I Recommend Anambra as a Model for Northern Nigeria – Labaran Maku

Former Minister of Information, Labran Maku bares his mind on the state of insecurity in Nigeria and what the governors must do to attract development to their respective domains.

Maku recommends the Obiano Formula to the governors of the Northern parts of Nigeria and other states that are facing security challenges.

Read all this in the excerpts of an interview he granted at the ceremony marking the 2015 Zik Prize for Leadership in Lagos at the weekend as presented By James Eze.

Excerpts -

“We know that Governor Obiano has been one of the most impactful governors in this dispensation.

"He is a very serious man and since his assumption of leadership in Anambra State, we have seen changes in the direction of governance, we have seen seriousness and focus in the development of infrastructure, we have seen prudence in the management of scarce resources of Anambra State to the extent that in spite of the current economic challenges across the nation he remains one of the very few governors that have been able to carry on the project of modernization of Anambra State, industrialization, without hampering the welfare of his workforce.

"Today Anambra remains very regular in the payment of salaries which cannot be taken for granted anymore in Nigeria if you consider the fact that 27 states have declared that they can no longer pay salaries. He has continued to pay salaries.

"And we are also aware that since assuming office, he has not taken a single kobo from the bank. Not a dime, in loan! This is really exemplary. It shows prudence, it shows discipline in the management of men and resources.

"But over and above that, Awka is wearing a new look. We are beginning to see flyovers that we used to see only in Lagos and Abuja and Akwa Ibom. It is now creeping into Anambra State.

"And Awka which was sleepy and provincial is now assuming the position of the commercial headquarters of not only Anambra State but the South East.

"We are very happy with the performance of Governor Obiano.

"But there is something that I want to mention. I am personally impressed by his programme on peace and security.

"We know that before this dispensation, Anambra used to be a place where people were afraid to visit.

"But presently I am happy to say that suddenly, Anambra State has become the center of peace and tranquility.

"Today, Onitsha that used to be very tough for visitors now has a 24 hour life. Kidnapping is gone. Robbery is gone.

"Peace has returned to the extent that Anambra is now the highest receiver of foreign direct investment in the south East and maybe one of the highest in Nigeria.

"So if he continues like this, and he maintains his programme on peace and security, infrastructure, focused governance, transformation of rural areas through focus on agriculture and his new programme of partnering with communities on development, setting up special funds and partnering with communities to identify projects that will impact on their lives, I believe that he is going to leave a testimony, not only for Anambra but for Nigeria.

"Presently, his programme on security is the best in the country. I have not seen any state that has transformed from such difficulties to such glory in terms of peace and without peace you can’t develop.

"And I recommend Anambra as a model for Northern Nigeria. Because you know I come from that part of the country and as a Minister of Information before now, I used to say that governors are the only people that can maintain peace and security in their states. When I was saying that, people thought it was politics.

"Today, the governor of Anambra State has shown that any governor that is serious about security can have it. Nigeria is a federation. States have the capacity to maintain their own security. You have the police available to you, you have the army, the Airforce, all the security apparatchik is available. But a governor must mix them and take personal leadership to ensure that all these agencies perform and give their states security.

"So, I am proud of Anambra State. And I am ashamed to say that in many parts of the states in the North today, we have insecurity and there is no development, because nobody is going to take money and invest in a state where people are running, where you have internally displaced people and they are running. Nobody is going to invest there.

"And so, they must come to Anambra State; each of the states in the north and other parts of the country that have security challenges, they need to come and study the Obiano formula; a leader that is serious and will not tolerate malfeasance - will not tolerate indiscipline and insecurity in his state because he knows that once that creeps in, you can say bye bye to development.

"So, I am very happy with governor Obiano.”

Cc. Lalasticlala.

Anambra is on track.. This is the result you get when you elect a technocrat.

