Mr. Peter Obi, Governor of Anambra State, Nigeria

New York, May 28, 2008---Information reaching Africans In America News Watch (AIANW) indicate that Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, Nigeria may have some very hard questions waiting for him when he visits United States to attend Christ the King College (CKC) Old Boys Association meeting scheduled to take place in Atlanta, Georgia in very near future.

This is because the indigenes of Anambra State residing in United States and Canada may be planning to tackle him seriously regarding the reported shabby and disrespectful manner he treats the state Deputy Governor, the popular and well-beloved Dame Virgy Etiaba (fondly called Mama Anambra).

Last week the Nigeria’s award-winning first female governor cried out loud by releasing a news report alleging marginalization and gave list of disrespectful treatments she receives from Anambra State Government officials.

Few days later Governor Peter Obi’s aide, Mr. Ben Obi issued a statement which said: "The good people of Anambra State, it might interest you to know that (Etiaba) spent over N4 billion of tax-payers money on lobbying during the three months of her boss' political retreat. N1 billion was given to Andy Uba to introduce (her) to the then President Olusegun Obasanjo while N3 billion was spent by Etiaba's children, Emeka and Echezona, on lobbying for their mother's continued stay in office."

Mr. Ben Obi reportedly told journalists that he believes Etiaba was misquoted by the press because she is not marginalized and rather is being treated well.

But Etiaba's counsel, Oseloka Osuigwe, in sharp reaction told reporters that the allegations are the figment of the imagination of Ben Obi.

He added: "The issues raised border on criminality, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is there for him to substantiate his allegations, if there is truth in his wild and spurious claims.”

Dame Virginia Etiaba (fondly called, ‘Mama Anambra’) Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Nigeria

"Etiaba is, however, happy that money said to have been misappropriated during her tenure, as Governor of the State, has thinned down from N48 billion initially to N38 billion, from N28 billion at a time and now to N4 billion. And (she) obviously knows that someday, it will get to zero.”

Just yesterday Tuesday May 28, 2008, the Deputy Governor issued another press release debunking Governor’s statement that she was misquoted. She stated that she was not misquoted by the press and insisted that she is being maltreated and cited specific examples.

“Regarding the issue of cars, the SSG has never allocated cars to my office and the issue of me writing to him if I need cars has been adhered to in anticipation of a favorable response. However, the news briefing credited my boss as saying that I was given 2 bullet proof BMW Jeeps, and a bullet proof Mercedes 500 SEL. I have to state in writing here that those cars were never given to me and if any documents exist to the contrary, they should be made available to the Commissioner of Police in Anambra state for investigation as they would be forged documents. My children, would I not look funny in a Mercedes 500 SEL whether bullet proof or not? My 2 official black Peugeot 406 cars allocated to me as the Deputy Governor are parked outside for your inspection. Every government has verifiable records and I hereby call on these to be made available to controvert my assertion. The Governor was also quoted as having said that it is on record my convoy is longer than his own but if he said that, I can confirm that I have never made out time to count the number of vehicles in his convoy, but only asking for the legitimate entitlement of the office of the Deputy Governor of Anambra State to enable my office function effectively.”

Many Anambranians in United States who spoke to Africans In America News Watch (AIANW) on condition of anonymity expressed disappointment on the news reports coming out from their home-state. Many hold the State Governor Peter Obi responsible for it.

“If Governor Peter Obi has proof that the Deputy Governor mismanaged or embezzled the state funds within the 3 months she held fort as the State Governor, he should boldly and officially cause investigation, press charges and take the matter to court to recover the funds. These innuendos have to stop. We hold the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Etiaba in high esteem based on her shinning record of achievements during the very short time she was the state governor; Nigeria and the world hold her in very high esteem too; therefore, we are really shocked and disturbed by this manner and sort of reports, innuendos and attacks. If the Etiabas are properly charged, they will have the opportunity to clear their good names”, said Bonaventure Ezekwenna, the Executive Director of Africans In America, Inc. a leading human rights organization addressing social issues concerning the larger African immigrant community in United States.

“In as much as we understand what Governor Peter Obi may be going through, he needs to out-perform Etiaba records of achievements when she held Anambra State for him after he was unconstitutionally impeached. He has to remember that this woman retained all his political appointees and quickly handed the state back to him when the court ruled that his impeachment was unconstitutional without the usual procedural delays prevalent in other states which had similar problems as Anambra in the past.”

“There is need for constituted authorities to thoroughly and clinically investigate all the allegations of Governor Obi and all the denials of Deputy Governor Etiaba. Who ever errs must be sanctioned. We shall not allow anyone, no matter how highly placed to engage in conducts capable of disrupting the public peace again in Anambra State.”

