By Vincent Ujumadu
AWKA—GOVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State says there is no going back on the implementation of the recently launched master plans for the three cities of Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha, pledging that if he remained Governor of the state till 2014, he would have saved the state, counterpart fund of $1million for the execution of the project.
The cost of the project is put at $100 million.
The plans were prepared by the United Nations Habitat based in Nairobi, Kenya and officials of the world body, and presented recently to the people. It is expected that the project would be completed by 2028, if there are no hitches in the course of its implementation.
The Governor, who addressed the Anambra state leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo at the Governor’s Lodge, Awka after a tour of projects executed by his administration, said that he has started assembling experts that would handle the project, adding that what was required was the cooperation of everybody to ensure the success of the project.
“In government, there are two options in doing things. These are doing things the right way and doing things the wrong way. And doing things the right way is always expensive, but better in the long run. We insist on doing things the right way,” Obi said.
He noted that if the previous administrations in the state had laid the foundation for the development of the state, some achievements would have been recorded, adding that it was only now that the real foundation is being laid in the state.
He urged the leadership of Ohaneze to organise the apex Igbo body properly with a view to appointing leaders that would advise and give directives to the Governors in the South East, insisting that Governors should be under the leadership of Ohaneze.
I am very sure governor Obi’s aide on information management and other related matters is always reading through this forum. I will like to bring his attention and that of other aides of the governor especially the commissioners for works, urban planning and environmental matters on one mistakes most of people at the government in Nigeria makes every now and then and next thing they will start blaming the previous government for failing to correct those mistakes while they themselves is following the same part and will soon be part of the previous administrations! NOTE PLEASE! this problem is not in anyway only peculiar with Anambra state alone! Is happening everywhere in Nigeria across different government both federal, states and local governments. Its baffles me that in this 21st century you will see government awarding a massive road construction without lighten on the original road design and planting of valuable trees. I keep asking myself which way are we going in Nigeria! Does it mean since there is no steady electricity in the country at the moment, that means there is no hope of improving it tomorrow or does it mean there are no alternative way we can light up the roads and streets in Nigerian even at the present state of low electricity supply in the country. I know very well there are numerous alternative ways we can light up the roads with solar powered street light which can sustain on its own! But the problem is that those at the government always ignore that or forget to include it on the original design. I wish to suggest that henceforth any road the state government is awarding they should as a matter of importance start including lighten and planting of valuable trees like MANGO, PEA and COCONUT trees on the original design of the road before awarding it. They also makes provision where telecommunication company’s will be laying there cables to avoid cutting up the roads and thereby might not be able to patch it back properly. Planting of trees will surely safe on our environments, but in Nigeria we don’t value all those things. Government should also immediately award contracts to fix lights on the already awarded roads without light on the original design of the road and also plant trees on them. People should always make a constructive criticism whenever they are opportune to do so! Though most Nigerians in government are too ignorant to welcome any critics of their government, but they will smartly take your suggested idea. It is highly embarrassing in this age you will drive through our roads in Nigeria without sign of lighten on the most of the roads!
Kudos to Peter Obi , but i was to asked him to restore peace and security of life and properties of mass .As the rate of kidnapping and arm robbery in Anambra States is becoming worrisome , As we in diaspora are Afraid of returning home , To avoid the embarasement , That is the only thing that i need from him .
Tochukwu
Madrid Spain
Ride on governor Obi ride on.Ndi Anambra are behind you.We have never been blessed with a Governor as God fearing,truthful,honset,prudent,hard working and resourceful as Peter Obi.It bothers me that despite all his giant strides and the huge developments he has brought to our State through his Anambra Integrated Development Strategy,some hawks and chronically corrupt politicians who did not imagine that an upright Governor will one day rise up in Anambra state and say no to the looting of the public treasury by the few ,are doing everything to give our Governor a bad name despite the good work he is doing.We have known their antics and as such,they will never succeed.Their only anger is that Peter Obi did not throw open the state treasury for them to loot.
Peter Obi is one of the best Governors in Nigeria.Let all Anambrarians join hands to make sure that this fine gentle man is returned to Awka government house next year to complete the good work he has started.
As of now Guv.Peter Obi is the best thing to happen to Anambra State,after Ngige,he should be commended,so that anyother incomming Guv.will start from where he stops,He has done well with our little federal allocation,He is allso prudent.we all knows what Anambra use to be from the military rule to Mbadinuju`s era
I want to advice my governor,gov.obi to continue executing the basic neccessities like;water,goodroad,light,shelter and more importantly.because we need security inorder to secure all these infrastructures.from okafor stephen.writes from lagos.
I want to ask governor peter obi the reason why he has not continued with the pace his predecessor (ngige) governed with?He is so slow in making decisions and He surrounded himself with non-performing commissioner and advisers.I believe that gov.obi used to travel to lagos state.Didn’t he see the massive transformation taking place in lagos state.Let HIM borrow at least a leaf from the lagos state security programme.This is because with rising wave of kidnapping and insecurity in the state,no investor will like to invest in ur state,only for HIM/HER to be kidnapped or killed.