Willie Obiano Biography
Willie Obiano, born August 8, 1955, is a Nigerian politician, banker, technocrat, and the former governor of Anambra State. He served as the fourth democratically elected Governor of Anambra State before he was replaced by Charles Soludo. Governor Obiano hails from Aguleri, a town in Anambra State in the Eastern region of Nigeria, where he was born.
Wiki Profile
| Full Name: | Willie Obiano |
| Date of Birth: | August 8, 1955 |
| Place of Birth: | Anambra |
| State of Origin: | Anambra State |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Occupation: | Politician |
| Net Worth: | $300 million |
| Wife/Spouse: | Ebelechukwu Veronica Obiano |
Early Life and Education
Willie Obiano was born in Aguleri, Anambra State, the eastern geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
He began and completed both his primary and secondary education in Anambra State, obtaining his First School Leaving Certificate and O’Level Certificate.
He was admitted into the University of Lagos where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1979 and a Master of Business Administration from the same university.
Career
Governor Willie Obiano kicked off his banking career in 1981, working at the First Bank of Nigeria.
The former Anambra State governor left his job at First Bank of Nigeria to join the services of Chevron Oil Nigeria Plc as an accountant and was promoted to the position of Chief Internal Auditor.
He was one of the auditors that audited Texaco Refinery in Rotterdam, Netherlands in 1989.
The immediate past governor of Anambra State is one of the top Nigerian politicians who is widely known for his efforts in his state during his administration.
In 1991, Willie Obiano got an appointment at the Fidelity Bank as Deputy Manager and head of Audit unit and later earned promotion to the position of Executive Director in October 2003.
Willie Obiano left the banking system to join Nigerian politics and contested the November 16, 17, and 30 2013 gubernatorial elections under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.
After a tense election, he won the election and was sworn in on March 17, 2014 to succeed Peter Obi.
On November 18, 2017, Obiano was re-elected as governor. His tenure ended on March 16, 2022, when he handed over to Charles Soludo.
Willie Obiano Net Worth
The net worth of Willie Obiano is an estimated $300 million. He is a top Nigerian banker, politician, and former governor of Anambra State.
Personal Life
Willie Obiano is happily married to his beloved wife, Ebelechukwu Veronica Obiano, the former First Lady of Anambra State.
Their marriage is blessed with children, with the couple enjoying their family after having left office as governor of Anambra State.
Controversies
In November 2021, after Charles Chukwuma Soludo was elected as Obiano’s successor, reports emerged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had placed Obiano on a watchlist.
However, the EFCC did not state the reason for placing Obiano on their watchlist, speculation about potential investigations into alleged corruption led journalists to investigate the finances of the Obiano administration.
On November 30, 2021, the Peoples Gazette released an exclusive on bank documents showing that on March 29, 2017, Willie Obiano had withdrawn over ₦4 billion from multiple Anambra security vote allocation accounts with no stated explanation.
On Thursday March 17, 2022, he was arrested by the EFCC at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, a few hours after he handed over power.
Meanwhile, the reason for the arrest is yet to be announced, but EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwajaren stated that it was connected to the watchlist placement and that Obiano was attempting to flee the nation.
