THE ROBIN HOOD OF AWKA FORESTS  

Recently the Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria was quoted in the press as boasting of collecting bribes from the contractors he awards contracts to effect government projects in the state. He is quoted as saying that the contractors simply besiege him with offers of gratuities. He had no choice than to accept such offers. 

But as a practising Catholic: if my information is true , he is even a Knight of the Catholic Church, he turns the money into doing charitable things in the state. He boasts of buying vehicles and distributing same to his favourite charities. 

Perhaps he thinks that his personal wishes supersede the sovereign will of the citizens as expressed by the State House of Assembly. He was quoted as saying that the money belonged to the state anyway. Is he not aware that he cannot spend any kobo not appropriated by the State House of Assemly? No matter how charitable he may think his actions are they are illegal and impeachable offense. 

For sometime, I had been a silent admirer of this quiet pulic servant. This is a governor, who chose to be addressed simply as Mr. Peter Obi,shunning Nigerian perchant for titles. He asked that no communities should bestow him with chieftaincy titles as long as he remained governor. 

I was, therefore, flabbergasted beyond speech to read the piece about his acceptance of bribes or gratuities to do his private good. I have now waited for his assistants to deny this without any relief. I cannot believe that with all the assistants the state pays to help him that this information was allowed to remain in the public domain unrebutted. 

The governor is now complaining that contractors are not living up to the terms of the contract and is threatening to cancel such such contracts. What moral right can he now stand on to protest? Well, ofcourse, if the contracts are cancelled, they will be re-awarded and that would provide another opportunity for another gratuity. 

As a citizen of Anambra State, I have had cause to comment and bemoan what has become the fate of the state since the days of Zik, Dike, Chike Obi, Nwafor Orizu etc.I had thought that the state had bottomed out with the UBA-NGIGE saga, but I was apparently mistaken. 

Does the governor, the chief executive and chief security officer, of the state not know that accepting gratuities from contractors doing business with his government is a crime, which he swore to uphold and defend? Is he not aware that he has been breaching the most fundamental of his oath of office? Does he not have a Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, who is supposed to advise him? Is he aware that he has confessed to an impeachable offence? 

In any other polity, there would have been calls for his resignation or impeachment. But there has not been one single voice raised in the state against this confession. It is pertinent to note that the Governor's party has little or no representation in the State House of Assembly, an organ charged with the responsibility of impeaching him. The House has infact already 'impeached' him once, but for the intervention of the judiciary. Since his return, the House has been blackmailing him with a second go at impeachment.Yet, this is the governor who went to the press with admissions of collecting bribe! However, not a member of the State House of Assembly, Anambra press or a stake holder has caught on this show of shame! 

Again Anambrarians are due to go the polls in a year. Peter Obi is a candidate for re-election! Was his party aware of his press briefing before he gave it? Why has the party not corrected this treasonale confession? 

What is wrong with Anambra? We are always quick to blame marginalisation for our problems. Were it the Hausas and the Yorubas, who put these words in our governor's mouth? Which other governor in Nigeria has made such public announcement of abuse of office? Which reminds me. I was in Nigeria during the last census. MASSOB prevented the counting of citizens in practically every town. Their arguement was that the census was for the counting of Nigerians. Biafrans were not Nigerians! Well, census has come and gone and Iboland was the only area that almost decreased in poulation. When the census result is used in delineating constituences and allocating of amenities, we cry marginalisation. 

I have refrained from commenting on Nigerian affairs in the past four years. It was not because of the threats and family concerns: the comentaries simply did not seem to have had any salutory effects. But there is the old Ibo adgate that an elder does not remain silent while the goat gives birth in tethers. 

Prof. Chike I.D. Anamdi. MD

Owelle of Awka-Etiti

Robot  # 1 | 05.03.2009 22:56

THE ROBIN HOOD OF AWKA FORESTS Recently the Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria was quoted in the press as boasting of collecting bribes from the contractors he awards contracts to effect government projects in the state. He is quoted as saying that the contractors simply besiege him withoffers of gratuities. He had no choice than to accept such offers. But as a practising Catholic: if my information is true , he is even a Knight of the Catholic Church, he turns the money into doing charitable things in the state. He boasts of buying vehicles and distributing same tohisfavourite charities. Perhaps he thinks that his personal wishes supersede the sovereign will of the citizens as expressed by the State House of Assembly. He was quoted as saying that the money belonged to the state anyway. Is he not aware that he cannot spend any kobo not appropriate...Read the full article.

