By UCHE Nworah PhD
This past week, the former Governor of Old Anambra state, Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, clocked 85 years. I was in secondary school at the College of Immaculate Conception (CIC) Enugu when Jim was governor. This was before the creation of states. Anambra state then included today’s Ebonyi state, Enugu state, and the new Anambra state. This means that Jim, as he is fondly called, had a larger territory to govern.
Jim governed for only 4 years, but the period was eventful. During this time, Commissioners had a lot of powers which they used to assist the Governor in delivering dividends of democracy to the people. Several road projects were executed by the Jim Nwobodo administration. Most importantly, iconic employment-generating projects were prioritized. I still remember Anambra Vegetable Oil (AVOP) at Nachi, Nike Lake Hotel in Enugu, the studios of Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) in Enugu (a model project till this day built by an Israeli firm), the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium in Enugu, and other projects.
It was nice seeing the hardworking Governor of Enugu state, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, and the immediate past Governor of Enugu state, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at Jim’s birthday event signifying mutual love and respect.
This sense of brotherhood and spirit of camaraderie is worth emulating by the present Governor of Anambra state, and the former Governors. Government is a continuum, you do your bit when elected and move on. There is no need to keep on bashing those who have governed before because it is divisive and alienates their followers.
I see Peter Obi as the foundation of all APGA’s political successes in Anambra state. He brought out Governor Willie Obiano from Anambra North and campaigned vigorously for him under the APGA umbrella. Obiano also did the same and brought out Soludo from Anambra South. He threw in the sink, as the saying goes, to ensure that Soludo won. This was against the strong challenge mounted by the APC during that election, which saw several members of the House of Assembly and also the Deputy Governor decamping to the APC shortly before that election. Before all these, there were several frivolous court cases instituted against APGA to frustrate the Soludo candidacy and eventual electoral victory. Some of us who served in the Obiano administration were never paid our severance allowance after 8 years of service, as stated in our employment letters. We were told that the government had expended a lot on executing the Soludo election and that he would pay us when he is elected. Three years later, we are still waiting. Some of those owed have died in penury. Some others are struggling with their families, praying that the state they served so diligently will honour its obligations to them.
By Uche Nworah, Ph.D
