Tag: SAYS SOLUDO

‘NNEWI WILL RECLAIM ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE AS PREMIER INDUSTRIAL NERVE CENTER’, SAYS SOLUDO

By Christian ABURIME

Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has signaled a strategic shift in his administration’s urban renewal agenda, launching an aggressive inspection tour of Nnewi aimed at reclaiming dormant public assets and injecting new life into the state’s industrial heartbeat.

The tour, which spanned several critical sectors of the city, served as a diagnostic mission to identify infrastructure bottlenecks that have long stifled Nnewi’s commercial potential. By targeting neglected sites and underutilized land, the Governor intends to transform the city into a modern, high-functioning urban center.

The most prominent stop on the Governor’s itinerary was the Nkwo Nnewi Triangle, home to a shopping complex that has remained a shell of unfulfilled promise for 17 years. Standing before the structure, Governor Soludo expressed frustration at the protracted stagnation.

“It is unacceptable that public assets intended to drive commerce have been left to rot for nearly two decades,” Governor Soludo remarked. “We are here to draw a line in the sand. This facility will no longer be a monument to neglect; we are moving swiftly to restore it to productive use to serve the people of Nnewi.”

Beyond the shopping mall, the Governor inspected the Post Office vicinity and high court premises. His vision involves integrating these legacy sites into a cohesive, contemporary urban plan that enhances accessibility and elevates the standards of public service.

Furthermore, the Governor scouted locations for strategic housing developments. Officials noted that providing high-quality residential infrastructure is essential to sustaining Nnewi’s expanding workforce and maintaining its competitive edge as a commercial hub.

Governor Soludo articulated a broader vision for the city, emphasizing that his administration is aggressively mapping out underutilized open spaces. The goal is to repurpose it for public parks, recreational areas, and new commercial ventures.

“Our strategy is simple: we are unlocking the hidden value of Nnewi,” the Governor explained during a brief interaction with local stakeholders. “By converting dormant open spaces into vibrant public parks and productive facilities, we are not just fixing buildings—we are stimulating local commerce and reclaiming Nnewi’s rightful place as the premier industrial nerve center of the region.”

The inspection concluded with the Governor signaling that tangible construction and redevelopment efforts are slated to begin in the coming weeks.

The Commissioner for Works, Arch. Okey Ezeobi, Commissioner for Housing, Architect Henry Arinze, Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Clem Aguiyi, Mayors of Nnewi South, Nnewi North and Ekwusigo, among others, accompanied the Governor to the visit.

DENOMINATION, RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION NOT A CRITERION FOR APPOINTMENTS, SAYS SOLUDO

By MaryAnn Chukwuma

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo has reaffirmed his commitment to merit-based governance, saying that religion or denomination has never influenced appointments in his administration.

The governor made the declaration on Saturday, May 31, while addressing Anglican faithful during the Diocesan Synod held in Ezira, Orumba South Local Government Area, emphasizing that competence, capacity and the ability to deliver results for Ndi Anambra remain the only considerations in selecting members of his team.

According to Soludo, he has never judged or related with people based on their mode of worship or religious affiliation.

“I have never interacted with anyone in my life seeking to know how they worship or whether they even worship at all. I have never done it once, and I will never do it,” he said.

Reflecting on his tenure as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Soludo noted that many of the most capable professionals he worked with came from different religious backgrounds.

“When I look back at my time at the Central Bank, many of the people who worked closely with me were neither Catholics nor Anglicans. What mattered was their ability to do the job,” he said.

The governor cited examples from his current administration to underscore his position. He disclosed that both his Aide-de-Camp (ADC) and Chief Security Officer are Pentecostals from Abia State, adding that religious considerations played no role in their appointments.

Soludo revealed that after spending nearly two months assembling his cabinet, he only recently discovered that the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning is Jewish.

“There is no Catholic way of constructing roads, no Anglican way of providing security and no denominational method of building houses. Whoever can deliver quality service to Ndi Anambra gets the job. What matters is competence and commitment to service,” he said.

He stressed that citizens are ultimately concerned about the quality of services they receive rather than the religious background or origin of those providing them.

“What the people care about is the service they enjoy and the results they see. Government is about getting the work done, and that has always been my guiding principle,” the governor added.

Soludo also commended the Anglican Church for establishing a new nursing school in Isulo, describing the initiative as a significant contribution to healthcare development and human capital growth in the state.

He noted that faith-based investments in education and healthcare complement government efforts to improve access to quality services and strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce.

The governor’s remarks reinforced his administration’s commitment to inclusiveness, meritocracy, and effective service delivery as Anambra continues to pursue reforms across key sectors, including health, education, and infrastructure.

MaryAnn Chukwuma writes from the Anambra State Ministry of Information.

MY CAMPAIGN HAS BECOME THE PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT, SAYS SOLUDO

By Chiedu Uche Okoye/Amaka Iloanya

Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s electioneering for a second term in office has birthed a new political practice, which is hinged on the voters’ funding of the electioneering of their favourite candidate.

The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Soludo described that unfolding political practice, which is being woven into the Anambra State’s political tapestry, as the people’s movement.

