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

Willie Obiano
Picture of Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State at the Funeral of Bishop Okafor
Willie in 2014
4th
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
Websitewillieobiano.com

Early life

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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

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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

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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 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

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In late November 2021, not long after Charles 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.[31] 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.[32] Adinuba rebutted that "the document...doesn't appear genuine" and "the figures you quote look extremely ridiculous."[32]

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.[33][34][35][36] 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.[37][38]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Labour leaders praise Obiano on workers' welfare". Daily Sun. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  2. ^ Anarado, Okechukwu (25 June 2014). "Gov. Obiano's Scorecard 100 Days After". The Union. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Anambra Residents Laud Obiano's Performance In 100 Days In Office". Leadership. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Willie Obiano Archives - Page 4 of 15". The Nation. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  5. ^ "An Open Advice To The New Anambra Governor Chief Willie Obiano, By Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu". Premium Times. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  6. ^ "After 25yrs of Chequered History, Anambra on the Path of Sustainable Growth". This Day. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  7. ^ "100 Days in Office: A Governor Takes Stock". This Day. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  8. ^ Hanafi, Afeez (18 March 2022). "Things you may not know about Obiano, latest ex-gov in EFCC net". Daily Trust. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  9. ^ Chukindi, Joe (17 March 2014). "Profile of new Anambra Governor, Willie Obiano". Daily Post. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  10. ^ "A Toast to Willie Obiano". This Day. 22 January 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  11. ^ Eze, James (10 August 2014). "Obiano at 57: Finally a New Star Rises from the East". This Day. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  12. ^ Obogo, Chinelo; Nweje, Chukwudi (29 August 2017). "Anambra guber: The top contenders". The Sun. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  13. ^ Obe, Emmanuel; Affe, Mudiaga; Ubabukoh, Ozioma; Chiedozie, Ihuoma (15 November 2013). "APGA candidate, Obiano, sued for double registration". The Punch. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  14. ^ Administrator. "Supreme Courts Affirms Gov Obiano's Election Victory". icirnigeria.org. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  15. ^ "Obiano sworn-in as Anambra Governor". Premium Times. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  16. ^ Edike, Tony; Ujumadu, Vincent; Okonkwo, Nwabueze (18 March 2014). "Obiano sworn in as Anambra gov". Vanguard. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Willie Obiano Sworn-in As Governor Of Anambra State". Channels TV. 17 March 2014. 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. ^ Abayomi, John (19 November 2017). "INEC declares Obiano winner of Anambra election". The Punch. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  20. ^ "APGA's Obiano Secures Second Term By Landslide Victory". Channels TV. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  21. ^ Adedigbaand, Azeezat (21 November 2017). "Anambra Election: APGA thanks Buhari for Obiano's victory". Premium Times. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Osinbajo, Fayemi bid Obiano farewell". Premium Times. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  23. ^ Rasak, Adekunle (14 March 2022). "March 17 handover: Obiano serves quit notice to political appointees". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  24. ^ Chijiobi, Onyinye (16 March 2022). "Gov Obiano Reels Out Achievements as He Ends 8 Year Tenure". radionigeriaenugu.gov.ng. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  25. ^ Sanni, Kunle (24 November 2021). "EFCC places Governor Willie Obiano on watchlist". Premium Times. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  26. ^ Adepegba, Adelani (24 November 2021). "EFCC places Anambra gov, Obiano, on watch list". The Punch. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  27. ^ "EFCC places Obiano on watch list". The Guardian. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  28. ^ Ajibola, Akinola (24 November 2022). "EFCC Places Anambra Governor, Willie Obiano On Watchlist". Channels TV. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  29. ^ Ugbodaga, Kazeem (24 November 2021). "Just In: EFCC places Anambra Gov., Willie Obiano on watchlist". P.M. News. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  30. ^ "I'll relocate to U.S. after my tenure, Obiano replies EFCC". The Guardian. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  31. ^ "Things you may not know about Obiano, latest ex-gov in EFCC net". Daily Trust. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  32. ^ a b Olubajo, Oyindamola (30 November 2021). "Exclusive: Bank documents expose how Governor Obiano took N4 billion from Anambra treasury on same day". Peoples Gazette. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  33. ^ Daniel, Soni; Bankole, Idowu. "Breaking: EFCC arrests Willie Obiano at Lagos Airport". Vanguard. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  34. ^ "Willie Obiano arrested: EFCC say why dem arrest former Anambra state govnor hours after e hand over give Soludo". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  35. ^ Akinkuotu, Eniola (17 March 2022). "EFCC arrests Willie Obiano at Lagos airport". The Punch. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  36. ^ "EFCC Arrests Willie Obiano At Lagos Airport". 17 March 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  37. ^ Daniel, Soni (19 March 2022). "We want Obiano to account for N42bn Security vote, Sure-P Cash — EFCC". Vanguard. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  38. ^ Oyeleke, Sodiq (19 March 2022). "Why Obiano is detained, undergoing interrogation -EFCC official". The Punch. Retrieved 30 June 2022.