Anambra Emerging the Bankers’ State

POLITICAL NOTES

Either by providence or sheer happenstance, something pretty enviable is happening to Anambra State and it is worthy of mention. In fact, it should be celebrated. Ironically, this beautiful path the state is walking could also have strong negative markings at the end of the day. In the last 16 years, the state has had the opportunity of being governed by bankers cum economists, while the next four to eight years have also been secured and sealed for another banker and economist.

Since the return to civil rule in 1999, apart from Mr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, a political science graduate; Senator Chris Ngige, a medical doctor; Mrs. Virginia Etiaba, a teacher and Andy Uba, a man without any identifiable calling aside being a presidential aide, and who with Etiaba, had rather ignominious stints at the Government House, the rest have been bankers and economists.

Peter Obi, Chairman of the Nigeria Security and Exchange Commission, had chaired many banks and financial institutions, including Next International Nigeria Ltd, Guardian Express Mortgage Bank Ltd, Guardian Express Bank Plc, Future View Securities Ltd, Paymaster Nigeria Ltd, Chams Nigeria Ltd, Data Corp Ltd and Card Centre Ltd. He was the youngest chairman of Fidelity Bank Plc.

Governor Willie Obiano, outgoing governor of the state, began his banking career with the First Bank of Nigeria before he left to join the services of Chevron Oil Nigeria Plc as an accountant and rose to the position of Chief Internal Auditor. In 1989, he was one of the auditors that audited Texaco Refinery in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and in 1991, joined Fidelity Bank as Deputy Manager and head of Audit unit before rising to become the executive director.

Incoming governor, Chukwuma Soludo, before his May 2004 appointment as Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, was Chief Economic Adviser to former President Obasanjo and Chief Executive of the National Planning Commission of Nigeria. He is currently a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 8-member Economic Advisory Council (EAC).

Put together, these are some enviable profiles from one state and evidently so. Unfortunately, as well-off as they may seem, such a blessing comes with rather huge responsibilities, which if they are unable to discharge, leaves them, the state and their banking constituency scarred for good.

You can’t have such people govern a state for cumulative 24 years and not have the basis to canvass a replication of their feats in other places. So, Anambra, all eyes on you!