AWKA—Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, yesterday, explained why he did not celebrate his 50th birthday.
Obi, who spoke with newsmen shortly after the exco meeting,  said since most of his commissioners knew his views about unguarded celebration, the issue was not given any attention at the meeting.

He said: “The business of governing a state is a serious one to start discussing birthday celebration when a serious state business of how to provide dividends of democracy to over  five million Anambrarians are discussed.”

Rather than celebrate, Obi said he could attend lectures where issues of governance and state’s welfare will be discussed, but not where people will eat and drink.

He said: “everybody knows my position on celebrations, let alone now when the mood of the country is that of despondency due to unemployment, lack of infrastructure, threats of strike, among others.  We do not need to celebrate because that will be insensitivity to the plight of our people.”

Rather, what the mood of the time calls for those in authority to think of how to tackle the issue of minimum wage and reduce the tension in the land.  It is about time we told ourselves the truth.

Pressed on to reveal any significant thing he did to mark the birthday, he said, “if you insist, I reached out to most clergy men in the country with request for more prayers for peace and progress in our country and for God to touch the hearts of our leaders, including myself, to take decisions that will benefit the greater number of the people.”

Governor Obi said that his birthday gift to the people of Anambra was in form of promise to them that he would continue to take their welfare as priority.  He added: “I assure you that with the commissioning of Udoka Water Scheme, the other 17 water schemes in different towns will be commissioned by December. I assure you that we will build more roads.  We have attracted the second biggest brewery in the world to Anambra, we shall attract more of such companies.  I assure you that we shall continue to improve on all sectors.  This is my birthday gift.”