Title: Soludo: Solution by Disruptive Thinking in Anambra
Author (edited): Chuka Nnabuife
Publishers: Anambra Newspapers Printing Corporation, Awka
Year of Publication: 2022
Reviewer: Edozie Udeze
THE articles vary from opinions to features, all eulogizing the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. The write-ups dwell principally on his programmes; on the promises he had made to Anambrarians during his campaigns. The different ideas, ideals, projects, programmes, innovations, et al, he intended to bring in to make the state not only a model, but one of the foremost in the history of mankind are highlighted.
The articles bristle with life, dripping with renewed infusions of vigour and vehemence to ginger Soludo on so that his slogan of Soludo-solution will bear fruits ad infinitum. The title of the book is a clear signal and indication of what Soludo believes in – Soludo: Solution by Disruptive Thinking in Anambra. Edited by an art scholar and journalist, Chuka Nnabuife, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Anambra Newspapers and Printing Corporation, publishers of National Light, Awka, with foreword by Paul Nwosu, the State Commissioner for Information, the Soludo ideals are made into a sort of movement of disruptive change(s). The issues raised are a pointer to what to expect from his administration in the next few years. The fact that the collection of articles were made into a book within this shortest possible time is also indicative of the level of resilience in the Soludo-solution team and the whole of Anambra State.
As a matter of fact, the title of the book is derived from one of the earliest lectures Soludo delivered in Abuja soon after he was elected governor. Entitled The Purpose and Price of Disruptive Change, Soludo told the young graduands of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance, Abuja, that they as the young ones can equally transform their society if they so wish and are really bent on doing so. Reported by Chuka Nnabuife himself, he entitled the article: Africa urgently needs to heed Soludo’s call for disruptive change. The underlying factor remains that for a society to seriously move away from the mundane to the modern, there has to be committed and disruptive paradigm shift both in thought process and actions.
This is so because it is clear that things have gone awry in almost every facet of this generation (page 17). This is manifest in people’s attitude to personal and social activities and for Soludo, time to change that tendency is here as Anambra is set to take the lead. It is not just moments to make verbal, verbose promises, it is time to get down to business, attacking those issues or tenets or precepts that do not augur well for the state, for the well-being of the people. It is time to push aside or pull down obstructions in order to make inroads for civilization, for modernity to take its proper place.
Each article zeroes down on a different template for the governor, sports inclusive. While some are on issues of political reforms, others are on social, economic and other tendencies to transform the state. It is noted however, that on the economic front, the governor is taken head-on on his promises to the people. It is a way of re-awakening, reminding him of the things he said he would do and those the people also want him to perfect to make life better for all. Some of the articles emanated from the weekly editorial meetings of the National Light, the state owned newspaper. Each writer was assigned a different topic to handle to its logical conclusion. In the end, the depth of seriousness, the level of commitment shown by the writers also point towards disruptive solution for a new Anambra State. For instance, the foreword by the Commissioner for Information Paul Nwosu hit the nail on the head. He said: “The governor (first) went to Okpoko slums to dare dirt and murk. He would not bow the knee to the idolatrous so-called unknown gunmen striving in vain to foist a reign of insecurity on the state. They are being routed by the minute…”
But Nnaibuife, almost short of terming this era a revolutionary moment, inferred: “revolutions are not just radical developments that quake society, or force out change of social order they are not always violent… Revolutionary transformations in governance and social equations are better achieved through non-violent but not lesser-keen collective quest of a people to evolve to higher grounds”. This comes with clear understanding of what they are in for as well as what the land, thereafter, will no longer accept. This is the Soludo-solution mantra for a disruptive change, well orchestrated and engineered to benefit the society, the people as whole. Anambra is in for a good time.
For a futuristic change to come, there must be some serious disruptions to the status quo – old things must pass away for new ones to take their proper places. Soludo is an apostle of such belief and approach, for to him if one does not pursue a dark skinned goat in the day time, it will be difficult to see it in the dark. And so this brings us to Uzor Maxim Uzoatu’s article aptly entitled It’s morning yet on Soludo solution day. He said: “My title is borrowed from Chinua Achebe’s book of essays entitled Morning Yet On Creation Day… Yes, “a popular mandate always comes with great expectations… Expectations need to be matched with the hard realities on the ground…. At the visionary level, Soludo banks on the plans, values, passion and accomplishments of some of Africa’s liberation-cum-independence leaders such as Julius Nyerere, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, etc…. Therefore, “Soludo’s early morning feats are already ennobling pointers to a rewarding Solution Day for Anambra State, the Light of the Nation”.
Uzoatu goes on in another article entitled What Governor Soludo means to Anambra State. In it, he enthuses thus: “Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo is a man of destiny. He did not hide it from anybody that he wanted to become the Anambra State governor. The job has now met him. Soludo came upon the saddle of Anambra State governorship fully prepared… Soludo exemplifies the unique Anambra essence of education and enterprise”. And so the made-in-Anambra work ethic of excellence that Soludo solution preaches and practices is an idea whose time has come, whose era synchronizes with a man of vision, totally given to the resuscitation of a people’s dream to be the first among equals.
Divided into sections, the book has articles in varied forms and themes by other writers. Some of the authors include Izunna Okafor, Chigozie Anueyiagu, Ray Udeagbara, Okechwukwu Anarado, Juventus Okoli. Others are Onyedikachi Anyaonyeabor, Michael Nnabuife, Joe Anatune, Chris Aghanya and more. Each article pierced and pried into the Soludo solution melee meant to re-address the Anambra situation, the Anambra mandate.
Above all, the reactions of some prominent Anambra citizens on the Soludo disruptive mantra also lend credence to this book. Such people as Innoson, the Amesi monarch, even Governor Okowa of Delta State, show how deep and profound the mission to turn Anambra around has become. In some of the editorial comments, The National Light comes hard, but constructively and objectively on the way forward; on issues to be tackled forthwith.
Some of the editorials, like in most cases, are agenda setting in tone, tune and pointing front and back on many plausible and acceptable ways to move on ahead. Even then Nnabuife and Co have to be commended for having produced the fastest book in the history of any governor known and unknown. Some areas of the book however, where errors appeared should be avoided in the future. Otherwise, the book came out forcefully to reinvigorate the never-say-die-attitude of most zealous professional and seasoned journalists. Ditto: Chuka Nnabuife and his team. When you read this book, your attitude, approach, imagination and all, about change will be re-ordered and reset.