Pictures: Gov. Obi in Toronto admonishes Nigerians to be good ambassadors

Posted by admin Anambra, Governors, Headlines, NNP News, State News Tuesday, July 31st, 2012

Gov. Obi addressing a townhall meeting at the ASPA 2012 Convention

Gov. Obi at the high table with Dr. Fidelis Ezemenari, Chairman of the occassion to his right

Gov. Obi with Jag Farmaha, (left) President, Canreach Immigration Consultants, Inc., Mississauga, ON, a company that has assisted hundreds of Nigerians & Africans families to successfully settle in Canada

Jag Farmaha, President, Canreach Immigration Consultants, Inc. in a chat with Gov. Obi as Commisioner for Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Prof. Chinyere Okunna (behind Gov. Obi) looks on

Gov. Obi with some of the attendees

The beautifully dressed ladies at the convention

To the left in red hat, Chief Elias Abone (Igwe Akwudolueze III), ASPA member and a confidant

Attendees dispersing after Gov. Obi's town hall session

ASPA President, Chidi Asidianya, middle, with attendees including Jag Farmaha, President, Canreach Immigration Consultants, Inc. (Far left)

Filed by New Nigerian Politics (Toronto Bureau)

Gov. Obi addressing a townhall meeting at the ASPA 2012 Convention

Governor Peter Obi addressing members of the Anambra State Progressive Association (ASPA) at its annual convention in Toronto over the weekend, urged Nigerians to be good ambassadors in their adopted country, to be selfless and assist their fatherland at every opportunity. The two-term governor elated at the immense contributions of ASPA to the development of the state, averred, “I was compelled to come to Canada to attend your occasion because of the fine work ASPA is doing in Anambra. You have sent books and computers to needy schools in an effort to build capacity.”

The governor spoke extensively about the achievements of his administration in the health, education and trade sectors noting its ability to secure international donors’ assistance in the developmental effort to bring Anambra to national and international reckoning. He acknowledged the difficulties the state encountered when he assumed the helm of affairs over six years ago when several donors assisting the state financially pulled out due to the mismanagement of their funds by the previous administration. But with due diligence undertaken by his administration, the governor noted, most of the donors such as UNDP, UNICEF, etc, have since returned positing the state as one of their model states in financial prudence. “You will find Anambra in the top three performing states on our donors’ list,” the governor boasted.

On financial management, he explained why Anambra does not have a presidential lodge in Awka, the state capital, for visiting dignitaries unlike other neighboring states. Gov. Obi told the gathering at the Toronto Marriot Hotel Convention Centre how he volunteered his family home for visiting dignitaries from Abuja during Obasanjo’s visit to his state. “I asked them to inspect my home; they liked it so I gave them the keys. They stayed for one week,” said the Chief Executive. This act alone, he hurriedly pointed out, saved the state millions of naira in hotel bills for the distinguished visitors.

The Anambra governor seized the opportunity to respond to critics that allege he does not have projects of his own since taking office; that all he had done was to complete the unfinished projects started by previous administrations. To this, he responded almost gleefully, “Those that start new projects when there are unfinished ones want to steal money under the guise of new projects.” He questioned the wisdom in spending time and resources in starting new programs while there are still unfinished ones with government funds already invested.

Still on financial prudence, the governor told a keen audience of how he rebuffed friends, colleagues and business/political associates that wanted to spend millions of naira to celebrate his 50^th birthday in 2011. Instead, he persuaded them to donate the funds to schools to buy computers, science equipment, books and buses.

With one and half years left in office, the governor told the enthusiastic audience that he hopes his successor will be better than him and will improve on his gains. A deeply religious man from a strong Christian family, the governor admitted the grave temptation in managing huge sums of money, but seemingly adjudged himself to being up to the challenge. “I pray daily for God to grant me wisdom to do right for Anambra,” he said with a calculated measure of piety.

Responding to Gov. Obi’s admonition, the Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Fidelis Ezemenari, thanked the governor for his words of wisdom and judicious management of the state’s resources. He reminded his kinsmen of the vast improvement in the area of security witnessed on the watch of the current governor, a reference to the perilous security environment and chaotic leadership situation that preceded Obi’s arrival.

Gov. Obi at the high table with Dr. Fidelis Ezemenari, Chairman of the occassion to his right

Gov. Obi with Jag Farmaha, (right) President, Canreach Immigration Consultants, Inc., Mississauga, ON, a company that has assisted hundreds of Nigerian & African families to successfully settle in Canada

Jag Farmaha, President, Canreach Immigration Consultants, Inc. (left) in a chat with Gov. Obi as Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Prof. Chinyere Okunna (behind Gov. Obi) looks on