By Tony Okafor
They often ask—sometimes cynically—“What exactly did Peter Obi do as Governor of Anambra State?”
The question itself betrays a shallow reading of history and an even poorer understanding of governance. It ignores context, starting point, and the discipline required to build where little or nothing existed.
When Peter Obi assumed office, Anambra State was not a land of smooth pathways waiting for inspired leadership to merely maintain momentum.
It was, by every honest measure, a state stripped of structure, burdened by debts dating back to the military era, and weakened by years of institutional neglect.
Comparing such a terrain with states already cushioned by decades of planning, investment, and inherited infrastructure is not only unfair; it is intellectually dishonest.
Governing a state layered with foundations is fundamentally different from rebuilding one from near ground zero.
Against this backdrop, Obi’s record stands not as propaganda, but as evidence.
In infrastructure, his administration redefined Anambra’s physical landscape. From the Nkpor and Obosi flyovers—now integral to federal bypass routes—to the ten-lane Head Bridge–Umunya axis, Obi confronted bottlenecks that had crippled commerce for decades.
Over 800 kilometres of rural and urban roads were constructed or rehabilitated, reconnecting forgotten communities such as Aguleri to Adani. Bridges at Odor, Otupu, and other strategic locations stitched together communities long separated by geography and neglect.
In education, the results were nothing short of revolutionary. Teaching hospitals and campuses rose in Awka and Igbariam. Faculties expanded at the Uli campus of what is now Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.
The College of Agriculture at Mgbakwu was built and upgraded into a polytechnic. Over 50,000 computers were procured for secondary schools—unmatched at the time—and every public secondary school received a 50kVA generator, many of which remain in use today.
Mission schools were supported with grants running into hundreds of millions of naira, while first-class graduates from the state were rewarded with ₦1 million each, a bold declaration of the value of excellence.
Healthcare, often the weakest link in subnational governance, received uncommon attention. General hospitals were built, expanded, and rehabilitated, including Ekwulobia.
About 150 primary healthcare centres emerged across the state. The first public dialysis machine in Anambra was installed at the General Hospital, Onitsha.
Nursing schools were built in partnership with missionary bodies, psychiatric facilities at Nwafia were upgraded, and the College of Nursing was rehabilitated and accredited.
Obi’s governance philosophy was deeply institutional. He built the Jerome Udorji State Secretariat, strengthened the judiciary with courts, judges’ quarters, and operational vehicles, and expanded magistrate courts statewide.
Local government secretariats and agencies such as SUBEB, the water corporation, and housing offices were housed in purpose-built facilities.
Libraries were constructed, water schemes revived, and public spaces like Alex Ekwueme Square restored to civic relevance.
Security and social welfare were not neglected. Armoured Personnel Carriers were procured for security agencies. Elderly citizens above 80 years received stipends. Farmers accessed grants through the Bank of Agriculture.
Over 1,000 vehicles manufactured by Innoson Motors were purchased and distributed to schools, traditional rulers, and vigilante groups—boosting local industry while strengthening grassroots governance.
Perhaps most striking was the fiscal discipline underpinning these achievements. Obi cleared ₦32 billion in gratuity arrears inherited from the military era and still left over ₦75 billion in state coffers upon handover in March 2014. In a political culture addicted to reckless borrowing and empty treasuries, this feat remains exceptional.
That all these were accomplished despite being illegally impeached twice only sharpens the portrait of resilience and focus. It underscores a leadership style rooted not in noise or theatrics, but in prudence, planning, and persistence.
Today, history beckons again.
Peter Obi has once more indicated his intention to vie for the presidency of Nigeria—this time on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a nation desperate for leadership anchored in competence, integrity, and fiscal sanity, this declaration deserves not cynicism, but fair consideration.
No democracy thrives on sabotage. If you choose not to support him, that is your democratic right. But do not undermine him.
Do not pull the carpet from under his feet. Do not weaponise misinformation, cynicism, or ethnic baiting against a candidacy that has consistently appealed to conscience, not coercion.
Nigeria has too often mistaken noise for leadership, extravagance for vision, and impunity for strength. The result is a nation perpetually restarting, never consolidating.
Peter Obi’s public life offers a counter-narrative: that leadership can be modest, disciplined, evidence-driven—and still transformative.
This is not about sanctifying a man. No leader is flawless. It is about recognising direction, valuing competence, and allowing history to make its case without sabotage or malice.
Those who doubt need only verify.
History beckons again.
