Anambra World-Wide Association (ASA-World), reacts to the Governor of Anambra States contention with President General of Ohanaeze Ndiigbo, Chief Barrister Nnia Nwodo:
Anambra World-wide Association (ASA-World), is an organization of Ndi-Anambra in the Diaspora. Ohanaeze Ndiigbo is the only authentic umbrella organization of Ndi-Igbo, at home and abroad. This structure makes Ohanaeze Ndiigbo under the leadership of Chief Barrister Nnia Nwodo the only recognized mouth piece of Ndigbo in the seven Igbo speaking states of Nigeria. ASA-World collective agenda is in line with the Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo agenda under the leadership of President General ,Chief Barrister Nnia Nwodo.
We recognise that time and again one or so, Igbo speaking Governor(s) may hold a personal perspective in the Nigerian polity, and that is his or her prerogative, but, the general consensus of "Ohanaeze Ndiigbo" remains that Chief Nnia Nwodo, the current President General of Ohanaeze is the only authentic mouthpiece of Trustee di-Igbo. Therefore, this communiqué should serve as a clear notice to those who may choose to howl insults on our generally recognised authentic Igbo leader of "Ohanaeze Ndiigbo". When you insult Ohanaeze leader in this case, Chief Nnia Nwodo, you in effect insult Ndi-Igbo.
Therefore, ASA-World is hereby not only supporting President General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, the authentic and universally acclaimed leader's decision to endorse Atiku/Obi ticket with our own testimonial that is grounded on our experience working with Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of the great Anambra State of Nigeria.
Consequently, Anambra World-wide Association (ASA-World), irrefutably, writes this testimonial on our experience with His Excellency Governor Peter Obi, the former Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria during his 8 years tenure as the Executive Governor of the great State of Anambra., in the hope that this press release and testimonial provides categorical terms of reference on where Ndi-Anambra-Igbo Diasporas from across the globe stand in their collective wish for Mr Atiku Abubakar /Peter Obi prospects of using Nigeria’s Human and Material Capitals to move Nigeria forward to its rightful standing as the giant of Africa . While we may not be at liberty to directly endorse specific candidate as has been customary with us (ASA-World), we are in duty bound to write the narrative of our experience with His Excellency Governor Peter Obi, the former Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria as a "Testimonial", in the hope that our testimonial will provide terms of reference and the framework to the rest of Nigeria as they make their choices of who is better equipped to meet the needs of all Nigerians moving forward.
Nigerians have twice had the experience of our current President at the helm of affairs of our country from Military to civilian systems. But, in the absence of the indigenes of the great State of Anambra, no other State in Nigeria has a direct knowledge of the accomplishments of the former Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria. Therefore, as the indigenes of Anambra State of Nigeria that have had the privilege of working with His Excellency Governor Peter Obi, it is incumbent on us to write the narrative that tells the rest of Nigeria and of the world of our experience with His Excellency Governor Peter Obi from his work ethics, history of inclusiveness in socio-economic and fiscal policy initiatives.
On behalf of its world-wide Diaspora Associations across the globe, here are our (ASA-World’s) grounds for this press release and the collective testimonials on our experience with Governor Obi former Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria and why we align ourselves with Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo under the leadership of President General , Chief Barrister Nnia Nwodo in the hope that our narrative will provide the rest of Nigerians with terms of reference as they cast their votes for the next leaders of Nigeria, the giant of Africa:
Ø As a non-political, not for profit organization we work in concert with any legitimately elected government through free and fair election to enhance the lives of the under privileged, the under serviced and marginalised in the society.. His Excellency Governor Peter Obi recognised the value added of Diaspora filing service gaps and in engendering opportunities for growth and sustainable development . He created a “Diaspora Desk", that worked in concert with the Diaspora and insisted that the portfolio must demonstrate its valued added to the State before it was elevated to a “ministerial position”.
