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| Chinwoke Mbadinuju |
A former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, has joined the long list of people in the state calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to have a shot at the presidency again in 2015. In an interview with TONY OKAFOR in Awka, Mbadinuju said that his government started the process of listing Anambra State as an oil producing state. He added that it was the present Governor, Mr. Peter Obi that saw to the fulfillment of the dream. While ackowleging that Anambra was until Obi came, a battle ground between the governors and the presidency, he said that the lot of the state has improved with the Obi administration, insisting that that has helped the state in advancing to a greater height in the past six yearsWhat do you think of the declaration of Anambra as an Oil producing state by President Goodluck Jonathan?
By Mr.
President commissioning Anambra Orient Petroleum Resources PLC and placing
Anambra among oil producing states of Nigeria which status had eluded us under
previous regimes; and if we add Mr. President’s show of Igbo solidarity in
being present at Nnewi to receive the body of our hero, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu,
we can collectively assure your Excellency that every good turn shall surely
deserve another. It is a very good development because since my administration,
Anambra has waited eagerly to be listed among the oil producing states. We are
happy with the president for fulfilling that dream. Anambra is better for it.
On 2015 Presidency?
We are happy with his presidency. He has done for us so far what we never got before and we can even say that the best is getting better. Last time we gave him 100 per cent of our support. We will repeat that magic in 2015, everything being equal, knowing that every good turn deserves another.
On the evolution of orient petroleum?
In further welcoming the endorsement of Anambra State as an oil producing state, I want to say a little of how the Orient Petroleum was conceived and nurtured to the level it is today; from something like a dream to reality.
Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife during his stint as Governor of Anambra State took the initiative, collecting information and material that were to lead the state into greater exploration and exploitation of oil and gas in the state.
I became governor from 1999-2003, during which my administration got committed fully to exploration and leading to something of a commercial quantity. What my administration did in this regard is detailed on page 164 of my book.
How I governed Anambra State – Stewardship and Accountability?
By 2000 and 2001 my administration had accomplished the following: Inauguration of state energy and power committee; Housing of oil and gas investors forum in Lagos; Generation of interests from overseas investors in the state’s oil reserve; Reconnaissance survey for the Anambra State Integrated Development Project; Extensive consultations on the establishment of refinery, airstrip, waste management plant, steel industry and independent power plant; Sensitization of citizens in the oil and gas potentials of the state; Efforts to make the Federal Government include Anambra among oil producing states despite claims by former rulers that our oil and gas were under strategic reserve; Incorporation of Anambra Mineral Development Company (AMDEC); Obtaining of licence to facilitate exploration and exploitation of oil and gas; setting up of management board with Chief Emeka Anyaoku as chairman and Emeka Nwaka as Managing Director, with Chief Dr Alex Ekwueme, Igwe Patrick Anugwu, among others as members.
I can say that the Orient Petroleum Resources (OPR) was a state government initiative in the interest of the people of Anambra State. We welcome the involvement of indigenous prospecting companies taking interests and equity in the OPR. I urge that the government of the day should ensure that Anambra people benefit fully in this God-given source of income and means of livelihood.
And let the operators of OPR not forget the pioneering efforts of my administration to bring us to where we are today. ‘Let there be no quarrel or strife among us for we are brothers’ (Gen 13:8).
Let Anambra people not forget my administration, not only in the OPR but in other facets of life in the state just as the Bible tells us that a labourer is worth his hire (Luke 10:7). I laid the foundation; Gov Peter Obi built upon my foundation (1 Cor 3:6), and let it not be said that our labour was in vain (Cor 15:58).
On attacks on Governor Obi by some political opponents?
Gov Peter Obi should be commended, not maligned, as some opponents have done. Governing Anambra is not a piece of cake. I took my own bashing for no fault of mine just because I wanted to leave the state better than I found it.
My rating of Anambra as at today?
Earlier than now, the Anambra experience had been that of a battle ground between state governors and the president at Abuja. But starting with Gov Obi, we have seen a good and close friendly relationship between him and the president at Abuja. I don’t know whether it is our governor’s making or the president’s making or just God’s own making. But whoever gets the credit, Anambra is better for it and it is well.
On 2015 Presidency?
We are happy with his presidency. He has done for us so far what we never got before and we can even say that the best is getting better. Last time we gave him 100 per cent of our support. We will repeat that magic in 2015, everything being equal, knowing that every good turn deserves another.
On the evolution of orient petroleum?
In further welcoming the endorsement of Anambra State as an oil producing state, I want to say a little of how the Orient Petroleum was conceived and nurtured to the level it is today; from something like a dream to reality.
Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife during his stint as Governor of Anambra State took the initiative, collecting information and material that were to lead the state into greater exploration and exploitation of oil and gas in the state.
I became governor from 1999-2003, during which my administration got committed fully to exploration and leading to something of a commercial quantity. What my administration did in this regard is detailed on page 164 of my book.
How I governed Anambra State – Stewardship and Accountability?
By 2000 and 2001 my administration had accomplished the following: Inauguration of state energy and power committee; Housing of oil and gas investors forum in Lagos; Generation of interests from overseas investors in the state’s oil reserve; Reconnaissance survey for the Anambra State Integrated Development Project; Extensive consultations on the establishment of refinery, airstrip, waste management plant, steel industry and independent power plant; Sensitization of citizens in the oil and gas potentials of the state; Efforts to make the Federal Government include Anambra among oil producing states despite claims by former rulers that our oil and gas were under strategic reserve; Incorporation of Anambra Mineral Development Company (AMDEC); Obtaining of licence to facilitate exploration and exploitation of oil and gas; setting up of management board with Chief Emeka Anyaoku as chairman and Emeka Nwaka as Managing Director, with Chief Dr Alex Ekwueme, Igwe Patrick Anugwu, among others as members.
I can say that the Orient Petroleum Resources (OPR) was a state government initiative in the interest of the people of Anambra State. We welcome the involvement of indigenous prospecting companies taking interests and equity in the OPR. I urge that the government of the day should ensure that Anambra people benefit fully in this God-given source of income and means of livelihood.
And let the operators of OPR not forget the pioneering efforts of my administration to bring us to where we are today. ‘Let there be no quarrel or strife among us for we are brothers’ (Gen 13:8).
Let Anambra people not forget my administration, not only in the OPR but in other facets of life in the state just as the Bible tells us that a labourer is worth his hire (Luke 10:7). I laid the foundation; Gov Peter Obi built upon my foundation (1 Cor 3:6), and let it not be said that our labour was in vain (Cor 15:58).
On attacks on Governor Obi by some political opponents?
Gov Peter Obi should be commended, not maligned, as some opponents have done. Governing Anambra is not a piece of cake. I took my own bashing for no fault of mine just because I wanted to leave the state better than I found it.
My rating of Anambra as at today?
Earlier than now, the Anambra experience had been that of a battle ground between state governors and the president at Abuja. But starting with Gov Obi, we have seen a good and close friendly relationship between him and the president at Abuja. I don’t know whether it is our governor’s making or the president’s making or just God’s own making. But whoever gets the credit, Anambra is better for it and it is well.
Credit: Compass
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