After Exit, Obi Strives Ahead Amid Controversy By Charles Okeke

                      

Months after he left office as governor of Anambra State, after eight years, Mr. Peter Obi has notched up his drive for greatness amidst controversy trailing his actions in the recent months.

His tenure as governor began in 2006 when he was sworn in, to March 17, 2014 when he left office. It was tumultuous as he survived an impeachment and bounced back into strong reckoning after months of serious litigation and strenuous court actions that culminated in a tenure interpretation suit, which gave him eight years of reign, after the Supreme Court had delivered judgement in his favour.

Obi’s tenure as governor was eventful as he brought a new simplistic and spartan approach to governance, while recording lots of achievements on the basis of which he was awarded various honours and titles, including the title of “Most Fiscal Friendly Governor” and “Okwute Ndi Igbo” by key groups like the Anambra Traditional Rulers’ Council.

It is remarkable to note that for the eight years he was in power, Obi lived a simple and spartan life, shunning social events and parties. He worked for almost 24 hours in a day, every week and for each of the calendar months throughout his entire tenure.

Obi who refused to take any chieftaincy title for the eight years he was governor, kept himself busy attending to official duties and functions, both in Anambra and Abuja at the instance of President Goodluck Jonathan, who appointed him as an honorary economic adviser, while at the same time grappling with the intricacies of the politics of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

However, almost two days to the swearing-in of his successor, Governor Willie Obiano, on March 15, the Anambra Traditional Rulers Council, in appreciation of his achievements, had at the elaborate ceremony held at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, the state capital, crowned him with the first-class chieftaincy title of ‘Okwute Ndi Igbo’. The traditional ruler of Onitsha, Obi Alfred Achebe, performed the traditional rites of coronation, while Igwe Kenneth Orizu of Nnewi decorated him with the insignia of office, including the ‘Ofor Igbo’. During the crowning ritual proper, Igwe Achebe poured libations and offered traditional prayers, while imploring Obi to go forward and rule Nigeria.

By the time the ceremony ended and Obi stepped out as governor, it was clear to the discerning minds that he was entering a new phase in his life, when he is expected to jettison his spartan and dry lifestyle and embrace public outings and social functions, in readiness for his expected bigger role in national politics.

The new trend and reality is that today, the former governor has moved on in all ramifications. Although, he has remained his true self, he is now attending social functions and making public outings, associating with key individuals and groups, while at the same time shunning a ministerial position and resigning from the influential posts of leader and Chairman of Board of Trustees of APGA, all of which are developments that have attracted controversy in recent times.

His rising social profile and the attending controversy:

Obi’s social profile has continued to rise since he left office, more so, when he now attends social functions, including weddings and interacting with new friends, to the extent that during his 53rd birthday celebration, he was honoured by friends and well wishers, like the Fidelity Bank Plc which gave him birthday gift of N5 million which he later donated to Holy Name Secondary School, Umuchu, a mission-owned school, as part of his charity work.

Speaking while donating the money to the owner of the school, Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, the ex-governor said part of his mission since leaving office was to solicit funds from organisations and his friends to assist mission-owned schools and the poor.

He also attended the recently concluded General Conference of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, held in Owerri, Imo State, where he felicitated with lawyers.

He was very prominent at the just held pro-Jonathan rally organised in Awka by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN. It would be recalled that he had at the rally called on Ndi Igbo to continue to support Jonathan as he moves to contest for second tenure.

Recently, the former governor attended the 2014 World Igbo Congress in Houston, Texas, where, again, he still mobilised support for Jonathan’s re-election; at the same time, he was recognised and presented with an award for his distinguished performance as governor.

Speaking at the event, Obi said that for Igbo to get their due in Nigeria,t hey should always look for what would benefit the people and not for selfish reason. He also attended the burial of the late Prof. Dora Akunyili where he interacted with his peers of which include Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State. In fact, his major outing and action that have attracted controversy were his TAN rally attendance and resignation from the posts of leader and BOT Chairman of APGA.

Ever since he attended the TAN rally and resigned from the key APGA posts, Obi has been the subject of criticisms by both Chief Victor Umeh and his group, and the Spokesman of All Progressives Congress, Anambra State chapter, Mr Okelo Madukife, who in his reaction said that the resignation of Obi as leader of APGA is a natural follow-up to what he described as “his collaborative movement of four legislators from APGA to PDP”.

Umeh had alleged that Obi was the coordinator of TAN, a claim that he immediately dismissed through his media aide, Val Obienyem, who issued a statement on the controversy arising from his presence at a pro-Jonathan rally.

According to Obienyem, “In supporting Jonathan, Obi is not after personal gain, but is concerned with electing somebody who will continue and complete many of the ongoing projects in the South-East, including the roads, the international terminal at Akanu Ibiam Airport, the 2nd Niger Bridge,t he many erosion sites”. He maintained that Obi remained the face of APGA in Nigeria today.

The former governor who was nominated for the BOT post in January 2014 recently resigned citing family and personal reasons. And defending him from the spate of attacks directed at his person by Umeh and other antagonists, his media aide contended that “people have found it convenient to blame Obi for the woes of APGA for the reason that he had failed to intervene on matters affecting the party, not knowing that without ratification of his BOT nomination, he had no platform to intervene.”

The former governor was also accused of scheming to defect to PDP and displace the incumbent and become the Secretary to the Federal Government, an allegation that has also attracted controversy and direct reaction from the exgovernor.

Speaking in Houston, he had denied the allegation to replace Senator Anyim Pius Anyim as SGF, describing it as very false and wicked. At the World Igbo Congress, he said he was not desperate for any appointment.

Earlier, Obi who is insisting that he remains a member of APGA, was also accused of instigating the defection of APGA members of House of Representatives to PDP, an allegation he has since dismissed as baseless and borne out of mischief from detractors.

In a statement issued on his behalf by Obienyem, he stated that he remained the most faithful party man, and that he would continue to make legendary sacrifices for the growth of APGA, notwithstanding the wishes of those that saw APGA as an instrument of merchandise.