The cleric spoke in Abuja during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), represented by Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno State, with the ProFuturo Foundation, an educational training centre which aims to improve the lives of children across the world.

Most Rev. Ndagoso advised those that govern not to dwell on the intentions that led the military to take over schools, but to seek solutions to the problems created by that take-over by seeking what should be done.

Referring to the Peter Obi era, he said that by Obi’s return of schools to their owners when he was the Governor and all the support he offered them changed the face of education in Anambra State. The Archbishop urged not just the Governors of the North, but all State Governors to emulate Peter Obi’s template.

Speaking at the event, Governor Shettima described the partnership with ProFuturo as a welcome development and a right step in the right direction to change the society for the better. He described education as “absolutely fundamental to repositioning the northern part of Nigeria.”

The Governor thanked the foundation for its tenacity, ambition and relentless effort towards seeing that its dream of ensuring the education of children comes true.

He also commended the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, for anchoring the programme, which he described as a welcome development that would ensure communal harmony and co-existence in the 19 northern states.

In his remarks, Most Rev. Kukah called for concerted efforts to improve the lives of northern youths, saying: “It doesn’t matter whether you are a Muslim or Christian, educated or uneducated; the whole world does not treat us in isolation.”

Bishop Kukah disclosed that when the ProFuturo met with the Pope on the need for charity works across the world, “the Holy Father (Pope) said to him, ‘my concern is the children on the street’.” Kukah appealed to the Governors to ensure that the project intended to provide education to northern children becomes successful.

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Obi was speaking at the ongoing 28th CIWA Theology Week organised by the Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt.

Speaking on the theme of the event entitled “Theology, Catechesis and the New Media in Africa Today”, Obi called on the Church to become more alive to her responsibilities as the conscience of the nation.

This, he said, the Church should do by being in the forefront of speaking out through the instrumentality of the New Media in condemnation of the ills of the society and those that perpetuate them. Obi frowned at “the practice of allowing those that obviously stole from the society from taking everybody in vain through thanksgiving and other unnecessary celebrations.”

The former governor noted that the media has always played an important role in civilisation and the evangelisation of peoples across the world. He said that the role has not changed but is only adapted according to developments in communications that is now driven by advancement in information and communication technology (ICT).

Obi said that by its very nature, the New Media has made the world a global village, adding that the responsibility of those using this new means of mass communication is to make sure that it is exploited towards achieving what would be of benefit to humanity.

In his own paper, the Catholic Archbishop of Benin, Most Rev. Augustine Akabueze, said that the Church was always abreast with developments on communications and had been at the forefront of leading the faithful through the right paths such as through Papal pronouncements, Encyclicals and synodal releases.

Many personalities, including four bishops, monsignors, priests, and academics such as Prof. Pat Utomi, among many other lay faithful, attended the opening ceremony at the premises of the Catholic Institute of West Africa.

The coordinator of the Theology Week, Rev. Fr. Dr. Cosmas Ebebe, thanked all those that honoured the invitation. He said the students collectively yearned to listen to Mr. Peter Obi and were glad that he did not disappoint them.

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Obi, while fielding questions from newsmen in Enugu on Thursday, emphasised that the use of force is not the solution to the Biafra agitation as such agitations are best resolved through dialogue.

“I wish to appeal to the Federal Government to change its hardline posture on this issue and yield to the persistent clamour for the release of Nnamdi Kanu and other Biafra activists so as to douse the tension in the country, especially in the South-East and South-South geo-political zones.

“The Federal Government should engage them in dialogue. Every agitation in the world is resolved through dialogue and not by means of force,” Obi said.

The former governor recalled that he was among the first to advocate a political solution to the renewed Biafra agitation and expressed disappointment that the advice was yet to be heeded.

“This has been my consistent position, and I remember making the same point when I spoke at an event organised in Enugu in February 2016 by the Igbo Youth Movement,” he said.

He noted that while the Federal Government may have reservations about the Biafra agitation, it should realise and acknowledge that the agitators, like other citizens, have their fundamental rights of freedom of expression and assembly guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.

