Anambra: Soludo swears in new SSG, 13 other appointees

Charges them to work for state, not celebration

From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has sworn in the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government and 13 other principal officers of his government, who will work with him for his second term.

The governor, who admonished the appointees, told them they were appointed to work and not to dine, urging that their celebration should end with the event, while work commences immediately.

He reminded them that the fate of over nine million people in Anambra and about 10 million other indigenes scattered across the globe depends on the decisions they take while in office, urging that they must strive to do right at all times.

Soludo said it is not unlikely that in Nigeria, when people are appointed into positions, they throw parties to celebrate, but insisted that their appointment is strictly for them to work, so their celebration must end after the swearing-in event, while work starts immediately.

The governor spoke immediately after the appointees were sworn in by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Tobechukwu Nweke. Nweke had earlier been sworn in by the state’s Solicitor General, Barr. Mrs Ngozi Iwouno, who was, in turn, later sworn in by Nweke as Head of Service.

Soludo, who addressed the newly sworn-in appointees, said, “Congratulations and welcome to the Team Solution 2.0. A week ago, I was sworn in together with the deputy governor, and we reeled out our achievements and some synopsis of the work ahead.

“With these appointments, Solution Team 2.0 is unfolding, and this is the first batch. More appointments will be made, but we will take out time, and today or tomorrow, there may be some others that will be announced.

“I sincerely congratulate and commiserate with you. Congratulations because it’s a call to serve the estimated nine million Ndi Anambra. To that extent, we say congratulations because you have been called to serve. You will be carrying the collective weight of the over nine million people whom your decisions will affect.

“I commiserate with you because you are the team we call ‘those paid to serve’. In this job, there will be risks, but all I see is work. In Nigeria, an appointment is a call to come and chop, but, for me, I don’t see the dining table, what I see is work, I see fields where you will serve.

“We swore to the same oath of office and oath of allegiance that you have sworn to today. The difference is the name and office. This (swearing in) is not just a ceremony, you have taken an oath. Beyond the camera, beyond the moment, I urge you to sit down again and read every word of what you swore to. They are weighty words, and they should provide the compass for your service.

“Each of you have been carefully vetted. A thorough thought process has gone into picking you, and we were very intentional in picking you, and we can write a book on you. We will do the same in picking more. We selected you to add value, and you must know that this job is a 24/7 arrangement.

“I call at odd hours; Anambra people want work done; work has no time, that is why I’m commiserating with you ahead of time. So, when my calls will start coming, and late office work, you will remember that I commiserated with you ahead of time,” Soludo said.

Among those sworn in are: Head of Service, Barr. (Mrs) Ngozi Iwouno; Principal Secretary to the Governor (PS), Barr. Joachin Peters Anetoh; Chief of Staff to the Governor (COS), Dr Ben Nwankwo; State Chief of Protocol (SCOP), Prof. Frank-Collins Okafor; Attorney-General of the State, Barr. Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN; and Special Adviser, Community Security, Mr Ken Emeakayi.

Others are: Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Christian Aburime; Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS), Dr Vincent Egbuna Okechi; Deputy State Chief of Protocol (DSCOP), Ms Ngozi Lucy Okoye; Special Adviser, Medicals and Pharmaceuticals, Dr Godwin Nnadozie; Special Adviser, Innovation and Business Incubation & CEO, Solution Innovation District, Ms Chinwe Okoli; and Special Adviser, Special Projects & Director, Project Evaluation and Monitoring, Prof. (Engr) Ebuka Nwankwo.