Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, is an agrarian council area which also has a large population of business people. It is comprised of five towns: Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Awkuzu, Ogbunike, Umunya, and Nteje.
The LGA was created in the 1980s by the civilian administration of Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, with Umunya as its initial headquarters. The name “Oyi” comes from the Oyi River, which flows into the Anambra River.
It has since its creation had successive leadership, with the current chairman of the local government being Hon Emma Nweke. But as Anambra prepared to go into another round of local government election, it is expected that it will throw up one of its best leadership for the local government.
Already, there are high hopes among people in the local government area with the recent purchase of the nomination and expression of interest forms of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), by one of Oyi’s trusted grassroot politician, Chief Chidiebele Obika. His interest in the leadership of the local government has elicited hope among many.
Brief Profile of Obika
Chidiebele Obika is a corporate communications executive, public affairs professional, business and community leader with extensive experience spanning government relations, media management, and enterprise development.
Born on 27 May, 1985, he completed his primary education at Umunebo Primary School and his secondary education at Sacred Heart College, Nteje, and Ohordua College, Edo State. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Public Administration from Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).
Obika has built a distinguished career in strategic communications and public sector engagement, serving in senior advisory roles at both local and state government levels. His appointments include Personal Assistant and Senior Special Assistant on Media to Chairmen of Oyi Local Government Area (2011, 2015 and 2017), Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, and Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, where he contributed to policy communication, media strategy, and stakeholder engagement.
In addition to his corporate and government roles, Obika is a distinguished community leader, having served as Acting President General of the Nteje Development Union, where he successfully restored peace to the town after nearly five years of unrest, demonstrating exceptional leadership, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
He is the Managing Director of I-Witness Multimedia Limited, overseeing media strategy, content development, and corporate communications. He also serves as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of I-Witness Concrete and Construction Solutions Limited, a firm with a proven record of executing state and national-level infrastructure projects, as well as MD/CEO of I-Witness Integrated Resources Limited, a diversified services company.
Earlier in his career, Obika demonstrated strong leadership capacity through his involvement with the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), where he rose from Local Government Coordinator to State Chairman, reflecting a consistent record of organizational leadership and stakeholder management.
Widely traveled and globally exposed, Obika brings a results-driven, governance-focused, and growth-oriented approach to leadership. He is married to Mrs. Uche Obika, and they have five children.
Testimonies
Since Obika declared interest, many stakeholders have been supporting his aspiration, declaring that he would be the best thing to happen to the local government when he emerges. Most of the stakeholders who spoke during a private consultation praised Obika’s doggedness in pursuit of set goal, others described him as the people’s man who connects with all level of people in the area, while others said his emergence would be putting a round peg in a round hole, considering that he has paid his dues in working for his party, APGA in mobilizing votes, both in governorship, House of Assembly, Senatorial and House of Representatives election.
Oyi awaits a go-getter as Anambra councils go to poll in August this year to elect chairmen of all the 21 local government areas and their councillors.
