Obiano Begs Senator Chris Ngige, Comrade Tony Nwoye, And Dr Ifeanyi Ubah To Work With Him After Swearing In, So Abandone Tribunal

                    

              

It was a drama yesterday when many in the unprecedented mammoth crowd that gathered to honour the inauguration ceremony of Chief Willie Obiano wept the exit of Governor Peter Obi at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka.

Children, women and some men were seen crying as Obi leaves the stage, he wanted to go through a quiet route but thousands followed him shouting Okwute. He had no choice but wave the final bye not without asking them to support Obiano. 

Obiano arrived 12:48 pm and the wife Ebele came with the deputy Governor , Dr Nkem Okeke with wife Oby by 12 :55 pm. The crowd was tense but immediately the out gone Governor , Chief Peter Obi and wife Margaret entered the ceremony changed. It was electrifying as the people went frenzy shouting Okwute eeee  eeeee. He arrived 1:03 pm.

He stopped afar from the scene of celebration and started savouring the salute and encomiums poured on him by good people of Anambra state. There was no space at all and if you drop a pin it would hang up. Obi inspected the Guards of Honour and salutes before retiring to his seat and went round shaking and greeting most of the prominent citizens.

 

Archbishop Valerian Okeke prayed 1:30 pm praising Obi who he said served meritoriously and moving out glamorously.

Obi mounted the podium for the last time as the Governor of Anambra state and said many things but the one that got people knocked out was when he told Chief Willie Obiano as the Governor of Anambra state owes him or his wife even no member of his family anything but to serve Anambra people to the best of his ability. He even said he was sure Obiano will uphold the tenets of good governance and do the state proud.

Obi said Dr Chris Ngige did not hand him over as he came with his car and left with his car but he bought brand new bullet proof jeeps for Obiano to start off with. He appealed for prayers from Anambra people for Obiano to succeed even as he asked for love and correct him with love in times of obvious shortcomings.

‘’You don’t have any agreement with me or any member of my family; your agreement is with the people of Anambra state,’’ Obi told Obiano to the hearing of Anambra people.    

By 1:58 pm the deputy governor was sworn in while the Governor , Obiano was sworn in by 2:11 pm amidst jubilation. Deputy and his wife Ebele were radiating and waving Anambra people posing for shots before moving seat by seat greeting dignitaries that attended the occasion.

Then Obiano and wife with daughter and son were thanking the people of Anambra state for the opportunity given them they waved and went round greeting people and suddenly it went rowdy that a lot of activities were going on at the same time making it impossible to monitor whether the first family greeted properly the outgoing first family.

President GoodlucK Jonathan represented by Presidential was on stage speaking and people were exchanging banters with the outgoing Governor and hailing him. The out gone Governor was on his seat listening but many were coming to say final good bye as Governor and he stood receiving them including Prince Arthur Eze, Governor of South-East Governor’s forum and Governor of Abia state Theodore Orji, Priests and Bishops and well as Traditional rulers ; senators and Members of House of Representatives.

And thousands of others have gathered everywhere making it impossible for the President to be seen and he informed rightly that  Obi would be brought to the Federal Executive Council and he got a thunderous ovation but at that he has finished his message as he repeated it for emphasis.

At this confusion , probably to host the visiting wife of Governor of Cross River state Obioma Imoke and Delta state Uduaghan’s wife and Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu Obi’s wife quietly left but not without receiving cheers as she steps to leave in company of her guests or so I feel.

Chief Victor Umeh and wife were at a corner but he couldn’t bear it again that he is swearing in a brand new Governor and was sitting down , so he got up at the opportunity Obi came to him for greeting and started greeting everybody even fanned Obi as the new Okwute.

After that drama he came to the podium where the deputy and Governor would be sworn in and started receiving cheers from the crowd before standing to watch the proceedings. The Governor was to address Anambra people as the 5th Governor of the most difficult state  before confusion set in , it was changed to taking salute and inspecting Guard of Honour. But he later spoke first promising not to disappoint Anambra people.

