Yesterday, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in the November 6 election in Anambra state, received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as governor-elect. The INEC National Commissioner Supervising Anambra, Festus Okoye, presented the certificate to the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Awka, as he becomes the second ex-CBN governor to be elected to govern a state.
In his remarks, Soludo promised not to disappoint the people of the state, saying “the efforts and sacrifice of people of Anambra will not be in vain, as I will justify the confidence reposed in him by the people of the state.” He went ahead to repeat the many promises he made to the people during his campaign tours across the state. For Soludo, a village boy who has risen through the ranks to become an icon in the annals of the Nigerian history, his latest feat comes with a lot of expectations and responsibilities. Given his bumpy ride to the Government House, not a few persons are waiting to see how he will translate his electoral success at the polls to good governance for the good people of Anambra who finally ushered him into office as governor on his third attempt.
Soludo first declared his intention to govern Anambra state in 2009. He emerged as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2010 governorship election in the state. Peter Obi, then incumbent governor and candidate of APGA, defeated former governor Chris Ngige and Soludo, who came third, to get re-elected. Undeterred, he threw his hat into the ring again four years later. He left the PDP and joined APGA to seek the party’s ticket for the 2013 governorship poll in the state. He didn’t go far in his ambition this time as he was controversially disqualified by the screening committee to pave way for Willie Obiano, the current governor, to pick the ticket.
On his way to being third-time-lucky, Soludo, in February 2021, officially announced his intention to contest the governorship election on the platform of APGA again. After a lot of challenges and uncertainties which included an attack on his campaign train which resulted in the murder of his police orderly and initially not being recognised as the party’s candidate, the little boy from Isuofia is now waiting to assume office as governor of his state. He is coming to office as governor with an enviable pedigree and laudable records in both the private and public sectors.
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He became CBN governor on the 5th May, 2004 and immediately went ahead to refocus the apex bank into an effective monetary authority. In the process, in spite of stiff oppositions from many sectors of the nation’s economy, he successfully implemented a fundamental restructuring which many authorities have credited for the unprecedented consolidation of the Nigerian banking system that followed. To his credit, the Nigerian banking system was soon rated the fastest growing in Africa and one of the fastest growing in the world. He has also championed the establishment of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), a continental, private -sector driven, investment bank.
With his reputation going before him and his victory ascribed to the expectations of the people of the state, Soludo is coming to Anambra to prove his mettle. He will no doubt be under pressure to succeed in the arduous task of governing one of the states in Nigeria with the highest numbers of industrialist and businessmen. And with the state’s political antecedents well known, the days ahead, according to many analysts, are not ones for the former CBN governor to neither sleep nor slumber. He must guard his loins and set to work; and hard work it is.
The tasks ahead of him have been defined by the many campaign promises of the leading aspirants in the just concluded race, including Soludo himself. Very importantly, the people expect an improved security through modernised security systems and improved community policing. Ndi Anambra wants the state’s economy expanded and entrepreneurship promoted. Anambra people have also made it clear they desire an administration that is open, accountable, responsiveness, accessible and with good initiatives.
And like a man eager to have his date with destiny, Soludo, after his election, promised to hit the ground running. He said he is prepared for the job. According to his 72-page manifesto, he intends to change, develop, boost and transform Anambra State from a dominantly informal commercial state to a formal, productive, and competitive economy. This he plans to achieve through rapid industrialisation, agriculture, commerce, entertainment/leisure and the creative industry, technology and innovation, solid minerals, and oil and gas.
On state security and provision of adequate logistics and material support to security agencies in the state, he plans to work with the Federal Government while supporting law enforcement agencies in the state with infrastructure, surveillance, and communications tools to enhance their capacity to safeguard lives and property. He pledges to reinforce the capability of the existing security system through employment and equipment of more personnel, training and retraining of vigilante officers to improve their effectiveness, partner with security agencies towards the eradication of violence, crimes, drug usage, fraud, and all deviant behaviours. And as they wait for him to assume office, many people, within and outside Anambra state, are equally waiting to see what will come out of the next administration in the state.
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