Gov. Obi yesterday paid valedictory visit to international organisations and development partners that have supported Anambra State since the inception of his government. Obi said the visit was necessary because of the tremendous support Anambra State enjoyed from them, especially when viewed from the point of view that none of them was in the state until he became the governor.

Accompanied by the State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget and his Chief of Staff, Prof. Chinyere Okunna; the Permanent Secretary in charge of Abuja Liaison Office, Peter Afuba, Dr. Beatrice Okonkwo and Chief Okey Ezeibe, Gov. Obi took the opportunity to introduce the Governor-elect and his successor, Chief Willie Obiano, who also accompanied him to all of them. Thanking them for their support to Anambra, Obi appealed for the same support to the incoming Governor, assuring them that he has the pedigree and experience to sustain the gains of the partnership with them. “You have given us tremendous support, I appeal to you to extend the same support to the incoming governor,” Obi said.

Some of the organisations and persons visited are the DFID, where the delegation was received by Mr. Christian Rogg; the European Union, were they were received by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Arrion and the Head of Political Section, Henry Prankerd; the United Nations Resident Representative, Dr. Dauda Toure; the Deputy Executive Director of UN Habitat, Dr. Aisa Kirabo; and UNICEF Representatives, Ms. Jean Gough.

All the development partners said it was good working with Gov. Obi. They expressed the hope that those that are coming after him would face the task of governance the way Obi did by delivering the dividends of democracy to his people.

Deputy Executive Director of UN Habitat, Dr. Aisa Kirabo, recalled how Gov. Obi reached out to the UN Habitat on structural plans for three Anambra cities years ago. She commended his efforts at engaging development partners for the good of his state and advised Governor-elect Obiano to toe the same path.

On her part, Coordinator, Inter Agency Relations at the UN Habitat, Mrs. Miriam Yunusa, described Gov. Peter Obi as an asset to Africa. She said that after his visit to Kenya to convince the UN Habitat to support Anambra State, other governors from different parts of the world started coming. Yunusa said that the UN had so many things in stock for Obi, including making him their goodwill ambassador.

Speaking during the visits, Governor-elect Obiano commended Gov. Peter Obi for working so hard for the state. He thanked development partners and international organisations for many programmes they are running in Anambra State and assured them that the relationship would be strengthened.

Obi will round-up the visit today with the visit to the World Bank, Society for Family Health, among others.

•Photo shows Gov. Peter Obi (2nd left), with Prof. Chinyere Okunna (1st right), during the valedictory visit to the UNDP Office, Abuja, yesterday, at which he introduced the Gov-elect, Dr. Willie Obiano (2nd right), to them – the United Nations Resident Representative, Dr. Dauda Toure(1st left), and the Deputy Executive Director of UN Habitat, Dr, Aisa Kirabo (middle).

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