On March 17 2024, Governor Soludo marked his two years in office with massive infrastructural, economic and human capital developments. It was an uncommon definition of governance in a post-subsidy era. At his 100 days in office, the governor declined any celebration as was the routine rather he promised to evaluate his scorecard annually.
The governor met so many challenges in 2022 ranging from the rascality of the previous administration, porous security architecture orchestrated by unknown gunmen and the Southeast unrest, disorder from the arrest, detention of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. One hour after his inauguration, he entertained no fanfare but set out instantly to make Anambra State a liveable and prosperous homeland by his first visit to Okpoko, an Onitsha suburb, slums.During the governor’s one year in office, he had asphalted over 100kms of road, employed 5000 teachers, digitalized the education sector, ended touting, provided the framework for 24hrs electricity supply with EEDC, initiated the One Youth Two Skills scheme, trained civil servants on ICT.
Former military and civilian president, Olusegun Obasanjo was in attendance, where he reiterated that Igbophobia is real, as was his experiences from 1999-2003. He emphasized that as a statesman, he had carried every tribe along while he was the president.Statistics have shown that 10% of every employment, deployment and appointment in Anambra State under Governor Soludo were given to non-indigenes and non-Anambrarians. Even the ongoing recruitment of another 3000 teachers has an inclusion of non-Anambrarians. Initially, some people thought it to be an oversight or a mere coincidence.
Tongues kept wagging and emotions were ruffled when a Yoruba man and persons from some other tribes were selected among the 18 new permanent secretaries in the state civil service. This action is uncommon, unusual and rare in the whole Southeastern states even the entire country.
The governor’s interest is to equip the state workforce with highly qualified, motivated and resilient workforce.Besides, so much has been written about recruitment processes in Anambra state under Prof. C. C Soludo. The 400 medical doctors, 300 health workers and several others had to participate in a rigorous CBT exams and interviews. Evidently, it is recorded that Governor Soludo plays politics devoid of bitterness and rancour.
He is a politician in the mould of the all time nationalist, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. Zik of Africa loved every tribe in Nigeria and took the Yorubas as his brothers. He made a school teacher, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the prime minister, tutored him on what to do and nicknamed him “the golden voice of Africa”.Eventually, Zik was shocked by the egregious nature of Jeremiah Awolowo and how he brought tribalism to the Nigerian political space. In fact, the vision of Governor Soludo in governance transcends race, culture and tradition.
At his inception, he introduced a virtual platform for online examination which would have accommodated anyone from any part of the world but logistics and internet server crippled the initiative. Anambra state has been delivered from the wasters. Even though many still unnerved by the terror ensuing from the consequences of Mr. Governor’s taunting speeches are compelled from their lips a recapitulation of malevolence.
Such deliriously intoxicated attitudes did not save us from the evil genius nor helped in the days of toothless hound.Truly, we don’t think alike in every matter. Accepting one another as we are is the major task of keeping Nigeria together. But now, we all have different opinions on these matters because even with the lopsided appointments, neglect of the federal character; our minds warped with nepotism, we cannot have a perfectly clear understanding of anything. So, when we see something different in others, we should not be stubborn imagining that we are right and others are all wrong.
Division is a doctrine, divide and rule is a principle; on such doctrines, we should not yield one bit. The tragedy today is that the Fulani hegemony, Yoruba’s clannishness has turned Nigerians enemies and destroyers of one another. Anambra state government has portrayed an inward attitude and we are convinced that the barren place of obscurity is sectarianism.
Therefore, the political class in Nigeria must face their fears and indecision. We all struggle with different kinds of fears. Governor Soludo has displayed uncommon courage in governance. We may not have all the answers here but a greater problem in politics has been tackled. Our ethnicity should unite us; each celebrating their own heritage and all of us learning those things about each other and families.
We need to appreciate the different pigments of our skin, the languages we speak and wonderful notions about our culture, which add colour and flavour to the world.
The federal government and state governors should desist from such excuses – limited resources, lack of education, lies from the past. In every bird, there is potential for a flock. In every man, there is potential for a nation and the Igbos are not insipid.In conclusion, the Anambra governor has become prosperous, vigorous and strong in the mode of governance.
When governor Soludo employs you, your salary and wages are paid upfront without any probationary delays. It requires a conscious decision and effort to keep our primary goal constantly in front of us.
It means holding ourselves to the highest priority year in and year out; not slacking in providing democratic dividends to the masses.The Israeli statesman David Ben-Gurion observed: “Courage is a special kind of knowledge, the knowledge of how to fear what ought to be feared and how not to fear what ought not to be feared.
From this knowledge comes an inner strength that inspires us to push on in the face of great difficulty. What can seem impossible is often possible with courage.”
