Opinion
IT IS TIME TO KNOW MORE ABOUT PETER OBI THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF NDC
BY GREAT IMO JONATHAN
LET ME START BY SAYING THAT NONE OF THOSE WHO HAVE BECOME PRESIDENT OR GOVERNOR FROM 1999 TILL DATE WAS AS RICH AS PETER OBI BY 1999.
Here is a breakdown of 100 verifiable areas of Peter Obi’s achievements, split into private sector and governorship. I have grouped them into categories and cited sources.
1. Private Sector & Business Achievements Before Government
Banking & Finance
1. *Youngest Chairman of a Nigerian bank:* Became Chairman and highest shareholder of Fidelity Bank Plc at age 34 in 1994.
2. *Moved Fidelity from Tier-3 to Tier-2*: Led Fidelity Bank to Tier-2 status by 2000.
3. *Set blueprint for Fidelity’s IPO*: Laid groundwork for Fidelity Bank to go public in 2005.
4. *17 years of consistent dividends*: Fidelity paid dividends to shareholders for 17 consecutive years under his early leadership.
5. *No CBN bailout*: Fidelity never required a Central Bank bailout during economic recessions.
6. *Fidelity became Tier-1 bank*: Helped position Fidelity among Nigeria’s Tier-1 banks alongside First Bank, UBA, Zenith.
7. *Chairman, Guardian Express Mortgage Bank Ltd*.
8. *Chairman, Future Views Securities Ltd*.
9. *Chairman, Paymaster Nigeria Plc*.
10. *Director, Guardian Express Bank Plc*.
11. *Director, Chams Nigeria Plc*.
12. *Director, Emerging Capital Ltd*.
13. *Director, Card Centre Plc*.
14. *Chairman, Board of Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC]*.
*Trade & Manufacturing*
15. *CEO, Next Nigeria International Ltd* in the 1990s.
16. *Founder, Next Cash and Carry*: Built one of Nigeria’s largest indigenous retail malls.
17. *Expanded Next International to UK*: Opened branches in the UK by 1995.
18. *Next International UK revenue*: Retail business generating over £85m annually.
19. *Import franchise business*: Headed a market management company that imported Heinz Salad Cream, Ovaltine, South African Breweries into Nigeria.
20. *Chairman, Next International Nigeria Ltd*: Leading international manufacturer and marketer of leather products.
*Professional Memberships & Roles*
21. Member, Nigerian Economic Summit Group [NESG].
22. Member, Nigerian Chartered Institute of Bankers.
23. Member, British Institute of Directors.
24. Member, Commonwealth Business Council [CBC].
25. Member, West African Business Committee [WABC].
26. Member, British Nigerian Business Council [BNBC].
27. Member, Nigerian-South African Chamber of Commerce [NSACC].
2. Achievements as Governor of Anambra State [2006-2014]
A. Rule of Law, Law & Order, Discipline in Government
28. *Reduced cost of governance*: Cut ministries from 37 to 20 and merged parastatals to reduce duplication.
29. *Cut overhead costs*: Reduced official cars and banned sirens for officials except in emergencies.
30. *Direct engagement with projects*: Personally engaged with development partners from inception to delivery.
31. *Transparency with donor funds*: Met benchmarks for transparency, accountability, and faithful use of donor funds.
32. *Peer review participation*: Anambra was first state to undergo national peer review via State Peer Review Mechanism with DFID.
33. *Discipline in payments*: No teacher, civil servant, pensioner, or contractor owed gratuity, pension, salary, or certificate as of Dec 2013.
B. Education
34. *Returned 1040 primary schools* to original mission owners [Catholic/Anglican].
35. *N6 billion grant to missions* to maintain returned schools.
36. *Funded rehabilitation of schools* until they met standards.
37. *Improved education standards*: Became known for improving standards across the state.
38. *Vocational & technical education priority*: Established Anambra State Technical and Vocational Education Board [ASTVEB].
39. *Renovated technical colleges* and vocational training centers.
40. *Best Governor on Education award*: Awarded by National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria in 2014.
41. *Paid NECO exam fees* for 148 inmates across correctional centers.
42. *Donated to schools*: N10m to College of Health Technology Nnewi, N5m to Vocational Academy Ozubulu.
43. *Advocated education for inmates*.
44. *Kenneth Dike Library construction*.
45. *Developed Igbariam Campus* of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University with faculty buildings, roads, electrification.
C. Health
46. *Established ASHIS*: Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme for affordable healthcare.
47. *Free maternal & child healthcare* services.
48. *Constructed healthcare facilities* across the state.
49. *Accreditation of health institutions*: 12+ institutions accredited by 2014; none were accredited in 2006.
50. *Anambra State University Teaching Hospital*: Completed and upgraded from cottage hospital in Oct 2009.
51. *Golden Jubilee Award 2015*: For contribution to healthcare at St. Charles Borromeo Hospital.
52. *Odumegwu-Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Awka* development.
53. *Modern lab facilities, consulting clinics, cold rooms* added to teaching hospital.
