Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
It has been 26 months since the people of Anambra State turned out in large numbers to elect Professor Chukwuma Soludo as the executive Governor of the state. His reputation as a professor, renowned economist, and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria gave him an edge over other candidates in the November 2021 election.
Before the emergence of Soludo as Governor of Anambra State, his predecessors including Chris Ngige, Peter Obi and Willie Obiano, that ruled the state arguably performed beyond average with each leaving their mark in varying ways and degrees, making Anambra one of the fastest rising states in the country.
Soludo came on board with his promise-filled manifesto that drew huge expectations from citizens in the state. Top on the list was his promise to make Anambra Africa’s Dubai and to transform the state into a livable and prosperous homeland. However, 26 months later, the Governor has set the ball rolling to the biblical ‘promised land,’ but not without shades of negatives and failings.
Every leader’s reign is a blend of successes and challenges, victories and setbacks. In Anambra, the administration of Governor Soludo has been no exception.
Soludo has implemented transformative policies and initiatives that have garnered widespread acclaim and positioned the state for growth and development.
The Positives
The over two years stewardship of Governor Chukwuma Soludo has arguably been impactful to the people of the State. His key pillars of governance have been security, law and order, infrastructure and economic transformation, human capital development, governance reforms, and the creation of a sustainable environment.
Soludo’s disruptive change mantra has reflected in every aspect of development. He has initiated viable schemes and reforms in education including the employment of 5000 teachers and the additional 3000 for public schools. The one youth, two skills youth empowerment programme, and health sector interventions, are his other areas of notable achievements.
Soludo’s transformative journey lies in the realm of infrastructure, where the administration has made remarkable strides in road construction. Over the span of the 26 months, over 344 kilometers of roads, coupled with the construction of 2 flyovers, have been awarded and officially initiated. This is in addition to the governor’s target of delivering an additional 250 kilometers highlighting the administration’s dedication to enhancing connectivity and accessibility for the citizens of the state.
The figures also encompass vital initiatives such as road rehabilitations, erosion control, and the essential task of desilting drainage systems to fortify the state against environmental challenges.
Governor Soludo has performed above average in tackling insecurity in Anambra State. Recall that the administration assumed office in March 2022, when unknown gunmen were on rampage in the state and eight local governments were under siege by these unknown gunmen. The administration has liberated these local government areas but unfortunately still struggles to tame cultists and cult-related killings in the state.
Soludo has initiated massive urban regeneration works in the state. Just like many cities in Nigeria, the major cities in Anambra have not followed a well-thought-out and designed master plan. At the moment, the designs for the master plan for Anambra Intercity Railway Network and 3 brand new cities – Awka 2.0, Onitsha 2.0 and Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City are almost complete.
In addition, the state government has revived urban water schemes. These initiatives underscore Soludo’s commitment to the welfare, transformative development, and overall economic well-being of the state.
Anambra would be a preferred destination for businesses with these proposed brand-new cities. The current remodeling of the existing cities in the state, the proposed four-star hotel in Awka and the Awka Fun City which would be inaugurated later in the year are all envisaged to enormously improve the GDP of the state.
Soludo has executed massive social and human capital development programmes in the last two years of his administration. Currently, over 1,000 women enjoy the state’s free delivery programme on a monthly basis, while thousands of indigenous and non-indigene pregnant women benefit from the state’s free antenatal services on a monthly basis – including the provision of free medications. The governor said he had rebuilt general hospitals, primary healthcare centers and recruited healthcare personnel to beef up manpower in the state’s health sector, but despite these claims, the doctor-to-patient ratio in Anambra state still poses concerns.
To consolidate on the quality of education in Anambra, 5,000 teachers were recruited last year by the Soludo-led administration and additional 3,000 to beef up students-teacher ratio. Soludo also introduced compulsory free education for all primary and junior secondary school children in government-owned schools in the state aimed at inclusive education.
There has also been a massive financial empowerment programme for youths in the state’s skill acquisition programme. Last year, 5,000 youths were empowered with seed capitals totalling 2 billion Naira. There was also an agricultural revolution that aimed at taking millions of people out of poverty through the state’s palm kernel/oil and coconut revolution.
Notably, the achievements of the Soludo-led administration in his 26 months as governor including the prompt payment of pensions, salaries, massive infrastructural development and payment of inherited debts, have been achieved without borrowing. This is despite the fact that, in real terms, the Naira devaluation has made the money available to him. The governor believes that if the state must borrow, it must be for projects that can pay back the debts.
Failures
There is no gainsaying there has not been shortcomings, where Soludo’s government has been found wanting in delivering good governance to the people. The Awka capital territory, the local government system and the security of lives of Anambra people are the worst hit areas of the governor’s tenure.
The Awka capital territory remains one of the worst state capitals in Nigeria with very poor infrastructural condition and insecurity which have driven many businesses away, resulting in capital flight and dearth of weekend economy while leaving the state capital, Awka to look more like a ghost town.
Another is the governor’s refusal to conduct local government election after 18 years that the election was last held in the state. Soludo had promised that his administration within his first two years in office would end the long wait for democratically elected council chairmen in the state. However, he has turned deaf ears to calls reminding him of his promise, instead he is continuing to use caretaker committee to run the affairs of the government at the council level.
The emasculation of the local government system which is the tier of government that is closest to the people by the Soludo government has made true democratic deliveries become very far from the people. It has also led to increased urban migration, decaying infrastructure and widespread unemployment.
The inability of the Soludo government to deal with insecurity in Anambra State has become an albatross of meaningful governmental impact. Residents of Anambra are constantly living in fear, no thanks to the seasonal hostilities between rival cult groups in Awka metropolis.
Today, Awka has been turned into a theatre of cult killings as rarely a day passes without news of cultists killing one another at different locations in the town. Still on the insecurity, about six Presidents General of various communities in Anambra State have lost their lives to criminals under curious circumstances.
