Governor Willie Obiano will today formally handover Anambra State leadership baton to Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo at low key ceremony billed to begin at 9 am in Awka.
Soludo’s head of Media, Joe Anatune, said the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, would after his inauguration inspect a guard of honour and consequently make his inaugural speech to the people of the state.
He added that “thereafter, an inter-denominational service will hold briefly before the new governor immediately sets out to work.”
A terse statement by the media aide reads, “Please note this event is strictly low key and devoid of the usual merry-making and unbridled celebrations usually associated with occasions of this nature
“The governor-elect however remains grateful to everyone for the outpouring of goodwill messages as well as the continuous support from well-wishers and numerous supporters within and across the globe”
The Nation gathered that Soludo might announce some key positions in his administration after the inaugural speech.
Those already pencilled in for appointments include some who served under Obiano and Soludo’s schoolmate at Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha.
Soludo was declared the winner of the November 6 governorship election in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC. He defeated his closest rivals, Mr Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator Andy Uba of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Soludo contested the governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA.
Obiano, who vacates the Government House had in his farewell speech, said that when he dreamt of a bigger Anambra State during his inaugural speech eight years ago, it sounded like a dream to so many people.
He expressed joy that most of the dreams he shared with the people “come true.”
His words: “You asked for safety, we gave you. You asked for dignity; we sent our children to a global contest of intelligence and they defeated America, China, Spain and Turkey and brought back dignity and honour to us..
“You asked for legacies, we gave you monuments. Ndi Anambra, I touched a dream.
“Brothers and sisters, as your governor, I worked under extreme pressure. I took many hard decisions. I stepped on toes. I didn’t answer some phone calls. I lost some friends on account of these.
“If you are one of those who felt offended by what I did or did not do, please forgive me. For in the words of the great Nelson Mandela, ‘Forgiveness liberates the soul’
“A governor is also human. Whatever I did was for the good of Anambra State.
“I’m also aware that I did not fulfil every promise I made. But no government in the world has ever kept all its promises or solved all the problems of its time.
“However, my intentions were pure and my ambitions sincere. Let history be the judge..”