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Willie Obiano

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Chief
Willie Obiano
Picture of Governor Willie Obiano at the Funeral of Bishop Okafor (cropped)
Portrait of Willie Obiano
Governor of Anambra State
In office
17 March 2014 – 17 March 2022
DeputyNkem Okeke
Preceded byPeter Obi
Succeeded byCharles Soludo
Personal details
Born (1955-08-08) 8 August 1955 (age 69)
Aguleri, Anambra State, Nigeria
Political partyAll Progressives Grand Alliance
SpouseEbele Obiano
OccupationPolitician
Banker

Willie Obiano // ⓘ (born August 8, 1955) is a Nigerian politician, banker and technocrat. He served as the fourth democratically elected Governor of Anambra State from 17 March 2014 to 17 March 2022.[1][2][3][4]

Early life

Governor Obiano was born at Aguleri, a town in Anambra State, Eastern Nigeria.[5][6] He received a bachelor's degree in Accountancy from the University of Lagos in 1979 and a Master of Business Administration from the same university.[7][8]

Banking career

Governor Obiano began his banking career in 1981 at 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.[9][10] In 1991, he joined the Fidelity Bank as Deputy Manager and head of Audit unit and rose to the position of executive director in October 2003.[11][12]

Political life

Obiano left the banking system to join Nigerian politics and in 2013 contested the November 16, 17 and 30 Anambra State gubernatorial elections on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.[13] He won the election and was sworn in on 17 March 2014 to succeed Mr Peter Obi.[14][15][16][17][18] On 18 November 2017, he was re-elected as Governor.[19][20][21] His tenure ended on the 17 March 2022.[22][23][24]

Corruption allegations

In late November 2021, not long after Charles Chukwuma Soludo was elected as Obiano's successor, it emerged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had placed Obiano on a watchlist so it would be informed if he left the nation; Obiano had flown abroad earlier in November.[25][26][27][28][29] In response to the EFCC's move, the Anambra Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Don Adinuba, stated that the EFCC had gone to a "new low" by releasing the letter placing Obiano on the list. Adinuba also claimed that it was well known that Obiano was planning on moving to his residence in the United States after leaving office.[30]

Although the EFCC did not state the reason for the watchlist placement, speculation about potential investigations in alleged corruption led journalists to investigate the finances of the Obiano administration[citation needed]. On 30 November 2021, the Peoples Gazette released an exclusive on bank documents showing that on 29 March 2017, Obiano had withdrawn over ₦4 billion from multiple Anambra security vote allocation accounts with no stated explanation[citation needed]. Adinuba rebutted that "the document...doesn’t appear genuine" and "the figures you quote look extremely ridiculous."[31]

