Peter Obi |
The billionaire businessman
stated it explicitly that in addition to improving the accessibility of his
auto-plant by making the roads motorable, Obi placed repeated orders for
hundreds of mini buses, pick-up trucks and SUVs.
However, the great industrialist
revealed that the former PDP vice presidential candidate is a hard bargainer
who would always insist on the lowest possible unit price, even though he would
pay promptly for every order placed.
“Peter Obi gave me much
encouragement when I started. He first ordered 700 units of buses for schools
in Anambra State, for which he made upfront payment. This upfront payment
helped me a lot because I was just getting started.
“Later on, he ordered for another
500 units of pick-ups for security agencies in the state. But the only snag in
dealing with him is that he would beat the price down to the lowest point.
However, the good thing about him is that he will never owe you. He gave me a
lot of encouragement. He also came back to me to say that he needed 500 SUVs
for all the traditional rulers in Anambra state.
“Then, I had not started
producing SUVs. I asked him to give me
14 days to study his need. I called all my engineers together and we discussed
how to produce his order. Peter Obi made me to start producing SUVs and
pick-ups, and we have no regrets doing so,” he said.
It can be recalled that Peter Obi
had some years ago disclosed on a national television station that some people
in his government had tried to discourage him from purchasing the Innoson
vehicles, alleging that they were death-traps.
“But, I insisted on the state
buying from Innoson; I told them, ‘let the vehicles go ahead and kill us. The
rest of us that survive will continue to use them,’” the former governor
stated, confirming that the vehicles performed satisfactorily.
The result of meeting the mass
purchases was that the auto maker gradually added more products to the IVM
line-up, including shuttle buses, bigger
buses for mass transit, various pick-up truck models {some made for the
security agencies}, sedans, SUVs, ambulances, family vans, and refuse
management vehicles.
The addition of many products
also led to the commissioning of two new plants in July 2021 and installation
of an automated robotic paint spray booth, which was integrated into the
production processes to increase efficiency and quality in the IVM factory
complex.
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