“To the best of my knowledge, the agitation for Biafra is not violent and does not violate either the Nigerian Constitution or international laws. I, therefore, condemn the use of force against the agitators,” he said.

Obi noted that Nnamdi Kanu and others have been granted bails in the past by courts of competent jurisdiction. He said it was a matter of regret that the Federal Government failed to use those judicial windows to free the detainees.

“The fact that they had been granted bails that were not obeyed makes it even more pertinent to set them free now. We are in a democratic regime and it is important that the rule of law should be obeyed no matter whose case is involved,” he said.

The former governor advocated the restructuring of Nigeria, saying that it remains the only panacea to the various agitations and deep-seated anger that has consistently stoked tension and prevented Nigeria from moving forward.

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“This development will not only serve to douse tension in the country but also signposts better days to come for Nigeria as Mr. President
soon returns to work,” Obi said in a statement issued on Saturday morning by his Media Office.

The former governor congratulated the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on the occasion of his 60th birthday on March 8, and for holding forte meritoriously for President Buhari during his medical vacation while remaining humble and loyal to his ailing principal.

“I recommend his good example to all politicians, even as I wish the Acting President many more years of good health and invaluable service to our great country Nigeria and humanity,” Obi said.

He, however, expressed deep sadness over the demise, on Wednesday, of former Military Governor of defunct Western Region, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, and on Friday, of former Military Governor of defunct Bendel State, Brig.-Gen. (Dr.) Samuel Ogbemudia.

According to Obi, “It is sad losing these great elder statesmen in quick succession but God knows best.” He extended his condolences to the Adebayo and Ogbemudia families, urging them to take solace in the rich legacies left behind by the two departed patriots.

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Mrs. Obi who dismissed the rumour while speaking with newsmen in Lagos on Monday, said that as soon as she came out from Church Sunday after worshipping at Our Lady of Assumption, Ikoyi with her husband, on switching on her phone, she received an avalanche of text messages from concerned Nigerians about her supposed divorce proceedings against her husband.

Mrs. Obi, who said she had been happily married to her husband for over 25 years, said that nothing remotely associated with divorce had ever crossed her mind.

“Why should I think along that line when I have no problem with my husband? I am happily married and have no reason to contemplate divorce,” she said.

On the peddlers of the false news, Mrs Obi prayed for God to forgive them, even as she counseled journalists to verify sensitive news before going to press.

She prayed to God to pour his blessings on the institution of marriage against what she described as recourse to modernism that is threatening the institution, thereby causing a lot of cracks in the world. “The family,” according to her, “is the basic cell in the society; once it is threatened, the entire society is affected.”

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Presenting the vehicles at the Alex Ekwueme Square to the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, Governor Obiano said it was part of the larger plan by his administration to refocus its strategy in the war against crime and criminality in Anambra State.

According to him, Anambra State under his watch was ready to recommit itself to the ideals of a free society; the preservation of freedom and the pursuit of happiness.

Recalling the history of the war against criminals in the state, Governor Obiano warned that after 18 months of the launch of Operation Kpochapu, a special task force against crime, “we have decided to raise a new battle cry against criminals, moving swiftly from crime-fighting to crime detection and prevention.

“And we are flagging-off this new phase with 25 American-style, highly equipped patrol cars, Speed Guns to track over-speeding vehicles, Alcohol Detecting kits and other special kits that will aid crime detection and prevention.”

Offering further insight into the new security order in the state, Governor Obiano explained that “we are not only taking the bold initiative to secure lives and property in Anambra State, we are also taking decisive steps to halt the carnage on our roads.”

Recalling the spate of fatal accidents that had taken place in the state in recent times, the governor recalled that, “each time I visit the scene of a fatal accident, I often asked myself the question, “why did this happen and for how long?” How long shall we watch our people die avoidable death and what changes can we make to make things right?

“It is gratifying that today, we have come up with one or two things that we can and must do to make a change. The introduction of Speed Guns to track over-speeding vehicles as well as the use of the Alcohol Detecting Device represent a bold attempt to proffer answers to the questions above.

