Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, recently presented 130 brand new Ikenga IVM SUV vehicles made by the Nigerian vehicle manufacturer, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) to 130 traditional rulers in the state.
The presentation is coming weeks after billionaire oil mogul, Prince Arthur Eze allegedly presented 12 Lexus 570 SUVs to 12 traditional rulers who were suspended for joining him to Abuja to see President Muhammadu Buhari. Eze had recently accused Obiano of ill-treatment to traditional rulers in the state by refusing to give five per cent of the state’s revenue to the traditional institution as had been agreed by the federal government.
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But Obiano while handing over the vehicle at Dr Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, the state capital, said it was to appreciate their efforts in entrenching development including the security of lives and property at the grassroots. He also commended them for overseeing the successful execution of the ₦20 million community infrastructure (choose-your-project) at their respective communities, assuring that his administration would continue to provide for the traditional institution.
However, reports gathered by Africa Daily News, New York show that these new ‘September gifts’ were purchased, not from the Governor’s personal funds but from borrowed from the state’s Internally Generated Revenue coffers. The funds which summed up to an estimated 3 billion naira was supposed to be used for other Government parastatals and projects but it was diverted by Governor Willie Obiano and used for the personal benevolent act of providing vehicles for the monarchs.
Reports have also shown that the vehicles procured from Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) haven’t been fully paid for. The contract agreement with Innoson and the Anambra State Government allowed for payments to be made in monthly instalments, but as it stands, insider sources have revealed that the Anambra State Government has defaulted on multiple months payments despite summons and queries from the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM).
Political analysts have already linked this act to be a show of compensation and political pacification to the supposed loyal monarchs who aren’t among the disgraced 12.
Governor Obiano’s act of benevolence tilts towards two perspectives, in one perspective one can say he did a good job in trying to pacify the other traditional rulers, in another perspective, one can say that this act is one of false bravado, something to show false overbearing power. There are other numerous ways that Governor Obiano could have spent the borrowed ₦3 billion that would have been beneficial to the monarchs.
There are workers to be paid in Anambra state, there are projects still waiting to be attended to, there are contractors being owed and there is a state account bleeding heavily from past debts but as usual, Governor Willie Obiano has lived up to his notorious reputation of mismanagement of state funds to suit personal interests.
The last debt readings in Anambra state showed that retirees are being owed pensions and gratuities summed up to ₦5 billion with much more being accumulated by his administration and the last time he released funds for pensions and gratuities was late 2016 and that was for the newly registered batch of retirees who registered in the same year.
Governor Willie Obiano really played a bad hand with this singular act of his, the sooner his personal advisers call him to order the better it will be for him and Anambra state.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
