Anambra governance: Does criticism of Soludo mirror reality?

BY OBINNA ODOGWU

It is normal for political opponents to criticise themselves on issues of politics and governance. And in a democracy, constructive criticisms are necessary as they, among other things, help to guide political officeholders on the path of administrative uprightness.

In fact, the led are often encouraged to scrutinise their leaders and take other necessary actions that would promote transparency and accountability in governance.

In Anambra, political opponents of the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, are doing the much they can. Even nonpartisan residents of the state are not left out.

They keep asking questions and making comments about the issues of governance in the state; the conduct and activities of his appointees among others. That’s cool. Nigerians are always encouraged to get involved in the governance of their country.

But some of these criticisms, and in some cases, attacks don’t seem to fall within the track. When you listen or read some of them, you wonder if there was more to them than what exists in the open space.

Every now and then, articles and videos containing various commentaries criticising and labelling the professor of economics as a bad governor surface online. You see them in the newspapers too.

On social media, newsstands and even in social gatherings, some people vilify and excoriate Soludo, dismissing him as a poor performing governor whenever the issue of Anambra politics and governance pops up.

If they didn’t tell you how the man had shut out everyone so that only he and those they described as his cronies would ‘enjoy’ the taxpayers’ money alone, they would tell you that he had not done anything meaningful for the state since he assumed office on March 17, 2022.

Some go further to allege that the man was using his knowledge of economics and experience as a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor to ‘change the directions’ of the state’s financial resources for his future private use. And that’s to put it mildly.

Whether true or fabricated, none of these persons, to the best of my knowledge, has stepped forward with evidence to back up their claims. I trust that many people, including journalists, would be glad to pick evidence from them and then take the matter up from there.

But, are these political opponents and nonpartisan individuals hitting Soludo hard saying the truth? Has the man started implementing his campaign promises to Ndi Anambra? Or could it be a case of ‘politics’, or some people not just liking the man’s face?

Maybe we should start from the known; the ones everyone could see in the state while waiting for the evidence of non-performance and other claims to be released by the dissatisfied persons who, as a matter of fact, are entitled to their various opinions and criticisms of the government.

What can be seen, touched and felt today in Anambra is that Governor Soludo is working. It is not news anymore that he has started walking his talks in the area of road and other infrastructural developments in the state.

And there has been a tremendous improvement in the quality of work being done unlike in the past; especially in the last eight years.

From Awka to Onitsha, Nnewi to Ekwulobia, road constructions are ongoing. Put simply, Soludo has turned Anambra State into a huge construction site.

As of today, well over 400 kilometres of roads plus two flyovers are under construction in all the 21 Local Government Areas of the state, according to the figures released by the state Ministry of Information. Not just that the government said so, the work being done is seen, touched and felt by Ndi Anambra and others.

In Awka and its environs, some of these road projects have been completed. And from what we saw when their construction works were going on, coupled with the verdicts of some civil engineers, there’s no doubt whatsoever that the roads would last for a very long time.

Beyond the road projects, the construction of other important infrastructure such as bridges and administrative buildings and others are also ongoing in various parts of the state where they’re needed. There are also the renovation and equipment of some government establishments in the state.

For construction works, one of them is the new Government House that is being built in Awka, the state capital. It was gathered that the new facility would also be housing a new Governor’s Lodge.

The completion of that project would mean the end of many years of not having a befitting Government House. In fact, it would mean that the about 32-year-old jinx of not having a proper Government House had been broken.

Beyond that, the construction of an open drug market is ongoing in Oba community, Idemmili South Local Government Area of the state. Official information from the government showed that the drug market would be the largest in Africa when completed.

Again, there is the development of the Pharmaceutical Industrial Park in Ogboji community, Orumba South LGA. It was gathered that about 15 manufacturers, out of the expected 100, had already signed up for it.

Beyond the road and other infrastructural developments, the agricultural revolution of the present administration in the state is changing the narratives in that sector.

Recently, hybrid coconut and palm seedlings were shared to many households in the state. The number of the seedlings, according to the government, was over 1,100,000. And the households, it said, were over 100,000.

These seedlings were shared at the communal level to ensure that they got into the hands of those who should have them.

That move was targeted at driving poverty away, encouraging and improving agro-industrialisation and supporting the efforts towards a green and environmentally sustainable state.

To save cost and to reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere, the Soludo-led administration has converted many diesel-powered streetlights to solar ones, thereby promoting a clean energy generation and usage.

The government placed the figure of the streetlights so converted at 25,000. That move does not only save cost for the state, it also encourages nightlife and powers its economy.

So, what if Soludo’s political opponents and critics were right? What if the accusations and allegations of poor performance slammed on the governor’s less than two years of reign as the state’s helmsman were correct? Be the judge.

Odogwu writes via [email protected]