Between VP Osinbajo and Gov Obiano

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has been in politics for a very short period, but he is fast cutting the reputation of a statesman. This is the general feeling in Anambra State. One of the most important developments at the National Economic Council meeting at which he presided was the Federal Government’s agreement to immediately pay state governments sums for federal roads rebuilt in various parts of the country by state governments. Some N350 billion is reportedly owed state governments, with Anambra accounting for the highest amount of N25bn. The people of Anambra State are understandably delighted at the Federal Government’s decision, which Governor Willie Obiano has been pressing for with so much diplomacy, energy and commitment.

On June 3, 2015, less than a week after Osinbajo, a law professor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was sworn in as Nigeria’s vice president, he was in Onitsha to commiserate with the people over the tanker explosion in the foremost commercial city which killed some 70 people. He was reportedly touched by Governor Obiano’s swift response to the tragedy and the personal anguish he displayed. The vice president went to not only the scene of the accident, but also Toronto Hospital, Onitsha, where he spoke to each of the wounded. Osinbajo stated that he was not in Anambra State for himself alone but also on behalf of the president who was travelling to Niger Republic and Mali in search of a comprehensive solution to the Boko Haram menace.

The words of the vice president still reverberate. “Every Nigerian citizen matters to the Federal Government, no matter his status or the place he resides. The president asked me to come and commiserate first with Governor Willie Obiano and the people of Anambra State. He was so concerned that he felt it was not enough to issue a condolence message, and so asked me to come and commiserate with the people. I have been round to see the heroic action of the hospital staff and those involved in the emergency,” he had said.

It is important to recount all this because President Buhari and his running mate as well as the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not do well in Anambra State in the last general elections, as in the whole of the Southeast and South-South.

Osinbajo’s obvious favourable disposition to the Southeast, especially Anambra State, did not come to those who knew him as a surprise. Though he and I did not have much contact between 1975 and 1979 when he and my husband were classmates at the University of Lagos and later at the Nigerian Law School on Victoria Island in Lagos, I have over the years heard enough about him to form an informed opinion about him. My husband, Jude Ejiamike, is, no doubt, the principal source of the information.

My husband has always been impressed by not just his intelligence, but his liberal, accommodating spirit. It is no wonder that Osinbajo convinced President Buhari to nominate a gifted but largely unknown person from Abia State to be a minister. Okechukwu Enelamah is a trained medical doctor from Umuahia who went to Harvard Business School and excelled. He later qualified as a chartered accountant. He has been managing Capital Alliance, Nigeria’s foremost financial services company, which has on its board the likes of Dick Kramer, the American-born financial guru based in Lagos since the 1970s, and Pascal Dozie, the founding executive chairman of Diamond Bank who is now the chairman of MTN Nigeria. VP Osinbajo’s choice of Enelamah is reminiscent, in a way, of Nnamdi Azikiwe’s choice of Michael Okpara, first, as minister of agriculture in the Eastern Nigeria in the 1950s, and, second, as his successor as premier of the region. Okpara, who incidentally hailed from the same kindred as Enelamah, was not one of the famous politicians like K. O. Mbadiwe. But the Great Zik of Africa, a far-sighted leader, had discovered his amazing leadership attributes, and chose him over and above prominent politicians who were even his personal friends. Okpara’s record in office remains monumental. If Enelamah becomes another Okpara in public office, the Southeast will be grateful to President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo for giving the multi-talented technocrat the opportunity to prove himself and bring glory to both the Southeast and the whole nation.

By agreeing to refund Anambra State a whopping N25bn which the Federal Government owes it, VP Osinbajo demonstrated eloquently that this administration is for all Nigerians. Gov Obiano, too, deserves commendation for his diplomatic skills and tenacity of purpose. He knows what is good for our dear state and goes all out for it.

Once the Anambra State funds are released, the state government will have more resources to accelerate the state’s development. Willie is already doing a brilliant job. Monthly revenues from the federation account for the state are modest, yet salaries and allowances are not just paid promptly, they were recently reviewed upwards by 16 percent whereas many state governments, including oil-rich ones, depend on bailouts from the Federal Government to pay salaries. Anambra State was able to increase workers’ salaries because within one and a half years of assumption of leadership, Gov Obiano increased internally generated revenue (IGR) from N500m to N1.3bn monthly. Our people are confident that IGR will hit the target of N3bn monthly sooner than later.

Nigeria needs more leaders like Vice President Osinbajo and Gov Obiano.

Felicia Ejiamike