Sincerely I feel he should organise seminars for some governors on how to govern effectively... He does not owe workers a dime and he has not collected loan from any bank.. He should mentor some of the governors including the governor of my state who is owing six months and has obtained huge loan from the bank... For the first time labaran maku made sense...

came to check names..



sawt east.

anambra.

they never disappoint.


good news be flying out thr like cho yun fat flying on bamboo tree. crouching tiger hidden dragon

The governor is a senior Auditor by profession,he has an excellent private sector experience,he has since applied it in public sector management and it has paid off.
Not only that he didnt collect the bailout(Greek gift)from FG,Anambra minimuim wage is above that of most state,Anambra state is labour friendly,Cities and sub-cities are emerging every day in Anambra,from previous rural Areas.
Labaran Maku may also need to add in his submission,that Anambra was able to achieve this because its populace are largerly industrious,ambitious,republicans,educated and informed,which keeps governors of the state on a hot seat and the urgent need to perform.
Thats why nigeria must go for true federalism(fiscal federalism),so that federating units will compete with each other and we shall all be better for it.

Anambra my state, Obiano my governor. Sooo proud. Pls don't b angry it's in our gene to b proud and we labour to justify it. That is why we're different.

Anambra at d moment is really setting d pace nt minding d harsh state of d economy.......obiano fire on with d good work nd dnt look back.think south east think anambra

The level of good news coming out of SE these days can give afonja heart attacks. Igbos are leaders and pacesetters...that's why these news are coming out of the region. Stop comparing yourselves with them...they are not your mate at all. Igbo's mates are Jews, Germans, Japanese as stated by American renowned philosopher and economist Dr. Sowell as the only 4 races gifted with ability to invent things without formal education or copyright.

God bless my homeland!

Biko they should take it easy showcasing the state before some kind afo ojö people will attempt to attack and destabilise the peace n development of the state both with their malicious press and evil herdsmen or even thugs in uniform!

Please those living in anambra r these changes palpable or is it just propaganda?
If u say the change is real....what aspects of life and how deep are these changes.
Do they impact positively the lives ofvtge people or r they just cosmectic?

kenny987:
God bless my homeland!

Biko they should take it easy showcasing the state before some kind afo ojö people will attempt to attack and destabilise the peace n development of the state both with their malicious press and evil herdsmen or even thugs in uniform!

Though I am a yoruba, but I wholy admit that igbo tribe is quite unigue and is a special breed in the whole of african continent.

How I which one can jettison and change her tribal affiliation, I wouldin't mind becoming one

Ganiyat72:
Though I am a yoruba, but I wholy admit that igbo tribe is quite unigue and is a special breed in the whole of african continent.

How I which one can jettison and change her tribal affiliation, I wouldin't mind becoming one

Stop lying n causing tribal war.

Afonxxja how far?

sorepco:
Please those living in anambra r these changes palpable or is it just propaganda?
If u say the change is real....what aspects of life and how deep are these changes.
Do they impact positively the lives ofvtge people or r they just cosmectic?

There is no El-dorado in Nigeria. Sadly one method of measuring some level of wellness in this sick country is prompt n steady payment of salaries. Anambra has kept the pace in the face of crippling dullness and mismanagement of funds by most other states which makes it impossible to pay as and when due.
I say sadly because salaries should be matter of fact and par for the course but it has become a major issue in Nigeria so yeah, that's one positively palpable occurrence in the state.

Secondly, it is true that the state is now mostly safe n peaceful compared to how crazy it was in the past when armed robbery n kidnapping was the order of the day so in that regard, that is a positive development compared to other states. That is if u discount acts of government aggression against citizens as was the case on 30th n 31st May this year.

Education tells its own story clearly. The state has not begun to reach its full potential but again, compared to other states, the difference is clear.

To my mind, the major issue would be infrastructure particularly for roads n erosion problems. The FG needs to step in n play its own role but that isn't quite happening. This is not to claim that all state or trunk B roads are in top condition but there's substantial progress. Again the state needs to develop coordinated intra state transport to ease n cushion d effects of expensive utilities like power n petrol which affect d cost of transportation.

Also note that Anambra is not particularly given to civil service cos our people naturally are engaged in various forms of business and entrepreneurial ventures so it's the more reason why public amenities need to be constructed or upgraded to aid ease of business and reasonable comfort.