Media Aide Defends Obi Against Tinubu’s Erosion Claims in Anambra

Valentine Obienyem, a media aide to former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, has responded to President Bola Tinubu’s claims that Obi did nothing to address erosion while in office. In an opinion piece published on Saturday, Obienyem called Tinubu’s remarks unfair and incorrect, citing various erosion-control projects initiated by Obi.

This exchange began after Tinubu visited Akwa Ibom State, where he promised to develop the state’s deep seaport and accused Obi of neglecting erosion issues in Anambra. Obienyem noted that Obi had previously spoken about the importance of developing seaports across Nigeria’s coastal states, mentioning examples from Egypt and South Africa.

Obienyem highlighted that Anambra has over 1,000 active erosion sites, including the serious Nanka-Agulu erosion complex. He emphasized that Obi took significant steps to address these issues during his tenure. For instance, he recounted how Obi personally intervened in emergencies, such as when he arrived at Ekwulobia early one morning to address erosion threatening homes and roads.

In addition to emergency responses, Obienyem pointed out that Obi, as Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, advocated for the region to be declared an ecological disaster zone. This push aimed to attract government and international support for erosion management. He credited Obi with advancing the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, a World Bank-supported initiative.

According to Obienyem, Obi worked on nearly 40 erosion-control and storm-water management projects across Anambra before leaving office. He provided a list of locations where these projects took place, including various communities and public institutions.

Obienyem argued that these efforts show that addressing erosion was a key priority for Obi’s administration, rather than an afterthought. He urged that evaluations of governance should focus on the problems identified and the results achieved, rather than political rhetoric.