By Denrele Animashaun

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it–always.” — Mahatma Gandhi

The outgoing governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, we were informed had left a hefty 75 billion Naira in the state coffers. He made the grand announcement at the Women Development Centre in Awka.

He was clinical when he announced that said money included N25 billion investments by the state. He went further to break down the state expenditure and savings.  Well, I say this a turn up for the books. And this happened in Nigeria, it is most needed and how I wish there are many Obis in Nigeria. Let the truth be known, I cannot tell one state budget from the next especially, a Nigerian one! So I  cannot vouch for the details but I am reliably told by those from the area that Obi  did well and yes, he did spend a lot  of  money  on  the  state and that it shows.

I know it is  not  his personal money, but  we  know that most of these dark  lords can’t  tell  the difference!

I was so piqued that in Nigeria a public official can stand up and say, “I have left 75 billion Naira in the coffers”. I had to find out  about  this man and although I  am not savvy in the art  of  accounting, nevertheless, it is impressive and unheard of. Well, in Nigeria it is uncommon.

It is a shame we are not in the habit of celebrating success or emulate good practice.  On the contrary, we rather pour contempt and scorn on people who try to walk on the straight and narrow. It seems the dark lords are out to discredit the former governor’s achievement that, the said money is actually not in the coffers. But then you would say that if you want to misappropriate the money, won’t you? I mean, it happened after Obasanjo’s administration and they are still looking for it!

For those who are greedy and covetous this, I suppose is bad news. These shady characters are more concerned with pillaging the coffer and are hell bent to incapacitate progress, stability and sanity.

These greedy, shady dark lords peddle their brand of exploitation and extortion, even in face of hard evidence.

These people have only one agenda: to come in like locusts; leave nothing in their wake; leave nothing where there was something. These   politico-sociopaths do think it is their given right to come in to power and do whatever they jolly well please regardless, of what the people think.

They reckoned that they have paid their dues. We do have a warped, overblown sense of self. It   is very uncomfortable that there have been talks bandied about of Muslim/Muslim or Christian/ Christian ticket or Christian/.Muslim ticket or North/South ticket combos. It seems that these avaricious sociopaths have lost the plot.  They seem to take it for granted the people will shoe them in as they play on the socio-politico, religious and tribal divide.

The  salient  point here is: we should  demand better from our elected officers  and  we should  demand that, like Governor Obi or  Arebgesola, that  governors should  put  the interest of  their  people  at  the  centre of their tenure. They should deliver quality services, raise the quality of  life  of  their  people and  be  transparent  and  accountable in  their official  dealings.

But I digress, so Obi in his speech seized the opportunity to sprinkle the occasion with his administration’s stellar performance.  Like a real politician, who is better placed to present his report card than in full view of   who is who in Nigerian industries? What a masterstroke to the chagrin of his oppositions.

He surgically broke down the savings and he predicted that by March of 2014, he estimated that the state’s expected balance would be N11.5 investment of (US$155m) N26 billion. Obi has stated that one of his greatest achievements as a governor of the state was bringing sanity to the state.

Emphasizing the achievements in the education sector, he said that the state witnessed about 60-65% success in the WAEC examination compared to where it was before.

He disclosed that ever since the state has been created, it had never been among the best, but by virtue of his commitment which was not about having 100% but leading in the focus was turning the state into a demand driven economy and he delivered. This man did his homework and he definitely had very proficient people round him. He was gracious in applauding the people of his state for their support and helping him achieve the ground-breaking record.

In terms of infrastructure, Mr Obi said that his state was the first to do poverty mapping and pay good attention to access roads. Very  impressive  that  a road that used to take about four hours now takes  15 minutes in Anambra State, noting that his state had done over 800km of roads! Obi has stated that one of his greatest achievements as a governor of the state was “bringing sanity to the state”. That is an understatement.

On education, there have been an increased by 60-65% success rate in WAEC examination, 22,000 laptops for schools in Anambra State. The state  under his  administration has over  700 school  buses, over 500 patrol vehicles for security agencies in the State; the over 250 patrol vehicles for  community security; his  administration handed   back missionary schools with  N6 Billion for  refurbishment ,  built the first Teaching  Hospital in the State; refurbished  missionary hospitals in the State; the provision of laboratories, sick bays, libraries, generators and  sporting equipment. Peter Obi gave N27, 000,000,000.00 (Twenty-Seven billion Naira) as the worth of local investment of Anambra State under him and this is verifiable.  This is also not surprising, since he signed a law that made monthly saving mandatory in Anambra State.  I mean this man is so good he left no liabilities in contracts as he had paid all contractors for certificates generated at the time he left office.

He disclosed that ever since the state has been created, it had never been among the best, but by virtue of his commitment which was not about having 100% but leading in the right direction his state emerged as the best. I  do  not  doubt  the conviction  of the man and he  definitely  put  the  money where his  mouth is.

His successor, Willie Maduabuchi Obiano is up to the task after all. He holds a B.Sc. in Accounting and an MBA in Marketing. He cannot let his state down and of himself down.  Obi  has  left a  legacy that  many  will  talk about  for many  years to  come . Will his successor follow suit? That is, left to be seen.