‘’I extend an olive branch to my brothers , senator Chris Ngige , Ifeanyi Ubah , Tony Nwoye and other candidates who ran for election with me. We must not let the ideologies that polarize us deny our peoplethe full benefits of our talents and wisdom . I urge you to join hands with me in brotherhood and love to create a bold new world for our children’s children . We are only limited to the scope of our dreams , not the depth of our talent or breadth of our gifts. It is a new day in Anambra State!

Obiano assured that his administration will work with all those who partnered with Obi to make the state working including development partners in a very structured , honest and transparent way, adding that he is calling on everyone to rethink and re engage our collective heritage. He insisted that his four pillar of development would be the turning around of the state.

Then the sun became unbearable and many were dispatching as he speaks having stood for hours because the entire Alex Ekwueme was filled to the brim with thousands of people from all walks of life.

All kinds of hawkers were around and their wares finished or almost finished but it was shocking to see a uniformed man smoking marijuana in public in a police van with mark Anti crime patrol Ogbaru number 339. Many other odd things happened but it is another story for another day and the light went off with the attendant traffic for over four hours after the event in Awka.

The other side of the story 2

Anambra state went agog yesterday when the two-term governor of Anambra state, Chief Peter Obi handed over the mantle of leadership to his successor, Chief Willie Obiano. Governor Obiano and his Deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke took oath of office and allegiance at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka.

It was indeed, a historic event as people were filled to brim at the venue of the colourful ceremony which attracted dignitaries from across the country including Abia state governor, Chief Theodore Orji, members of the State and National assemblies, traditional rulers, traders, students, top government officials and frontline politicians like Chief Arthur Eze, Sir. Emeka Ofor,  among others.

The inauguration was sequel to the victory of All Progressive grand Alliance, APGA, in November 16, 2013 governorship election keenly contested by twenty-three political parties.

The Chief Judge of the state, Justice Peter Umeadi administered the oath on the new Governor and his Deputy.

However, this marked the first normal and proper transition of one administration to another since the creation of the state.

In his inaugural speech, Governor Obiano thanked the people of the state for their wise decision in voting him and his Deputy to sustain the principles of good governance, noting that the unfortunate past story of the state changed after eight years of APGA administration that made the state a reference point in the country and extolled the former governor, Chief Peter Obi for excellent job as a governor.

He assured that his administration would work with the people in well structured platform of honesty and transparent manner and extended hand of fellowship to all his political opponents during the governorship election to join hands with the administration to move the state forward.

According to him, “I extend an olive branch to my brothers, Senator Chris Ngige, Ifeanyi Ubah, Tony Nwoye and other candidates who ran for election with me. We must not let the ideologies that polarize us deny our people the full benefits of our talents and wisdom.

“I urge you to join hands with me in brotherhood and love to create a bold new world for our children and our children’s children.”

Nevertheless, the Governor disclosed that measures had been initiated to attract NdiAnambra in diaspora to identify with the state as well as extend part of their investment back home to be part of the state developmental initiative.

Governor Obiano said his administration would among other things tackle the challenge of poor power supply by siting Independent Power plants in Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi to drive the entrepreneurial skill of the people as well as strengthen security apparatus and network across the state to enhance conducive business environment.

More so, he stated that his administration would also launch the state into a new economic phase through merchandised agriculture and effective harnessing of the oil and Gas potential.

Earlier, the outgoing governor, Chief Obi expressed satisfaction that the state has finally recorded smooth transition of power, stressing that this was the first time Anambra state is going through this procedural transition.

Obi said the state was now stable and financially viable and urged the people to give the new administration all necessary co-operation and encouragement to deliver on its vision.

Chief Obi further enjoined Governor Obiano to remain focus and work for the future of the state.

The former Governor had on arrival inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by a detachment of the Nigerian Police band as well as take salute of the parade.