Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has saved over $100 million (about N17 billion) for the state in the past eight years that he has been in the saddle in the South-East state. This is in addition to over N25 billion worth of investments made by his administration, which terminates mid-next month. What this means is that incoming Governor Willie Obiano will have enough funds with which to hit the ground running when he is sworn-in on March 16.

Speaking with journalists yesterday in Lagos, Governor Obi disclosed that he made the savings by implementing wide-ranging cost-saving measures from the day he assumed office. This, he said, included not having any office or official role for his wife, refusal to operate any Governor’s Lodge outside the state but rather ordering them to be rented out to make money for the state, refusal to appoint many aides (special assistants, special advisers, senior special assistants, senior special advisers, etc), as well as plugging of leakages arising from inflated contracts and frivolous out-of-state trips by government functionaries.

“People were not happy at first, but I stood my ground and made it clear that, just as is done by any wise individual, the state as an entity should save for the rainy day,” the governor said.

Speaking with News Express later, Obi’s media aide, Valentine Obienyem, disclosed that apart from the over $100 million highlighted by the governor during the interaction with journalists, the state under his watch has made savings of “over N25 billion in investments.”

•Photo shows Governor Obi.