He made the comment on October 15, at St. Alphonsus’s Catholic Church, Nkpor, Anambra state during a political rally.

“What is happening in Anambra State is unprecedented in the state’s history. Communities and organizations are organizing rallies and donating money to my re-election campaign.

“At Obosi, they gave me fifty million naira; Oba gave me fifty million naira, too. And Ogidi gave me fifty million naira.

“When we visited Abatete, they gave me twenty million naira; and, at Oraifite, it was one hundred million naira. I received eighty million naira at Ekwulobia while Umuawulu gave me twenty million naira. And Awka North LGA contributed one hundred and fifty million naira for my campaign,” Soludo said.

More so, he recounted how the Ihiala community gave him fifty million naira when he visited the town to receive completed smart school buildings, which were built by a commercial bank.

He listed his government’s lofty achievements in the education sector, and made allusion to the prizes won by the state in the President’s Teachers’s Award while saying that the evaluation of education in a state is based on the strength of its public schools.

“We will get public education to its pride of place. And we started the revolution in education by recruiting quality teachers for our public schools.

“And our efforts are paying off. The school that did best in the 2024 SSCE is a public school in Idemili North LGA. And the way you evaluate education is by the strength of its public school,” Soludo said.

The climax of the event came when some organizations donated money to sustain the tempo and increase the momentum of the Soludo campaign.

While the Soludo Mega Movement donated ten million naira for Governor Soludo’s re-election campaign, the Omenife Solid Youths’ Movement For Soludo contributed two million naira for the same cause and the Divine Mandate Actualization gave him five million naira for his re-election electioneering.

Some APGA chieftains that graced the occasion were Chief Law Mefor, the commissioner for Information in Anambra State; Chief Stanley Nkwoka, Idemili North LGA chairman; Hon. Ifeanyi Ibezi, former lawmaker in the house of representatives; Chief Ikenna Iyiegbu; and others.

Chiedu and Amaka are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State

IGWE IWEKA’S PALACE, A PRESERVED RELIC OF THE PAST, SAYS SOLUDO

By Chiedu Uche Okoye

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has described Igwe Chidubem Iweka’s palace as a historical relic, the preservation of which has overawed and humbled him.

Governor Soludo had paid homage to Igwe Iweka at his palace at Obosi, Idemili North LGA before proceeding to Odume-Obosi for electioneering.

While addressing the crowd, which consisted mainly of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) faithful on October 2, at Odume-Obosi during his electioneering visit there, Governor Soludo highlighted the importance of making the palace a tourist site.

“I went to the Igwe Chidubem Iweka’s palace today. It was built in 1908. When you get to the palace of Igwe Chidubem Iweka, you will see history. And it will humble you.

“I thank the Iwekas’ for preserving it. But we can make it a tourist site,” Soludo said.

Dressed in APGA clothes on which were imprinted APGA symbols, with a base-ball cap sitting jauntily on his head, Governor Soludo strutted round the campaign ground, acknowledging cheers and greetings from the people.

And during the campaign event, the mayor of Idemili North LGA, Chief Stanley Nkwoka, said that the people had gathered to show solidarity with Governor Soludo, while saying emphatically that Governor Soludo’s victory in the forthcoming November 8 Anambra Governorship election is a foregone conclusion.

“These people are here to show solidarity with Governor Soludo. As for this election, it is a done deal.

“We are only interested in breaking the jinx of having a humungous population and recording low votes during elections,” Nkwoka said.

Again, the President General of Obosi Development Union (ODU) , Barr. Chimezie Obi, called the people’s attention to the infrastructural development that is taking place in such areas of Obosi kingdom as Odume, Awada, Owelle-Aja, Enekwasumpu, and others.

He reminded them that Governor Soludo made a solemn promise to Obosi people that he would carve out a Local Developmental Area for Obosi when he’s re-elected for a second term in office, urging them to cast their votes for the right candidate.

“Things are being done in Odume, Awada, Enekwasumpu, Owelle-Aja, and others, thanks to Gov. Soludo. And remember that he promised to make Obosi a Local Developmental Area. So I urge you to vote wisely for the right candidate on November 8, 2025,” Obi said.

More so, Engr. Ifeanyi Okoma, who is the Anambra State Commissioner for Works, assured Governor Soludo of Obosi people’s total support for his re-election bid, saying that APGA’s rivals in Obosi town had surrendered.

“Obosi is united behind APGA now. In Obosi, our rivals have joined us. So we have no rivals now,” Okoma said.

Earlier, the Traditional Ruler of Obosi and Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ council, Igwe Chidubem Iweka (Eze Iweka III) , had prayed for God’s protection for Gov. Soludo.

And the gyration master, Tony “Oneweek” Muonagor, who is an APGA big gun, electrified the campaign ground with his pulsating campaign songs for Governor Soludo.

The Campaign groups for Soludo’s re-election bid and age grades from Obosi inland town spiced up the event with their marches, dances, and songs, which echoed raucously in the distance.

Other important dignitaries that attended the event included traditional rulers from Uke and Abacha towns; Chief Ifeanyi Metu; Dr. Law Mefor, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information; and Lady Phina Onwuachu, the deputy mayor of Idemili North LGA.

Chiedu is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State