Ø Following his arrival at the scene, Anambra State rose from the "laughing stock of the nation to a true "light of the nation" which he later chronicled in his book titled, “Unlocking the Access to Potential –The face of Change”. We also acknowledge a demonstration of his commitment then to the United Nation’s Millennium Development Vision signed by 192 member states that gave birth to the then “Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS).
Ø Under his Governorship, Anambra State indigenes in the Diaspora were able to periodically conduct audits of his Stewardship routinely called "Project Inspection". The Diaspora Anambra Indigenes were privileged to inspect his completed and o on-going projects. This pioneer initiative allowed the Diaspora indigenes to observe up-close the true meaning of politics as “holding of public trust”. Yes! We (ASA-World) would conclude these inspections with objective and independent visual (usually pictures of our experience) reports published worldwide. Other forward thinking initiatives that we witnessed included:
a) First Governor to be conscripted into all the Presidents committees even when he is in a Minority and opposition party
b) The First Governor to hand schools back to the original owners and gave them over 6 billion Naira to help them restore education to its former glory. And on cue, Anambra State Schools took the first place in education by becoming first in WAEC results subsequently and never relented
c) The First Governor of a different political party from Federal government to govern a state for 8 years and maintained cordial relationship with Federal government
d) The first serving Governor to be brought into Presidential economic team and appointed as the "SPECIAL ADVISER" to the President from a different political party
e) The first Governor to partner with Donor agencies for the development of his state
f) The first Governor from South East then, to be honoured with a national award (in 2011)
g) The First Governor to serve a second Term both in the old and New Anambra State
h) The First Governor to reclaim his mandates through courts and the first Governor to get a "tenure interpretation" by Supreme court
i) The first Governor in the history of Anambra State to highlight the significance of the Diaspora by creating the Diaspora Desk in Anambra State government
j) The First Governor to pioneer a workshop of the Peer Review Mechanism in NIGERIA
k) First Governor to become and remained the Chairman of the South East Governors’ forum throughout his 2 tenures of 8 years, the position is rotational every year but he was judged and found fit to hold the portfolio for longer by his peers.
l) First Governor of minority party to become Vice Chairman of Nigerian Governor’s forum m) Few will disagree that Peter Obi was the first Governor who is not tribalistic ,ethnical or sectional in Governance
n) He is by all measure the first Governor to stand by the rule of law and respect it even when it did not favour him
o) The First Governor to receive Award as the best FISCAL MANAGER and the first Governor to accord traditional rulers their dues and the attention in recognition of Nigeria's complex political culture
In light of the roles His Excellency Governor Peter Obi played in stabilizing Anambra State of Nigeria from being the "laughing stock of the nation to a true "light of the nation,", He chronicled his efforts at seeing Anambra live up to its promise in his book titled, “Unlocking the Access to Potential –The face of Change”.
ASA-World prays God to give Nigeria the right leadership with genuine promise that will make Nigeria take its rightful place on the international stage as the true “Giant of Africa”. May the new leadership of Nigeria always remain cognizant of the need for global economic inter-connection, fiscal discipline, freedom from hunger, poverty and food shortages, security, enabling environment for education, and appreciation and preparedness for climate change with greater understanding of the complexity of Nigeria's geopolitical and socio-economic landscapes.
We pray and wish for the leadership of Nigeria that respects the Nigeria constitution and the rule of law, Human and Civil rights, federal character commission and a serious effort at restructuring and devolution of powers as honest ways of addressing equity and fairness in Nigeria.
Respectfully Submitted by,
Hon. Chudi Asidianya, BA, MA, LSC, IEO
ASA-World General Secretary
CC: Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze
ASA-World Chairman/ Onowu Abagana
CC: Christian Onuorah (Enyi Anam)
Vice Chair
CC: Prof. Francis Nwonwu (Udezuluigbo na Oba)
Board of Trustee
In solidarity with ASA-World’s member countries’ network: from Canada, United Kingdom, Anambra Leaders in the USA, Germany, China, Russia, Japan, China, ASA South Africa, India, Dubai, Ireland, Iceland, Pakistan, Valencia, Spain, Ireland, Finland, ETC.
