Follow Us on Google
Before the last governorship election in Anambra state, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who was eventually declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was visibly one of the regular visitors to Catholic Church pastored by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma’ church at Uke. Fr. Obimma is more popular as Fr. Ebube Muo Nso. Other politicians also visited at different times. During those visits, Soludo constantly engaged the priest to use his pulpit to speak to his congregation that indeed, the solution to the myriad problems that were blamed on Willy Obiano’s ineffective leadership, was a few more days away. One of the major problems the Anambra people faced at the time was insecurity. Every discussion was on how to curb it.
At one of his vigil services, Fr. Ebube Muo Nso declared that “the next governor of Anambra state is here with us.” The congregation erupted in songs of praise. They sang and danced. Fr. Ebube Muo Nso followed the declaration with prayers invoking divine providence to make it happen. And it happened. Soon after Soludo was declared winner of the election, his media team teased out the video of that declaration by Fr. Obimma and made it go viral. Telecommunications companies must have hit a fortune from the circulation of the video over social media platforms. The purpose of that action was to show that Fr. Ebube Muo Nso was prophetic in the vigil declaration. They used the video to also prove that indeed the priest had a divine mandate and actually did see tomorrow and still see it.
However, the table has turned. The same priest who made a prophetic declaration about Soludo becoming governor of Anambra state, which did come to pass, is now being castigated and verbally torn apart by the same Soludo media. Their reason? The priest took to the same pulpit from where he prayed for Soludo to become governor, to also condemn the state of insecurity in Anambra under Soludo’s management. For this, Soludo’s aides have called him all sorts of names and insulted both his vocation and his person. Worst, they accuse him of misleading Anambra youths. Perhaps, he misled them into believing that Soludo had a solution to the insecurity in Anambra. But as the sun blows away the darkness of the night and opens into mornings, it is progressively clear that insecurity in Anambra under Governor Soludo has blighted what it was under Obiano. And, it is getting worse.
What many rational beings had expected of those who set out to hound Fr. Ebube Muo Nso and other clerics who are speaking truth to power over the reality of insecurity in Anambra, was simple -show proof that the security situation in the state today is better than it was when Obiano handed the leadership baton to Soludo. It is as simple as that. Just show proof that Anambra is more secure today than it was three years ago. Recall that the last governorship election campaigns in Anambra were punctuated by the phenomenon of the ‘unknown gunmen.’ They made campaigns almost impossible for other contestants in the race. Those candidates were not even allowed to drive around the state in party-branded vehicles. Soludo, as APGA’s candidate, had a free move because of state protection. He campaigned in a convoy of three armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and a horde of armed security comprising operatives of the essential national security outfits. He moved freely with the APCs on Mondays while Anambra sat at home. That was what ailed Anambra at the time. And that was what he promised to cure. Events today, however, show that he has not. Instead, he has abdicated that constitutional responsibility to God-knows-who.
As his team battles to shut Fr. Ebube Muo Nso and other Anambra people who are surprised at his failure to tackle insecurity in the state, they forget that the majority of the people resident in Anambra, move about with their hearts in their hands praying and hoping not to be felled by bullets from a non-state actor. They also forget that even the security personnel guarding strategic state facilities, or struggling to ensure security on the roads amidst a dearth of logistical support from the state, are also victims-in-waiting. Also, they forget that the biggest statement made about insecurity in Anambra was made by the governor when in August 2024 he gladly moved the wedding of his daughter to Abuja. The basic reason for doing so was to guarantee the security of his guests. The implication was that even as governor, he lacked the capacity to secure his guests in Anambra. By that action also, he told Anambra people to look elsewhere for help to secure themselves. Guess that is why Anambra people are now providing security for themselves despite the huge taxes that the Soludo administration imposed on them. That also is why many are disturbed because as the Psalmist says, “If the foundation is destroyed, what can the just do”. If the city gate is so badly kept, what would the city itself look like?
Like in the last governorship election, the problem of security in Anambra will take a prominent place in campaigns for the November 2025 governorship election in the state. What this implies is that 2025 is an election year for Soludo. As Nigeria’s political sphere dictates, election years are basically for campaigns and instrumenting every government activity for re-election. It suggests that policy implementation and governance are off the dashboard. This means that Soludo may have had his best shot at solving the security conundrum that has blighted his solutions. My reading of the situation is that it will get worse as Anambra gates open for politicking towards the November election. The situation may be used to prevent other candidates from campaigning freely while Soludo moves, again, in APCs and protected by the state.
However, elections have consequences. The consequence of electing Soludo the last time is the insecurity that has forced Anambra people away from their homes and created. This has created a new business heaven in Asaba, Owerri and Enugu. The Asaba estate market is witnessing a boom because of the security situation in Anambra. Hotels in Owerri recorded huge sales during the Christmas season because of the situation in Anambra. Enugu is Anambra’s elite favourite hangout. Meanwhile, markets, hotels and relaxation spots in Soludo’s Anambra are drying up. These are some of the consequences of Soludo’s management of the security situation in Anambra.
In political leadership, where governors are elected, the first term is usually used to justify the second term vote. It means that a governor’s first-term performance is a campaign for his second term. With insecurity destroying the essential fabric of Anambra society, one wonders how Soludo will market his case for a second term. His chances have been dimmed by his failures and granting him a second term would suggest that Anambra people graciously reward failures. I am yet to see an entrepreneur/trader reward a failed apprentice.
Perhaps, Willie Nelson, the American country music composer and singer had Anambra people and Soludo in mind when he sang these lines…
“If you don’t like who’s in there, vote ‘em out./ That’s what Election Day is all about./ The biggest gun we’ve got./ Is called “the ballot box”/ So if you don’t like who’s in there, vote ‘em out./
Vote ‘em out (vote ‘em out)./ And when they’re gone, we’ll sing and dance and shout./ Bring some new ones in./ And we’ll start that show again./ And if you don’t like who’s in there, vote ‘em out”.
