The new governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, began his second day in office on an urgent note, urging the judges in the state judicial system to slash the volume of all long outstanding litigations in the state to 50% in the next six months.

The governor who made the appeal yesterday during a visit to the Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi, also advised the judges to brace for the sweeping change that his administration would bring to Anambra State.

Obiano explained that his visit to the Judicial Complex was in continuation of his programmed engagement with the two other organs of government and key functionaries of the state. He noted that the judiciary had always stood out as a very important democratic institution in the state.

“It is a well-known fact that since our country’s recent return to democracy, nowhere has the Judiciary played its role as the last hope of the common man as it has done in Anambra State. Our recent political history bears the indelible marks of the judiciary,” he said.

According to the governor, Anambra’s great history with the courts does not only underscore the importance of the role of the judiciary “in our developing society, it also shows that Ndi Anambra are increasingly becoming aware that their grievances can always be fully addressed in a court of law. This is a sign of growth.”

Chief Obiano assured the judges that his administration would do everything necessary to ensure that the peaceful balance that the courts had helped to engender in Anambra State would be maintained adding that he had no doubt that his vision for Anambra State needed the safe hands of the judiciary to come to reality.

He further assured that his administration would build a structural and policy framework that would make for a strong judiciary and a stronger Anambra State, promising a comprehensive reform of the judiciary to make it more responsive to the needs of the Anambra people.

In his response, Justice Umeadi assured the governor of his support and the determination of the justice ministry to contribute to the realisation of the vision of a better Anambra State under the new administration.

In a related development, Governor Obiano yesterday informed civil servants in the state that the change they had hoped has finally come.

Addressing Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Government Agencies in the state, Governor he declared: “As you return to your offices today, let the people know that the change we have been waiting for has come. With my background in the private sector, my administration will uphold the virtues of due process but we have patience for the slow grind of negative bureaucracy of the typical civil service. We shall not tolerate any practice that will slow down our pace to a better Anambra State.”

According to him, “It is common knowledge that the challenge we have in Anambra State has nothing to do with competence or absence of the appropriate human capital but the lack of enthusiasm and drive. The lot falls on you to rekindle the fire in our civil service.”

Obiano remarked while assuring that his administration would look into all outstanding grievances about promotion, confirmation, training and other incentives that would encourage them to dedicate themselves to the service of the state.

The governor also reminded them that the success of his administration and the hope for a better Anambra depended heavily on how the passion and commitment they bring to bear on their jobs.

•Photo shows, L-R: Governor Willie Obiano, Deputy Governor Nkem Okeke, Chief Judge Peter Umeadi, and Mr. Oseloka Obaze, Secretary to the State Government, during the governor’s visit to the State Judicial Complex in Awka . . . Wednesday.

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