54. *Partnership with missions* in healthcare delivery. 7f153da70ce9dcec
D. Roads, Bridges, Infrastructure
55. *Constructed first flyover* in Anambra State – Nkpor Flyover.
56. *Constructed/rehabilitated multiple roads and bridges* improving accessibility.
57. *Over 400 roads constructed* vs 91 by predecessor.
58. *Took over and completed Old Enugu Road* from FG.
59. *Pedestrian bridge at Uni-Zik junction*.
60. *Rebuilt bridge at Awka-Mpakwu Road*.
61. *Built 38km Agu-Oka, Enugu road*.
62. *Completed first phase of state secretariat complex*.
63. *Commenced second phase of secretariat*.
64. *Built first Secretariat Complex* to house scattered ministries.
65. *Commenced ‘Three Arms Zone’*: Government House, Legislative Building, Judiciary Building.
66. *Women’s Development Centre* construction.
67. *Skills Acquisition Centre* construction.
68. *Ekwueme Square* development.
E. Reforms, Planning, Ecology
69. *First poverty mapping in Nigeria* to guide poverty-alleviation.
70. *Aerial mapping of Awka*.
71. *Structure plans for Awka Capital Territory, Onitsha, Nnewi*.
72. *Attracted World Bank NEWMAP* for erosion and watershed management.
73. *Erosion control mechanisms* with Water Corporation.
74. *Hydrophone housing model*: First in modern Nigeria using 95% mud for affordability.
75. *Youth Empowerment and Creative Economy Development Initiative [YECEDI]*.
76. *Anambra State Creative Arts Council [ASCAC]*.
F. International Investment, Foreign Agencies Collaboration
77. *First sub-sovereign wealth savings* in Sub-Saharan Africa.
78. *Left $500m equivalent* in investments, local/foreign currency, and $156m dollar bonds.
79. *Anambra became debt-free*: No borrowing or bonds for projects.
80. *Least indebted state*: Rated by Nigerian Debt Management Office [DMO].
81. *Most financially stable state*: Rated by Nigerian Senate.
82. *Hosted ambassadors/high commissioners*: US, UK, Russia, EU, South Africa, Belgium, Israel, Netherlands, Canada.
83. *Ended pariah state status*: Anambra was blacklisted before his tenure.
84. *UNDP, UNICEF, World Bank, DFID, EU partnerships* started working in Anambra.
85. *Best state in development partnership*: Adjudged for commitment to reforms.
86. *Investment in Intafact Beverages/SABMiller*: N1.95bn investment now held as 407m shares in International Breweries.
87. *Equity partnership model*: Used savings to take 10-20% equity in investments like Chinese model.
88. *LG Electronics training center*: Largest in Africa, in partnership with state.
89. *Parental Drugs Factory [Juhel Pharmaceuticals]* commissioned.
90. *Anambra became oil producing state* during tenure.
G. Transparency, Accountability, Savings, Investments
91. *N48.6bn saved in local currency*.
92. *$156m saved in dollar bonds*.
93. *Funds earmarked for salaries*: 2-year salary cover for new civil servants.
94. *Funds for hotels, malls, roads*: Set aside for Agulu/Onitsha Hotels, Awka/Nnewi Malls, critical roads.
95. *Long-term investments to 2050*: Structured to grow to ∼$1bn by 2030 at 6% interest.
96. *1000 SMEs target*: Plan to use 50% of savings to fund 1000 SMEs statewide.
97. *No borrowing policy*: Achieved visible projects without loans or bonds.
98. *Public financial reports*: Accountant General’s reports published annually.
H. Salaries, Pension, Gratuity, Welfare
99. *Cleared gratuity arrears*: No gratuity owed at LG or civil service level by Dec 2013.
100. *Cleared pension and salary arrears*: Nobody owed as of Dec 2013.
PETER OBI GREW ANAMBRA GDP BY 40 PERCENT AND POVERTY UNDER HIM STARTED DECLINING FROM 53 PERCENT UNTIL IT WAS 14.7 PERCENT IN ANAMBRA STATE. THESE ARE RECORDS FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA NATIONAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS AND NOT INDIVIDUAL.
GO AND VERIFY
I. International Recognitions
101. *Best Governor on Prudent Management*: Nigerian Union of Journalists, 2013.
102. *Best Governor on Education*: National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, 2014.
103. *Best Governor MDG Implementation*: OSSAP-MDGs and UNDP.
104. *Silverbird Man of the Year*: 2011.
105. *UNDP recognition*: For MDG achievements in Anambra.
106. *Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Best Governor Award*: 2012.
107. *Presidential commissioning*: Projects commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010.
*Notes on sources*:
– EVEN NIGERIAN GOVERNORS FORUM SHARED THESE DATAS THEN. Most governorship data comes from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum peer REVIEW.
PETER OBI WAS SILENT ON MEDIA AS A GOVERNOR BUT WAS A GREAT ACHIEVER. ONLY A FOOL DOUBTS A PROOF.
Great Imo Jonathan