treasury.” I was shocked. However, I made him a promise: “I will not personally attack you during the campaign. Neither will my staff. Also, if you win re-election, I will not publicly comment on activities of your government for good or for bad.” On that note we parted company. He was re-elected. I kept my promise.

Ever since, till this day, the only other time we directly engaged each other, besides occasional perfunctory exchange of pleasantries at functions, was during the governorship debate on 17 November 2017. During that debate, when I said the Obiano government was the “most fiscally reckless” in Anambra State’s history, it was no hyperbole. Obiano inherited over N75 billion, earned N2 Trillion in revenue, but left Anambra State an estimated N400 million in cash reserve and N109 billion in debts, plus other contingent liabilities.

A leader is as good as his advisers. Simply, Obiano amassed a coterie of bad advisers – formal and informal. They had his ears; and the King’s ear is a powerful instrument. So he held incessant court and they pandered to his ego and proclivities. Several of his earliest advisers could not have passed rigorous security background checks, given their respective erstwhile roles in the financial sector. Some of his loyalists contrived paper contracts, projects and bogus certificates as conduits for fleecing Anambra State. The Local Government Joint Account was the most bastardized. Checks and balances were farfetched between and betwixt. But for an airport, conference centre and three flyovers, Obiano and his cohorts in eight years squandered Anambra State’s wealth and legacy.

They sold off the state’s fiscal and real estate assets and abandoned many projects.

The unprecedented fate that has befallen the Obianos since leaving office is saddening and calls for empathy. It was all avoidable. But most of Obiano’s kinsmen and minders would not think otherwise. Most knew little or nothing about good governance, and nepotism and groupthink mentality rendered them unresponsive to good governance tutelage or due process. Those who spoke truth to power became traducers – whilst liars, cheats and scofflaws held sway over policy, programmes and project decisions and willfully hijacked the State’s internally generated revenue and fiscal instruments. Under Obiano’s watch various communities were put asunder via meddlesome executive fiats. State security was achieved at extraordinary costs.

I don’t know if history will be kind to Gov. Obiano or as unkind as it has been to Gov. Chinwoke Mbadinuju. But I’m conscious that the enormity of fate that has befallen Anambra will unfurl slowly. While the visible, broken and decrepit infrastructures are evident; the moral and fiscal rut are more insidious. A popular Anambra State Catholic priest once asked me in a closed door meeting, why I always sounded angry when I spoke about Obiano’s government failings. I told him it was nothing personal, but that if he knew what I knew about Obiano’s degenerate governance modalities, he would also be justifiably angry. That collective anger is already manifesting.

I am as guilty as every other Anambra person who helped to elect Obiano governor. I voted for him in 2014, because like him, I am from Anambra North. But those who contributed to his 2017 re-election and thus sustained his shambolic governance should admit their role. While Obiano will inevitably bear the brunt of the criticisms for his government, he is not entirely responsible for all the governance mishaps. What he cannot escape is the vicarious and command responsibility for what happened on his watch. The upshot is that Obiano was an incidental leader thrown up by the vagaries of Anambra partisan politics. He was not ready for leadership, and his official and personal demeanors were fraught with leadership hubris. During his second term, the ceremony of innocence was drowned (apologies to Yates). That is passé. But as deep as the unfolding ironies are, so too are the deeply painful lessons learned, and missed opportunities.

Anambra has a new government. A successor is in place. Now, Anambra’s arrested development needs to be fixed. Her governance tasks will be doubly difficult, considering how badly broken Anambra is. We can only offer our collective prayers that those elected and appointed to officialdom in Anambra, will henceforth put Anambra’s interests above personal, sectarian, clan and other primordial interests.

abuzz33:


They should probe and prosecute Obiano and his band of looters. How do you consistently have 50 billion year in and year out for 8 years and the only thing you have to show for it is awka flyovers cost 13 billion, icc cost 10 billion, airport cost 30 billion, oil rig bridge 5 billion, omambala bridge 15 billion. Where is the other 300 billion?

Obaze was right after all.

Obiano had good intentions but he is weak , easily controlled and never liked living in Nigeria hence his choice of America as a residence. If Obiano was proud of what he built why was he in a haste to run of to America for medical treatment...same man was bragging about his achievements in health and education. Are you saying he doesn't have trust in the infrastructures he built ?

During Obiano's tenure Anambra never came first in waec....this is a man that inherited a fantastic system of education Obi rescued and rebuilt to become the best in the country. Any man who listens to a woman like Osodieme is destined for failure.


Let Obiano tell us how much he spent building the airport and ICC....Obiano is incompetent....he simply rode on Obi's success. If it was for Obi's initial work Anambra would have become a disaster.....onye anulima...ite nkwu!

