by Alexander o. Onukwue

The Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, did not hold back in ripping into APC Chairman Odigie Oyegun who asked that he start writing his handover notes as the Anambra election draw closer.

Making reference to the period in the third republic between 1992 and ’93 when Oyegun was the Governor of Edo State (under the SDP platform), Obiano noted that “apart from high level of thuggery, brigandage and insecurity, no one can recall any meaningful development recorded during Oyegun’s government in Edo state.”

Obiano also cited “very low level of governance” in the State during Oyegun’s time, comparing it to what he called the “pragmatic and result-oriented leadership style of the likes of Professor Ambrose Ali and Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, both of blessed memory.”

Then there was the jab about Oyegun being the governor “during whose tenure Edo state recorded the lowest score in WAEC.”

By way of comparison, Obiano’s tenure as Anambra State Governor has witnessed its share of tensions that can be relatable with “brigandage and insecurity” with the activities of separatists in the state, though the Government of the State distances itself from it. Reports in some outlets have it that Obiano has had to apologize to IPOB members for the supposed killings of its members in Onitsha in May 2016. The killings at Ozubulu occasioned by a drug war will also be recorded as having happened in Obiano’s term, giving the (lose) association that has been made between the ‘Bishop’ and the Governor.

As far as the level of governance, Obiano has done reasonably well to improve on the standards set in the state by previous administration of Mr Peter Obi, with awards like the Silverbird Man of the Year 2017 and The Sun Governor of the Year 2016 as testaments to his work in the state.

And as for WAEC rankings, Anambra state has traditionally performed among the best in the country on an annual basis. Anambra state has been 2nd for two years in a row, with Edo state (interestingly) occupying the 3rd spot during the same period.

Fair to say the Governor can fan himself.