Hon. Ignatius C. Okafor S/A to Governor Willie Obiano On Political Matters speaks about Obiano at 61: Commissioner in waiting

Office of the Governor,
Government House,
Awka.

8th August, 2016

Chief (Dr.) Willie Obiano (Akpokue Global),
Executive Governor,
Anambra  State.

Your Excellency,

HAPPY 61ST BIRTHDAYGOOD WILL MESSAGE
Please permit me to join the good people of Anambra State and Nigeria to thank God for granting you 61 years of fruitful and eventful existence. Your latent qualities has been brought to the global limelight by your pragmatic entrance into the governance of our dear State. I wish you many more years of success in all endeavours.
In just about half of your first tenure, you have proved yourself to be an experienced, veritable, firebrand politician and accomplished administrator; versatile and dynamic. A principled and dogged fighter; genuinely patriotic. A devoted, dedicated and tested social democrat. Prolific, resourceful, hardworking, ebullient and confident; A vigorous and affirmative leader – clear in discernment; sure in reasoning and firm in deciding; a front liner and pace setter. A compatriot and philanthropist of an outstanding order.
“Action” they say, “speaks louder than voice.” Your achievements so far in pursuance of your four cardinal development strategy are open for all to see. In security, Anambra is Second to none. Agriculture is being revolutionized. You have brought your power of creative ingenuity to bear on trade, commerce and industry by initiating and promoting export of our agricultural produce. Oil and gas is not left behind. The sporadic transformation of our State capital and major cities in Anambra remains “talk of the town.” People no longer pass the night inside their vehicles along Aroma, Kwartar and Amawbia junctions as a result of heavy traffic hold ups.
The masses call you “the working governor” because they can see things for themselves. The Civil Servants call you “the alert governor” because they receive their salaries ahead of time when their counterparts in many other states no longer receive salaries–Anambra’s meagre allocation from the Federation account notwithstanding. The intellectuals call you “the award winning governor” having won many awards including the famous Zik’s star prize on good governance. Politicians call you “the mover” because you have moved our great party APGA beyond southeast to win elections even at the Federal capital territory, Abuja. Igbos in diaspora call you “Akpokue Global” because you did not leave them behind. Under your eagle – eyed – watch, APGA is the most united, formidable political party in Nigeria today. Our national chairman, Chief Dr. Victor Ike Oye - a man filled with the spirit of  God and wisdom, very energetic and charismatic, is God – sent to commemorate your actions towards liftingour great party APGA to the highest standards  of our time. BRAVO! Your Excellency.
Leadership is an art. The yardstick for measuring the success of any leadership is the extent to which it is acceptable to the people. Wisdom, patience, understanding and sympathy with other people’s views, readiness to modify opinions in the light of new facts and new circumstances, willingness to forego personal interest for the wider interest of the citizenry are some of the qualities that mark a good leader. And these I found in you.
It is widely entrenched in the course of history that while some people are created to look after themselves and their immediate environment, others are born to serve and uplift the cause of mankind. Yet, there are people who are ever ready to sacrifice their lives to save their people from economic and socio – political bondages.
But side by side with these groups have also existed men and rarely women, who engraved their names in gold through selfless struggle and dedicated service to mankind. There were personalities, who, perhaps, pushed by destiny, had vision, articulated their people’s problems and figured out immutable solutions to these problems. A few were down right conservatives who made use of what they already knew to alleviate the status of their people; while others were daring in their search for new means and ideas of bettering their situation. But some too were congenital rebels or revolutionaries who broke the oppressive chains of man’s inhumanity to man through the introduction of ideas and solutions that were in line with the dynamics and nature of social development.
From different backgrounds they emerged. Although they differed in experience and ideas, their strength lay in their possession of imagination, boldness, energy, iron determination, and an appreciable degree of quality of mind and character. To their people, they were and have remained heroes because their utterances, ideas and actions were central to the time.
You have done well, your excellency and you will continue to do well. May God continue to lead, prosper and protect you so that  by the time you complete your EIGHT  (8) years mandate Anambra will be singing “Give us more Willie”
Thanks.

Yours –in – Service

Hon. Ignatius C. Okafor, AWO- AWKA NORTH
S/A to Governor Willie Obiano
On Political Matters
08026874835