Kelechi  # 2 | 06.03.2009 10:44

Dear Anamdi, perhaps your concern and those of every Anambra person will be addressed on the strenght of your piece; but I doubt it. Nigeria and Nigerians exist in a special space on earth that is not touched by reasoning, probity or the so-called due process. Nigerians ignore serious issues in order to wish them to go away - and they do go away because Nigerians have the shortests memory and limitless patience - apparently. Odi egwu!

Law Mefor  # 3 | 06.03.2009 12:17

Does Obi know that taking or giving bribe is a criminal offence to land him jail ? Obi has let everybody around him down through his poor performance and arrogance– Anambrarians, Judiciary and indeed all Nigerians. Awka has remained a shame to Anambrarians for being the least developed state capital; Obi is so funny that in a makeshift house where he puts up in Awka, there is no road leading to it; I have been trying to find a sociopolitical name for for his manner of administration. Obi performed so badly for the single reason that he believes he is omniscient, whereas he has always been barely an average student, in class and power. But the polity will soon be rid of him; the forces are gathering including one or two of his performing commissioners who are bent on giving the run for his money. One particularly gives Obi goose pimples – Dr. Ifedi Okwenna, who resigned last July from the Obi government as commissioner for environment. Obi himself told the world in his monthly media briefing in August 2008 that Dr. Okwenna left for personal reasons. 3 weeks ago his government modified the position to : Dr.Okwenna left to pursue his political ambition. Last week, further modification came through the secretary to the government of Anambra State – ‘Dr. Okwenna was asked to resign’. Above is a sample of government without method and direction. It is sad that Anambra State that produced men like Zik, Ekwueme, Ojukwu, Chinua Achebe, Emeagwali, Chimamanda, Saint Cyprain Tansi, Cadinal Arinze, Chuba Okadigbo, Emeka Anyaoku, Soludo, Akunyili (the list is endless!), will always be saddled with less than mediocre leadership. That is why it is a source of worry that the frontrunners of aspirants to replace Obi are illiterate business billionaires, who in National Assembly as representatives of the people, never took the floor of both the senate and house of reps, they never uttered a word for or against anything. They never debated anything, only used their slots to further their businesses within and outside Nigeria. Why? They barely possess Class 5 certificates and that is a fact. One of them once printed a card and distributed and on it stated as his academic qualification – B.Sc. M.Sc. Manchester. When one considers the pains he went through to do a first and second degree and even the third such criminal claim becomes really painful. That card can still be found around in Abuja. But the fact remains: Class 5 certificate may not even be. Won’t such aspirants be worse than Obi who steals from the masses and gives to the churches without knowing it is a criminal offence? At Nsukka where he studied, he was known to be a fulltime businessman while in school, to explain his Third-Class Certificate. In government House he has remained a business man, to explain his third-class performance. His time is gone. Efforts should be geared towards finding a proper replacement for him – a leader that is well read, visionary, transformational, with servant leadership orientations, one who is capable of linking Anambra state back to Nigeria and the world. Enough of this dance of the absurd.

denker  # 4 | 06.03.2009 12:38

a leader that is well read, visionary, transformational, with servant leadership orientations, one who is capable of linking Anambra state back to Nigeria and the world. Enough of this dance of the absurd. :clap::clap::clap:

aguabata  # 5 | 06.03.2009 13:58

First of, Prof Amadi should learn the proper spelling of his racial group, it is IGBO!!!! Peter Obi is miles apart in integrity when compared to any other Governor that has ruled Anambra state, he may be an awful politician with silly ideas but please give him credit for all the projects he has done,you wrote an article entirely on an alleged speech reported by the Nigerian press, its either you are a joke or you dont know that the nigerian press is a joke. As someone on ground in Anambra state you should have told us the verifiable failures of Peter Obi as regards to infrastructures and his policy, not this cheap political posturing.

Luchi  # 6 | 06.03.2009 14:38

Prof, You mean you don't know that from Aso Rock to the ward level, bribe taking/lobbying is an accepted norm? Forget it, nobody is going to raise an eyebrow because virtually all the politicians in Naija are guilty of same offense.

Bill Carson  # 7 | 06.03.2009 18:07

On behalf of Awka Etiti people, I apologise for the unguarded Utterance of Mr. Anamdi masquerading as a Professor. His article did not have a single referenced evidence, but hearsay… It Is so sad how our so called academics have lost their value and purpose. Peter Obi Is the best thing to happen to Anambra State In a long time. All the Egos’ that needed constant massage are cooling off and the cold blooded murder of political rivals has all but disappeared. The Cabals, Owelle Anamdi (I find It very repulsive calling him Professor) works for should be brave enough and show their hand rather than use an Educated Illiterate Mr. Anamdi as their Spin Doctor. My humble advice to Peter Obi Is to remain a gentleman, It Is not a crime to be and act civilized In posture and pursuit of excellence. Peace!