“My administration is determined to ensure that no Nigerian who finds his or herself within the geographical space of Anambra State shall run the risk of avoidable death from over-speeding vehicles or a drunk-driver!

“I have no doubt in my mind that with a committed use of the Speed Guns and the Alcohol Detecting devices, we shall save ourselves the agony of avoidable death from auto accidents.”

Recalling the highlights of his administration’s crime-bursting heroics in the last 19 months, Governor Obiano declared that “we have re-taken our cities and our communities from violent criminals and kidnappers that for over 40 years had turned our beloved state into the Hobbesian State of nature where life was nasty, brutish and short!

“We have re-possessed our pride as a great and enterprising people whose genius does not only flourish abroad but can take firm roots at home.”

Also speaking at the event, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase observed that Anambra State presents a peculiar security challenge and as the commercial heartbeat of the south east the state requires a leader with the political will and a clear vision like governor Obiano to draw budgetary resources to equip the police and energize the security architecture in a manner that will motivate the security personnel to operate optimally and remain ahead of criminal elements in the battle to re-assure the citizens of security and safety.

According to him, “the huge budgetary investment into the acquisition of the items being donated today reaffirms governor Obiano’s determination to prioritize security in the state. Under his leadership Anambra State has by today’s event set a worthy pace in security management for other state executives especially in the south east.”

The IG of Police also pointed out that by “dedicating scarce resources to support the federal government in securing lives and property at this crucial stage in our nation’s history, governor Obiano has given effect to the sacred provision of the Nigerian constitution which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”

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Presenting a formal letter notifying the governor of his emergence as the Governor of the Year at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia on Tuesday, the Managing Director of The Sun, Eric Osagie explained that after two days of robust debate by the publication’s editors and a long period of exhaustive verification and comparison of the activities of all the governors of the federation in the fast out-going year, Governor Obiano was unanimously chosen as The Governor of the Year.

Explaining that the Governor of the Year is a new category in the publication’s yearly celebration of outstanding Nigerians who had enriched the national narrative of excellence, Osagie explained that Obiano’s choice was fairly easy on account of his outstanding performance in the last one year.

Describing The Governor of the Year as the most competitive category of the awards, Osagie observed that Governor Obiano had changed the story of his state in his first 18 months in office.

Reeling out the governor’s achievements, he mentioned the provision of effective security for residents and visitors to the state, the impressive increase in the state’s IGR from N500m to N1.3bn, the attraction of N2.4bn investments out of which over $670m went into agriculture, the attraction of over $150m investments into the manufacturing sector out of which the sum of $50m had gone into the building of an auto assembly plant in Ozubulu.

Others include the renovation of 862 units of 10 classroom blocks across the 21 local government areas in the state among numerous other achievements.

The Sun Managing Director also listed rapid infrastructural development and the regular payment of workers’ salaries in an era of recession as some of the attributes that qualified Obiano for the honour.

“These uncommon but silent efforts of your government to change the narrative of Anambra State; these passionate and sincere contributions of yours have made you the first winner of the Governor of the Year”, Osagie declared.

The Sun MD also recalled that the Awards currently in its 13th season had been essentially sustained by merit and integrity, listing past winners to include business mogul, Chief Mike Adenuga, former Head of State, Gen. Abdul Salam Abubakar, First Republic Minister, Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi, former governor of Bendel State and Sam Ogbemudia among others.

Accepting the Letter of Nomination, Governor Obiano assured the Sun Team that the honour would spur him to do more for Ndi Anambra whom he said deserved the very best that democracy could offer.

According to him, his administration had hit the ground running on inception in order to correct the many ills that had bedevilled the state for a very long time.

He hinted that he drew a lot of inspiration from his background as an accomplished banker and a chartered accountant saying that the mantra of his administration was “doing more with less.”

According to him; “We tackled the security challenge in the first three months. That made it possible for us to focus on our economic blueprint and pursue our plan for the state.”

Pledging his commitment to provide the best democracy dividends to the people, Governor Obiano observed that though he had received six awards in less than two years, he valued The Sun Governor of the Year most.