Obiano never cleaned Onicha , restructured Awka nor Nnewi. He was just taking money from what savings is left and wearing agbada up and down....weak eidiot!! Look at the waste material lifted from Onicha and Awka...under his nose his friends were stealing our IGR but he kept quiet....the airport and ICC was used to save his ass. After all. Obi was the person that did poverty mapping in Anambra north ( Obiano's zone) and opened that areas which Obiano keyed into fulfill his nepotism. Yes , Obiano introduced clanishness into Anambra politics but thanks for Soludo.

Suddenly. all Obiano's praise singers (otimkpus) have all disappeared soon as he left office....lol. Ndi abulu onu. No more ten kobo....lol. Ndi uchu ! E nogo better for anybody who took money to sell Obiano's lies to us.

Okpoko is in Anambra north but Obiano ignored it because he was not ready to lift Anambra....pitiful iidiot!

Obiano – The Sandglass Metaphor, by Obaze
4 months ago

The sandglass is a befitting analogy for Gov. Willie Obiano’s eight years of governance of Anambra State.

By depiction, the sandglass is perceptibly colourful and efficient, yet a crude, coarse and fragile time-keeping instrument. Obiano’s government mimicked those traits. Despite Obiano’s governance disambiguation, and effective masking of frivolities with social media flourish, the only variable that mattered was time. In the fullness of time and by constitutional dictate, time ran out for Obiano. His sandglass came crashing, proving the transient nature of power and Plato’s contention that “The measure of a man is what he does with power.” Predictably, some trenchant apologists for Obiano’s government, whose unbridled tongues chanted “Willie is Working,” were among the first to chant “good riddance.”

I didn't see this before I wrote the above post....lmao.


Who doesn't know Obiano was a colossal failure. Person wey woman dey control.

He drowned Anambra with debt.

investnow2013:
Point on the Loan Request;

Much of the progress needed in Anambra State cannot happen without solid infrastructural base, especially the transport system. How do you start addressing the huge infrastructure decay and demand by citizens without borrowing in the short term?

Already government is drastically reducing the cost of governance, instilling the culture of prudence and value-for-money; addressing insecurity head-on, digitizing the revenue collection system to increase coverage and reduce leakages (to increase internal revenue over time), recruiting thousands of teachers and doctors; embarking upon aggressive urban renewal; to implement massive youth empowerment etc.

In the short term, debt is required to break the “trap” but with every kobo of money borrowed devoted to infrastructure financing and bankable projects — and fully serviceable from the IGR flows.

The government is embarking upon a massive reform of the internal revenue system. What is actually needed is about N250 billion, but N100 billion in the first instance, and future borrowing (if needed) will be contingent upon internal revenue growth and debt sustainability analysis.

That’s the pathway to transformation and growth in the face of a literally empty treasury and Oil revenue down to zero with statutory allocation barely able to pay salaries. Attached is page 54 of Soludo's manifesto and his thoughts on funding options.

-- Mazi Ejimofor

Supported!

With all the loopholes and leakages responsible for the relatively low IGR being addressed, Anambra is well positioned to pay back any loans borrowed so long as said loans are used to stimulate production and economic activity in the state and not used on consumption! I like how revenue collection is now being standardized and brought in line with global best practice!

Hopefully, Abia state can learn a thing or two from what Anambra is doing and stop embarassing the entire Igbo race with their pathetic monthly IGR receipts!

PROUDIGBO:


Supported!

With all the loopholes and leakages responsible for the relatively low IGR being addressed, Anambra is well positioned to pay back any loans borrowed so long as said loans are used to stimulate production and economic activity in the state and not used on consumption! I like how revenue collection is now being standardized and brought in line with global best practice!

Hopefully, Abia state can learn a thing or two from what Anambra is doing and stop embarassing the entire Igbo race with their pathetic monthly IGR receipts!

I am guessing you didn't see Obaze's article on Obiano....lol.

Remember Obaze was Obiano's chief of staff. The man is as knowledgeable as Peter Obi....great portfolio. He was gonna replace Obi but didn't have a voter's card which disqualified him. This was why Obiano was called.

Omanambala:


I am guessing you didn't see Obaze's article on Obiano....lol.

Remember Obaze was Obiano's chief of staff. The man is as knowledgeable as Peter Obi....great portfolio. He was gonna replace Obi but didn't have a voter's card which disqualified him. This was why Obiano was called.

Just saw the bit you quoted before making my last post.

