Immediate past governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, has taken to his official social media page to pray for the state. Obiano served as the 4th Governor of Anambra State from March 17, 2014, to March 17, 2022, before handing over to former CBN Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, who was elected under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
On Wednesday, Chief Obiano posted on his Facebook page: “May Anambra succeed!” alongside a smiling photo of himself.
His prayer comes amid heightened political tension in Anambra as the November 8 governorship election draws closer. Campaigns have taken a bitter turn, with personal attacks and character assassinations dominating the political space.
The political face-off has been particularly fierce between Senator Uche Ekwunife, deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the incumbent governor, Charles Soludo. In a viral video, Ekwunife launched scathing verbal attacks on Soludo, accusing him of personal misconduct and even making unverified allegations against members of his family. The verbal warfare followed Soludo’s earlier comments questioning the authenticity of Ekwunife’s academic credentials.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19oH7nNvBM
A few weeks earlier, another confrontation made headlines when Soludo’s deputy governor clashed openly with the APC governorship candidate, who blocked his path and allegedly issued threats in an incident that also went viral.
These developments reflect the increasingly toxic political climate in Anambra, which is compounded by the state’s worsening insecurity. Bandits, unknown gunmen, and other criminal groups have unleashed violence on several communities, forcing many residents to flee their villages. The situation has left many parts of the state unsafe, with lives and livelihoods under constant threat.
Since leaving office, Chief Obiano has largely stayed away from politics. Shortly after his tenure ended, he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on corruption allegations but was later released. He subsequently relocated to the United States with his family, where he has remained out of public view.
Despite controversies surrounding his administration, Obiano is still remembered for some notable achievements, most especially the successful construction and commissioning of the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport — a project that previous administrations had failed to deliver despite decades of public demand.
While Governor Soludo has made strides in infrastructure, particularly road development across communities, insecurity continues to overshadow his administration and remains a major challenge as the governorship election approaches.
Report by Obinna Ejianya (9News Nigeria – Melbourne, Australia)
