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Mr. Dede Uzor who is the Executive Director of the Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders Foundation, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate former Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano’s eight-year reign.
In a statement in Awka which sent to The Eastern Updates, Uzor said that Obiano must be made to account for ‘the wasted eight years’, he held sway as the governor.
He expressed disappointment that for eight years Obiano could not do anything in the state that would have a direct impact on the people, adding that he left the state in abject poverty.
He said, ‘Obiano’s legacies were glorified airports, stadiums, and all white elephant projects that don’t have direct bearing on the people of the state.
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‘Even local government chairmen, during his administration should be probed as most of them became so corrupt that they syphoned the allocations made for the development of their local governments.
‘Under Obiano, touts took over Anambra State; there was no single good road in the state, including his community, Aguleri.
‘Until his successor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo awarded Niger Street leading to Onitsha Main Market, Obiano did not consider its strategic economic importance, including all the bad roads in Fegge, Onitsha.’
Uzor, however, called on Soludo to avoid his predecessor’s pitfalls and should remain focused and render a monthly account of state revenue generation.
‘Soludo should hasten the ongoing road construction, especially the Niger Street to Main Market, Ziks Avenue, Port Harcourt Road, Mbonu Ojike street, Miss Elems, Creeks Road, Bida road Silas Works road all in Fegge and equally engage youth to reduce high crime rate in the state,’ Uzor added.
However, while reacting, Obiano’s former Deputy Press Secretary and a public communication expert, Emeka Ozumba, dismissed the claims by the group, insisting that his former boss served Anambra well and should be left alone to have his quiet life.
Ozumba said, ‘I will be more concerned to know whether their claims of ‘mismanagement’ is the fact that the former governor left some legacy projects that were hitherto not available in Anambra like the international cargo airport in Umueri, the International Convention Centre that can host International events and has revenue potential for the state.
“Or that he built oxygen centre which saved many lives when other states had none and able to supply oxygen through the period of COVID-19 season. Or is it the 20-million youth project that impacted on the youths across the LGAs that the former governor did and other numerous achievements which are there to speak for him?
‘If they are claiming that he ‘mismanaged’ Anambra, then they should come out with proofs. I know a great number of Anambra residents will be anxious to refute their claims. The group is just seeking for attention and with some tendencies and hidden agenda.
‘I will say Obiano has served his term and with all due respect, he left his mark, it is left for posterity to judge him. If anybody has any case against him, they should come with their concrete evidence and the former governor has the right under the law to defend himself.
‘Concerning his inability to conduct LG elections, I am aware there were certain things under the law which hindered the process of LG elections as of then and which the former governor abided to.