“We stand with the downtrodden people of Anambra State calling for result-oriented, responsible and accountability in government. Governor Obi should show leadership by confronting the many problems of Anambra State head-on. If he is sure of these allegations against the Etiabas, there are proper ways to handle them. These innuedos are beginning to look like blackmails, and that may be his quick downfall, which no one I had spoken with actually wants. Everybody wants the governor to succeed in delivering good dividend and rebuilding Anambra State and the ball is now on his court”, summed-up Mr. Ezekwenna.

Peter Obi and the Etiaba family

Africans In America News Watch conducted investigation and made some interesting findings;

Anambranians recall that Barrister Emeka Etiaba, the first son of the deputy governor almost single-handedly led 3 and half years legal battle that wrestled and recovered the governorship mandate earlier stolen by Obasanjo cronies in Anambra State after 2003 general election in Nigeria. Having won the court victory, Mr. Peter Obi and Mrs. Virginia Etiaba were duly sworn in as Governor and Deputy Governor respectively.

Shortly after that, unemployed youths in Anambra State which had stood firmly with Mr. Peter Obi and Mrs. Etiaba in their battle to claim their mandate mounted protests demanding government solution to their plights (adverse economic situation in the state). Governor Obi responded by calling them miscreants, hoodlums and other derogatory names, unwittingly boasted that he controls the state not them and requested former President Obasanjo to send troops from Nigerian army to quell the protests. President Obasanjo quickly obliged and estimated hundred and thousands of those youths were reportedly slaughtered by the Nigerian army in various towns, streets and bushes within the state.

Governor Obi’s action infuriated the people of the Anambra state in particular and Igbo nation in general. The Anambra State House of Assembly with royalty to the court-ousted former governor capitalizing on Governor Obi’s blunders hurriedly impeached him in clearly very questionable circumstances and attempted to take over the executive seat as well.

Governor Obi’s impeachment created a vacuum in government and other Obasanjo’s cronies displaced by the court-ousted former governor were also set to move in as well.

Encouraged by support from stakeholders, Deputy Governor Etiaba reluctantly agreed to be sworn-in, hence she became Nigeria’s first female Executive Governor. Peter Obi rightfully hired lawyers and went to court to challenge his illegal impeachment.

For continuity and stability, Governor Etiaba retained all political appointees of then former Governor Peter Obi, but, she consulted with legitimate and genuine stakeholders and unleashed massive construction of rural roads and other development projects in various communities in the state. The youth protests completely disappeared and unprecedented calm and peace reigned in the hitherto very restive state. No single life was lost due to Governor’s action when Mrs. Etiaba was the state Chief Executive Officer. Expectedly, her popularity and approval ratings skyrocketed.

3 month after his impeachment, Peter Obi won the suite he initiated challenging his impeachment; the court ruled his impeachment unconstitutional and his opponents immediately vowed to appeal.

Some federal agents operating in the state, including security apparatus and other interests reportedly approached Governor Etiaba and encouraged her to hold on to power and pledged to support her clandestinely, including plot to use appeal to keep Peter Obi off government house till 2006 general election, but she rejected their nefarious overtures. She immediately invited Peter Obi and quickly handed power back to him peacefully; and went back comfortably to her former office of the Deputy Governor.

Other states governors in Nigeria, example, Plateau State did not hand over immediately after first court ruling. The sitting governors normally used appeal as excuse to prolong their stay in power. The delay procedural process of appeal normally takes up to 1 to 2 years to resolve.

But, Mrs. Etiaba who was a retired school-teacher used the opportunity, by quick and orderly hand-over to further teach the larger class of Nigerian politicians something new about power, peaceful transition and rule of law.

For those sterling and extra-ordinary qualities and achievements, she has received many awards, both locally and internationally. Her admirers in Anambra State call her ‘Mama Anambra’, while larger others call her ‘Mama Nigeria’.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that Governor Peter Obi may be uncomfortable with the popularity the Deputy Governor Etiaba enjoys; the kind of popularity which he seeks but somehow finds very elusive.

Africans In America News Watch investigation reveals that Governor Peter Obi, alumni of Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha, Nigeria will be the guest-of-honor at the CKC Old Boys Association’s meeting in Atlanta in July 2008 and the indigenes of Anambra State residing in United States and Canada are planning to democratically and politely tackle and hold him accountable for good governance, news reports from the state, including complaints of maltreatment by the State Deputy Governor.