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place at Eko Hotel and Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos on February 201, 2016.

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While Obi said he left N75 billion in the treasury, Obiano said his predecessor left only N9 billion and a debt of N185 billion.

Obiano, at a news conference addressed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, said the N185 billion was the debt from projects inherited from Obi, who paid only N78.9 billion on inherited debts.

According to Chukwulobelu, Obi’s administration paid N35.1 billion on inherited projects between March 2014 and August 2015, while the incumbent paid N11.7 billion within the same period.

He said as at March 17, 2014, Obi’s administration had achieved 42.6 per cent completion of the total inherited projects, while the present administration had as at July 31, 2015 achieved an additional 19 per cent taking the completion rate to 61.6 per cent on inherited projects from the past administration.

“There was no N75 billion found in the treasury of Anambra State and the liquidity assets were far below what is on record.

“Based on the figure taken from the Handover Notes from the previous administration to the current administration, it is evident that the actual and voluntary cash investments made by the previous administration amounts to approximately N35.6 billion, consisting of mobilisation paid on contracts for shopping malls and hotels, cost of two Business Parks in Onitsha, investments in Eurobonds, among others.

“Items such as counterpart funds held jointly with domestic development finance institutions, land contributions, FGN refunds, differences in bank balances and investments made directly by the Federal Government on behalf of the three tiers of government totaling approximately N39 billion have been reclassified as ‘liquid investments, FGN Receivables and Involuntary Investments.”

However, Obi, in a statement by his media aide, Vincent Obienyem, said the facts and figures presented by the Obiano administration were false in their entirety.

Obi wondered why it took the Obiano government two years to come up with the figures being bandied around.

Obi said he left over N75 billion in cash and investment, made up of N27 billion in local currency investment; N26.5 billion in foreign currency investment; and N28.1 billion in Certified State/MDS balances.

He added in the statement by Obienyem: “Even in the final handover document, Obi deducted N10 billion approved Federal Government Refund, as well as the salary, pension, gratuity, money on certificates raised on contracts for the month of March which all amounted to N5 billion before arriving at the balance of over N75 billion he bequeathed his successor.

“As a financial expert, Obi went to his end of tenure event with Gov. Willie Obiano and said all this in the presence of all the Bank MDS in whose banks the monies are.

“In fact, as at March 17th he handed over, he got all the certified statements of Anambra’s accounts from the banks these monies were and handed them over to his successor.

“If they were confused on where the monies were, why would they not call Obi who kept them to explain the whereabouts to them as much as he knew?”

On the diminished value of the foreign currency investment, Obienyem said it was a clear lie and challenged the state government to make the calculation public for financial experts to debunk or better still set up a committee to do proper analyses.

“They should know that the dollar investment is to be held till maturity. It is not to be sold and I hope somebody is not salivating to sell them. As at Friday, the money, originally $156m is now $176m. This means it has gained $20m (over N8 billion). This is not guess work but financial exactitude any expert can figure out.”

On the liabilities Obi left, Obienyem described it as another misrepresentation of facts.

He said not only that the figures given were incorrect, Obienyem said that Obi paid contractors being owned by his predecessors and did not owe a single contractor before leaving office.

He asked: “Are they saying he should pay for contracts awarded but not yet executed before he left office? Did his successor not run his campaign on the premise of continuity before the people voted him?”

After listing defences to other issues raised by the Obiano government, Obienyem added: “The denial coming at a time the State Government had concluded arrangement to massively borrow money from banks and financial institutions.”

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The renaming of the Center came after a memorial mass that was attended by prominent citizens like Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former Vice President, Chief Victor Umeh, former National Chairman of APGA, Iyom Josephine Aneni, PDP Women Leader, Onyeka Onwenu, CEO of the National Center for Women Development as well as the key members of the Anambra State Executive Council Members.

Remembering the late Amazon in a brief speech title “Immortalizing Prof. Dora Akunyili,” the Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano described her as a “beloved sister, daughter, wife, mother, teacher, moralist, crusader, role model, merchant of hope and angel of light,” pointing out that in gathering to immortalize her, Ndi Anambra were simply trying to remind themselves that “the greatest legacy a man or woman can leave is a good name.