Anambra Engineer from Oraifite constructs a Rolls Royce Phantom vehicle from scratch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44JaDdA2Ivo

Omanambala:


I am guessing you didn't see Obaze's article on Obiano....lol.

Remember Obaze was Obiano's chief of staff. The man is as knowledgeable as Peter Obi....great portfolio. He was gonna replace Obi but didn't have a voter's card which disqualified him. This was why Obiano was called.

Obaze was the reason Obi was successful. He gave his administration direction not just making promises up and down. Every government needs an administrator as chief of staff, every chief executive needs a COO. Obiano put crooks around him who specialised in contract fraud. The typical Nigerian politician.


For Soludo jury is out but he is already making mistakes because he lacks a competent administrator in his cabinet who can organise things step by step for the administration. His team generally are inexperienced aside the commissioner for finance and commissioner for commerce and industry. The education lady was a mistake and should have been replaced. The works commissioner is making mistakes.

He should be very careful of going for a loan when his primary motivation is doing things in a hurry without the benefit of proper planning. Clearly he wants to settle the APGA vultures and get them out as well as show people that he is doing something. But the danger is we sink into a deeper hole.

Soludo is not a detailed thinker and he should look for an administrator fast and not rush things.

In terms of roads which is a 2-3 year venture Soludo needs to push everything through RCC whose roads last. They are already on ground in the state so moving machine of personnel is not an issue and they are experts in soil stabilisation and drainage. They can subcontract to Paul b and the rest but the standards must be there for state roads to last 15 years as elsewhere.

In the meantime, they need to do the simpler things to reduce destruction of roads.

1. Move large markets like Eke Awka away from the center of towns to the sides of expressways since heavy trailers destroy state roads. The weight of a truck carrying 500 bags of 50kg rice is 25 tonnes. Most state roads are not designed for the carrying capacity of these trucks or trailers carrying drinks.

2. Establish weighbridge near headbridge and at Amansea and tax all those trailers carrying goods with proceeds to go into a road fund for maintenance.

3. Ask FGN to remove checkpoints at Amawbia and mopol base and amansea. The weight of a long line of standing vehicles is breaking down the expressway and old road.

4. Require buses to park where there is reinforced concrete pavements with proper drainage.

These are engineering basics.

abuzz33:


Obaze was the reason Obi was successful. He gave his administration direction not just making promises up and down. Every government needs an administrator as chief of staff, every chief executive needs a COO. Obiano put crooks around him who specialised in contract fraud. The typical Nigerian politician.


For Soludo jury is out but he is already making mistakes because he lacks a competent administrator in his cabinet who can organise things step by step for the administration. His team generally are inexperienced aside the commissioner for finance and commissioner for commerce and industry. The education lady was a mistake and should have been replaced. The works commissioner is making mistakes.

He should be very careful of going for a loan when his primary motivation is doing things in a hurry without the benefit of proper planning. Clearly he wants to settle the APGA vultures and get them out as well as show people that he is doing something. But the danger is we sink into a deeper hole.

Soludo is not a detailed thinker and he should look for an administrator fast and not rush things.

You underestimate Soludo's intelligence. What makes you think Soludo who has succeeded everywhere would not succeed as a governor ? Relax.... follow my lead , bro and you will never get lost. Soludo will transform Anambra and you can take it to the bank.

Okenye adiro aka nka na egwu oma agba. This is a man who transformed Nigeria banking industry and saved our financial fumbles.

His first strike showed me he will survive....

What is the first thing you do before cooking? You clean your space/kitchen. Well , Soludo is cleaning Anambra and that's a strong indicator of a man who is organized!

Omanambala:


You underestimate Soludo's intelligence. What makes you think Soludo who has succeeded everywhere would not succeed as a governor ? Relax.... follow my lead , bro and you will never get lost. Soludo will transform Anambra and you can take it to the bank.

Okenye adiro aka nka na egwu oma agba. This is a man who transformed Nigeria banking industry and saved our financial fumbles.

His first strike showed me he will survive....

What is the first thing you do before cooking? You clean your space/kitchen. Well , Soludo is cleaning Anambra and that's a strong indicator of a man who is organized!

Governance requires ability to work across fields with detailed planning. Soludo is an economist and a theoretical one. Policy design is his forte. He needs an administrator to bring his grand visions of Taiwan Dubai to fruition else he will fail.

This is why Lawyers, doctors and engineers generally make good governors. Because they are very detail oriented. Fashola, Wike, Sullivan Chime, Umahi belong to these professions and you see the difference in their states. They can execute effectively.

One thing that has helped Soludo is his willingness to listen to advice and change course. He made mistakes with security but then changed course and the problem of unknown gunmen is now being fought successfully.