EXTRA: Soludo rejects ‘His Excellency’ title, opts for ‘Mr Governor’

Chukwuma Soludo, governor-elect of Anambra state, has rejected “His Excellency” title, and opted for “Mr Governor” or “Charlie Nwangbafor”.

Speaking at the inauguration of his 80-member transition committee in Akwa, Anambra capital city, on Thursday, Soludo said people may have to learn to call him by his name.

The committee is chaired by Oby Ezekwesili, former education minister. Soludo will be sworn in as governor on March 17.

“I was called his excellency a while ago, but may I plead that that ‘excellency’ tag should please wait for now. That is part of what we will discuss in this committee,” the governor-elect said.

“You may just need to learn how to call me by my name, but if that isn’t good for you, then, may I request that you simply call me ‘Charlie Nwangbafor’ (Charles son of Mgbafor).

“If that one is so difficult for you that you must be formal in addressing me, then you can address me as Mr Governor.”

Soludo said the committee is working “pro bono” to ensure that he gets all he needs to make Anambra better.

“This is an assemblage of the people I describe as wise men and women who have kindly accepted to serve our homeland, under the leadership of one of Anambra’s finest gift to the world, our own dear Oby Ezekwesili,” he said.

“This committee comprises some of Nigeria’s best, and Anambra is deeply grateful that you are sacrificing your time and talent pro bono, to help our journey to a livable and prosperous smart city.

“We deliberately left out some experts in security from the transition committee. We prefer to deal with this subject matter separately.

“I’m not sure that would fit into this kind of place. What we will say in public is not what we will say in private, because things are no longer the same any longer in security.”