Hours after Obiano left office and thus lost immunity from prosecution on 17 March 2022, he was arrested by the EFCC at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. The reason for the arrest is yet to be announced but EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwajaren said it was connected to the watchlist placement and that Obiano was attempting to flee the nation.[32][33][34][35] The EFCC stated that the reason for the arrest and detention of the immediate past Governor of Anambra State was to enable him account for public funds amounting to N42 billion meant for security votes and Federal Government-funded Subsidy Reinvestment Programme aka SURE-P.[36][37]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Labour leaders praise Obiano on workers' welfare". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  2. ^ The Union. "Gov. Obiano's Scorecard 100 Days After". The Union. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  3. ^ Leadership Newspaper (24 June 2014). "Anambra Residents Laud Obiano's Performance In 100 Days In Office". Nigerian News from Leadership News. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Willie Obiano Archives - Page 4 of 15 - The Nation Newspaper". thenationonlineng.net. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  5. ^ "An Open Advice To The New Anambra Governor Chief Willie Obiano, By Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  6. ^ This Day Live (2016). "After 25yrs of Chequered History, Anambra on the Path of Sustainable Growth". This Day. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  7. ^ "100 Days in Office: A Governor Takes Stock, Articles - THISDAY LIVE". thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  8. ^ Afeez Hanafi (18 March 2022). "Things you may not know about Obiano, latest ex-gov in EFCC net". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Profile of new Anambra Governor, Willie Obiano". DailyPost Nigeria. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  10. ^ This Day Live (January 2022). "A TOAST TO WILLIE OBIANO". This Day.
  11. ^ "Obiano at 57: Finally a New Star Rises from the East, Articles - THISDAY LIVE". thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  12. ^ Chinelo Obogo and Chukwudi Nweje (29 August 2017). "Anambra guber: The top contenders". The Sun News Online.
  13. ^ "APGA candidate, Obiano, sued for double registration". The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  14. ^ Administrator. "Supreme Courts Affirms Gov Obiano's Election Victory". icirnigeria.org. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  15. ^ Premium Times (17 March 2014). "Obiano sworn-in as Anambra Governor". Premium Times. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  16. ^ Tony Edike & Vincent Ujumadu, Nwabueze Okonkwo (18 March 2014). "Obiano sworn in as Anambra gov". Vanguard. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  17. ^ Channels Television (17 March 2014). "Willie Obiano Sworn-in As Governor Of Anambra State". Channels TV. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  18. ^ Ameh Comrade Godwin (17 March 2014). "William Obiano sworn in as Anambra State Governor". Daily Post. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  19. ^ John Abayomi (17 November 2017). "INEC declares Obiano winner of Anambra election". Punch. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  20. ^ Channels Television (19 November 2017). "APGA's Obiano Secures Second Term By Landslide Victory". Channels TV. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  21. ^ Azeezat AdedigbaandAgency Report (21 November 2017). "Anambra Election: APGA thanks Buhari for Obiano's victory". Premium Times. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  22. ^ Agency Report (18 February 2022). "Osinbajo, Fayemi bid Obiano farewell". Premium Times. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  23. ^ Ovat, Michael (14 March 2022). "March 17 handover: Obiano serves quit notice to political appointees". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  24. ^ ONYINYE CHIJIOBI (16 March 2022). "GOV OBIANO REELS OUT ACHIEVEMENTS AS HE ENDS 8 YEAR TENURE". radionigeriaenugu.gov.ng. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  25. ^ Sanni, Kunle. "EFCC places Governor Willie Obiano on watchlist". Premium Times. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  26. ^ Adelani Adepegba (24 November 2021). "EFCC places Anambra gov, Obiano, on watch list". Punch. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  27. ^ Guardian Nigeria (25 November 2021). "EFCC places Obiano on watch list". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  28. ^ Channels Television (24 November 2022). "EFCC Places Anambra Governor, Willie Obiano On Watchlist". Channels TV. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  29. ^ Kazeem Ugbodaga (24 November 2021). "JUST IN: EFCC places Anambra Gov., Willie Obiano on watchlist". PM NEWS. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  30. ^ "I'll relocate to U.S. after my tenure, Obiano replies EFCC". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2021-11-26. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  31. ^ Olubajo, Oyindamola. "EXCLUSIVE: Bank documents expose how Governor Obiano took N4 billion from Anambra treasury on same day". Peoples Gazette. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  32. ^ Daniel, Soni; Bankole, Idowu. "BREAKING: EFCC arrests Willie Obiano at Lagos Airport". Vanguard. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  33. ^ "Willie Obiano arrested: EFCC say why dem arrest former Anambra state govnor hours after e hand over give Soludo". BBC Pidgin. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  34. ^ Eniola Akinkuotu (17 March 2022). "EFCC arrests Willie Obiano at Lagos airport". Punch. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  35. ^ Channels Television (17 March 2022). "EFCC Arrests Willie Obiano At Lagos Airport". Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  36. ^ Soni Daniel (19 March 2022). "We want Obiano to account for N42bn Security vote, Sure-P Cash — EFCC". Vanguard. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  37. ^ Sodiq Oyeleke (19 March 2022). "Why Obiano is detained, undergoing interrogation -EFCC official". Punch. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
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