“Brothers and sisters, we are gathered here to affirm the wise saying of our elders that ezi afa ka ego – a good name is better than gold!”

Governor Obiano further noted that the life and times of the late czar should serve as a strong call to moral re-armament among Ndi Anambra.

Waxing philosophical, Obiano observed that “we finally begin to live when we choose to live in the service of the people; when our lives bring hope, happiness and fulfilment to people around us. Dora reminds us that a life of service to the community is the true life of meaning.”

Recalling some of the finest moments of Professor Akunyili on numerous national assignments, Governor Obiano observed that most Nigerians were familiar with Dora’s legend.

“We are familiar with her courage in the face of extreme danger; her unwavering commitment to the cause she believed in even when a bullet peeled off her head gear, her passionate speech at the National Conference while she endured the biting pains of cancer and of course her blunt refusal to be cowed when the struggle for succession that followed the death of President Yar’Adua needed a rallying point.”

Recalling the late Amazon’s historic memo to her fellow ministers where she declared her readiness to pay the ultimate price in the struggle to return Nigeria to the path of certainty in the cloudy days that preceded the passage of former President Umar Yar’Adua, Governor Obiano maintained that Dora was willing to walk alone once she was convinced that she was walking in righteousness and in light.

Quoting the famous lines of Martin Luther King Junior that “a man who has nothing to die for is not fit to live,” Governor Obiano argued that Dora had taught Nigerians the values of standing alone.

“She has taught us that it is better to stand alone for righteousness than to enjoy the momentary satisfaction that comes from standing in the company of others.”

The governor further observed that in honouring Dora, Anambra State has built a psychological monument to her name. We lift her up as a beacon of hope to our people.

“We hold her up as a shining example to our youths and we celebrate her as the quintessence of virtue to our women! Surely, Umu nwanyi Anambra cannot accept mediocrity again because Dora Akunyili lived among us. Truly, umuada Anambra can no longer be restrained from dreaming big dreams because they walk in the footsteps of Dora Akunyili.”

Arguing that the late Minister still lives through her numerous legacies, Governor Obiano ended his address with a quote from Scottish Poet, Thomas Campbell that “to live in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die.”

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The lecture entitled: “Nigerian Democracy: Getting It Right in 2015”, which will be delivered by Professor Maurice Iwu, former chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will take place at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, by 10 am prompt.

An accompanying speech on the “Economic Implication of Getting the Right Leadership” will be given by Mr. Roberts Orya, managing director of Nigerian Export Import Bank, NEXIM.

The chairman of the occasion is Professor J.C. Ezigbo, managing director, Falcon Corporation Limited, who was a lecturer for more than 20 years at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, before venturing into the oil and gas business as the first indigenous gas distributor in the country.

Also Eze Festus Odimegwu, former, chairman, National Population Commission, will give the keynote address.

The book entitled: Paragon of Journalism, co-edited by Maureen Chigbo and late Mike Akpan, publisher/editor and editor-in-chief of Realnews magazine, respectively, will be presented at the event. It will be reviewed by Dr. Ngozi Anyaegbunam, lecturer, author and journalist.

Willie Obiano, governor of Anambra State, Benjamin Dikki, director-general, Bureau of Public enterprises, Senator Chris Ngige, former governor of Anambra State and other prominent Nigerians are expected at the lecture.

Realnews, a general interest magazine, is an online publication which thrives on investigative journalism debuted November 19, 2012.

It focuses on oil and gas sector with its attendant environmental challenges as well as issues relating to business and economy, politics, power, health, women and youth.

Its aim is to unearth exclusive stories about real people and the challenges they are facing in their day-to-day activities.

It does this bearing in mind that government can only act to influence the lives of people positively if they are aware of their true situation.

Hence, its objective is to use its investigative skills to ferret out information in the sectors it focuses on and produce an unbiased report which will actually influence the government and decision makers to take actions that will make the society better.

RealNews is a member of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, COGOP, an umbrella body for all online publishers both resident in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.

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