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Groups differ on Obiano’s stewardship after seven years in office

By Osiberoha Osibe, Awka
30 August 2021   |   3:02 am
Opposing groups have assessed the seven years of the Willie Obiano administration as governor of Anambra State, jeering or cheering the All Progressives Grand Alliance

Willie Obiano. Photo: TWITTER/WILLIEMOBIANO

Anambra PDP targets grassroots to recapture power from APGA
• Imo chapter dissociates self from fake news on Uzodimma

Opposing groups have assessed the seven years of the Willie Obiano administration as governor of Anambra State, jeering or cheering the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)-led government.

A civil society activist and founding chairman of Odimma Anambra Foundation, Celestine Ugochukwu Anadi, said notwithstanding the International Cargo Airport built by the Obiano administration, and its potential economic lifeline, roads in Anambra are terrible.

Anadi recalled past years when the state boasted of a good road network. “Today, most roads in Anambra are either ridden with potholes or moribund,” he said. According to him, the spectre of road infrastructure “raises concern as to whether we are progressing indeed or retrogressing.”

He added: “Anambra has suddenly degenerated to the state of nature where life is short, nasty, and brutish. Upper Iweka, Nkpor and Obosi, and other parts of the state have become residents for criminals. Anyone who passes there at night risks being robbed, kidnapped, or murdered. This is not something to be proud of as the state celebrates its 30 years of existence.”

But Benjamin Ifeanyi Eweputa, the coordinator of PVC Ambassadors Support Group, a pressure group rooting for the emergence of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, as Obiano’s successor, contended that Anambra State at 30 is a rise “from zero to hero”.

He said: “Anambra at 30, under Governor Willie Obiano, took the state from the realm of businesspeople to academic excellence. Under Obiano, Anambra launched a brand new cargo airport: a milestone project. Under Obiano, major political stakeholders in Anambra have united like never before for the progress of the state.”

THE state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), meanwhile, has relocated its structures to the grassroots, to win the November 6, 2021 governorship election for its candidate, Valentine Ozigbo.

It cautioned its members and supporters against playing elitist and township politics ahead of the election. It also mandated them to return to wards and polling units to win the contest where it matters.

The charge formed the highpoint of the recent inauguration of 21 local government PDP campaign councils by the chairperson of the Anambra State PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Senator Uche Ekwunife.

The local campaign councils set the tone for the birth and inauguration of the 326 ward campaign councils.

Speaking at the inauguration, Ekwunife said: “We are not only united, we are also deeply rooted in the grassroots of our state. I am confident that we are all marching forward to victory. We can do it, and yes, we can.”

Also, the Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dissociated itself from news alleging that Governor Hope Uzodimma approved inter-tribal marriage between Fulani and Igbo.

In a statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Ogubundu Nwadike, yesterday, the party said: “The PDP in Imo State, hereby, vehemently dissociates itself, its leaders, members and media operatives from the controversial newspaper banner headline, ‘Shocking: Uzodimma Declares Free Marriage For Fulani Settlers And Imo Ladies”, as was purportedly published by ThisDay newspaper on Friday, August 27, 2021.”

The newspaper has since disclaimed the report as fake and not emanating from its stable.

It added: “Our party feels strongly libelled, maligned and defamed by statements and insinuations from certain quarters that the bad press was the handiwork of the PDP in Imo State. We are indeed strongly considering suing persons that may state that PDP is behind the malicious propaganda and blackmail stunt against the person of Governor Hope Uzodimma and his regime.”

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