Dr Uche Ifediba, National President, Advocacy for Transparent Governance and Promotion Initiative (ATGPI), believes the governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo would win the November governorship election in the state, owing to his achievements in the areas of infrastructure, education, help, social services and others in the past three years. He noted that the governorship election in the state would offer the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) another chance to restore the hope of electorate in the electoral system.
He debunked the assertion that the huge crowd that welcomed President Bola Tinubu to Anambra State was hired, saying his visit underscored the strong bond between the President and the South-East. He also expressed hope that leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi kanu, would be released by President Tinubu.
He spoke with DICKSON OKAFOR.
In November, Anambra people will head to the polls to elect a new governor. Are you confident that their votes will count?
The expectation of every patriotic Nigerian is that people’s vote should count in every election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but in most cases the reverse is the case. It is unfortunate that majority of Nigerians have lost hope in INEC because after standing in the sun for hours to cast their votes, their vote won’t count and election results are announced with fictitious figures. So, the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State will be another chance for INEC to restore the hope of electorate in the electoral system.
Do you think the internal crisis in APGA might affect the chances of the incumbent Governor, Prof Soludo?
Internal crisis a major challenge in the management of political parties all over the world, but how it is being managed is what matters. The leadership crisis in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has been resolved through the Supreme Court judgement that affirmed Hon Sly Ezeokenwa as the authentic National Chairman of APGA. So, the party united and fully prepared for November 8 governorship election. There is a saying that “You must make a choice to take a chance or things will never change.” That was the decision the people of Anambra State took three years ago when they elected Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo as the Governor of Anambra State.
And from the look of things, his re-election is certain based on his performance within three years in office. Even though politicians are very difficult to defend, but Soludo is exceptional. On assuming office in March 2022, he faced significant challenges such as serious infrastructural deficiencies and the scourge of non-state actors that posed a security threat everywhere. Today, Soludo has transformed Anambra State. He also gave health and education sectors alongside youth unemployment urgent attention. The pending list was extensive with sparse resources available for them. But undeterred, the governor sprang to action and released the foremost redeeming signal through his first annual budget, which spread projects across all parts of the state including the remote and less frequented areas. In no time his good work gained expression. Therefore, he stands a better chance to be re-elected.
There are speculations that the crowd that trooped out to welcome President Bola Tinubu to Anambra State was hired, especially because the South-East people are not happy with government for the continued detention of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu?
I strongly disagree with that claim. The President was well received by the people of Anambra State during his visit to commission some projects in the state because he is a friend of Igbo. That is why the people trooped out to welcome President Tinubu. Even all the South-East governors came to welcome the President. His visit underscores the strong bond between the President and the South-East. Governor Soludo described the President’s visit as partnership that works. So, President Tinubu received a resounding welcome as he inaugurated some of the projects done in the past three years by the present government in the state. President Tinubu showed how much he loves Igbos by including Iyom Bianca Ojukwu in his cabinet as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. So, with Bianca Ojukwu’s presence in the government, I believe President Tinubu will soon release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
There has been a gale of defections from the opposition to the ruling APC. There are even rumours that Governor Soludo is planning to defect to the APC after the November 8 governorship election. What is your take?
Going by the transformation that has taken place in Anambra State by Soludo, I don’t see the reason why he should defect to APC after winning the governorship for a second term. Because within three years, his achievements spanned all sectors of the economy. He has awarded 746 kilometres of new and high quality roads traversing and interconnecting all the local government areas of the state. Most of them have been completed, with two monumental flyovers and seven strategic bridges. A long range of roads have been dualised with critical erosion control projects. The massive Government House Complex and Governor’s Lodge – the first since the state was created -will soon be completed, while full automation of the judiciary has been accomplished. Also, rehabilitation of large water schemes have commenced and is currently providing clean and regular water supply to several urban and rural populations. In the education sector there have been recruitment of new teachers, rehabilitation and equipment of schools, free education in public schools and substantial funding grants to missionary school and so on. Moreover, the administration has through the Anambra State Small Business Agency, empowered thousands of youths with vocational training and funding to start their own businesses and so on. So, I don’t believe that Soludo will defect to APC.
With the emergence of Nicholas Ukachukwu as APC candidate, don’t you think the contest may throw up a surprise?
Anambra State does not lack competent and strong contenders who are capable to govern, but in the forthcoming election, Governor Soludo’s transformation prowess has earned him a second term having proved to the people under four years that he will do more if re-elected. Hon Nicholas Ukachukwu is not the only strong contender in the race, there are other gladiators aspiring to become the next governor. Today, as it stands, there is no vacancy in the new Government House, Awka because the incumbent governor has earned the trust and support of the people through achievements not only as the governor, but one who stabilised the financial institution when he was the Central Bank Governor. Yes, Ukachukwu is a strong, but the people of Anambra cannot change a winning team under Governor Soludo. Don’t forget that it is as a result of his outstanding service and accomplishment in Anambra State that made The Sun Publishing Limited to confer him with the Best Governor Award. Therefore, no one believed that the present state government had not borrowed funds for these projects until the Governor Soludo himself categorically stated so. He wisely and patriotically refuses to borrow money that would burden future generations. Because while borrowing for impactful projects t may be beneficial, but Nigeria’s experience has shown that government borrowing often ends in corruption that swells private pockets.
So, Governor Soludo’s impressive track record has left many wondering about the secret behind it. The “Soludo Solution” effectiveness applies to every problem, which reflects his personality and aligns with his values. The meaning of this simple word has gone beyond the ordinary. In Anambra State they have liberally defined the “Soludo Solution” and elsewhere as the prompt and accurate deployment of state resources for problem solving and prevention purposes with expert managerial prudence and zero corruption. The application of the almighty Solution to the knotty problem of insecurity in the state dealt a mortal blow to the criminals within a few days of savage enforcement, which silenced even his critics.
Some will disagree that Soludo transformed Anambra, as it is clear that his predecessors began the infrastructure development in the state…
Government is continuous and we have seen in some states where the successors refused to continue the transformation of their states from where their predecessors stopped. No wonder the people have vowed to make sure Soludo returns for a second term. With him, fortune favours the state and there is a wild joy. Many are excitedly waiting to see the rail line that would soon traverse the state as the governor has promised. According to him, the master plan is ready and the project would soon commence.
Thus, in less than two years into his second term, by 2027, train will be transporting passengers across the state. As fresh hope surges, people fervently implore the good Lord to keep Prof Soludo so that he can also deliver with precision on this tantalising pledge. The question most people are asking is, what is really the governor’s secret? His education, experience, exposure and uncommon ideas are all part of it. Also, the main secret is wrapped in his integrity. And by nature, this man’s throat is not wider than his palms. His success rests squarely on zero corruption and freest funding and diverse ideas for the people’s welfare. So, Soludo with transparency, earnings from federal allocation don’t disappear, and the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) has tremendously improved, making campaign promises not to end up as paper promises. However, one thing is certain, Governor Soludo’s leadership style will inspire hope for transparent and trustworthy governance.