By Obianuju Azukaego
According to the word of God, when the righteous is in the throne, the people rejoice. When a leader strives to fulfil his political mandate, people will not scramble to eat the dividends attached to his leadership.
A passionate leader is one who ensures the flow of resources of his territory to the doorsteps of his followers. A leader is one who sees human capital development as the most relevant of all to build a formidable self-reliant society.
A leader who has the burden of his people at heart is simply described as a public oriented person. Not only that, a renowned leader is characterised by a healthy/intellectual mind and a unique energy.
Without mincing words here, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the Executive Governor of Anambra State is an epitome of these features stated above.
Let’s set sentiments apart here because a tree is known by its fruits. There is no place of controversy to say that Prof. Soludo, popularly known as Solution has paid his dues just within a short period of time as the Chief Executive of Anambra State.
Anambra State, in the first place, is a blessed state made of people of timber and caliber. A home of big and mighty being, a center of commercial hub of the east of the Niger, habouring the biggest market in West Africa and other international markets. It’s a state practically gifted with weighty academia, literally giants and business moguls who flourish in their various endeavours.
His Excellency, Prof. Soludo has worked himself beyond mediocrity to clinch the position of a colossal figure in the political space of Nigeria. No wonder he bagged the award of 2024 Best Governor of the Year in Nigeria.
His political will in governing Ndi Anambra has scaled him to stardom. Little did the people of Anambra know that when he assumed duty to pilot the affairs of the state three years ago, that there will emerge records of distinguished and immeasurable developmental strides within a short time.
However, Prof. Soludo’s administration is laced with well trained personalities who work hard in their various fields of endeavours to collaborate his witty efforts in achieving outstanding success in the state.
One of them is the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor. Ndi Anambra are vastly informed of the exploits of Prof. Soludo, through the Ministry of Information, led by the viable commissioner.
The Soludo led administration has created a platform for every Onye Anambra and those resident in the state to enjoy the infrastructure made available to them.
Let me start from the recent commissioned Fegge Specialist Hospital, which he constructed amongst the new five general hospitals currently sited in Anambra North Senatorial District of the state.
The Mayor of Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Hon. Emeka Orji and his team in the local government have helped to facilitate public oriented infrastructural facilities such as reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road, reconstruction of Niger Street, Fegge, reconstruction of Haruna Street, Odoakpu, reconstruction of Iweka Road, installation of street lights in all the new constructed roads in Onitsha South LGA.
The reconstruction of Moore Street, recovering of over 2000 plots of land belonging to state and local government, reconstruction of Sokoto Road, reconstruction of Ekwulugo Street, Fegge, construction of the biggest fountain in the state at Ochanja Market, building of a new Oduigbo at Ochanja Market, recovery of Ndende Markets Ose at Niger Street, Fegge and recovery of Local Govt Land (Former healthcentres at Silas Works) are also commendable achievements of this administration.
Other remarkable infrastructural developments by Prof. Soludo led administration include reconstruction of Ziks Avenue, construction of Silas Works, Fegge, construction of Christ Church Street, renovation of Premier bypass, construction of Ozomagala Street, Mbonu Ejike Street, Fegge.( Zero potholes), the on-going construction at New Market Road, Onitsha, presentation of security vehicles to security agencies in Onitsha South.
Also distribution of rice palliatives to Onitsha South Local Government people, training and presentation of Certificates and Cheques to Onitsha South beneficiaries of the 1Youth 2Skills Initiative, distribution of solar powered lights to all the primary health facilities in Onitsha South Local Government Area, distribution of fertiliser to Ndi Onitsha South LGA and provision of a solar powered water borehole at Odoakpu Onitsha are part of Soludo’s good works.
To know the views of the residents of Onitsha South Local Government Area as regards the achievements of Prof. Soludo within three years in the office, a vox pop was conducted and a large number of residents described Governor Soludo’s developmental strides within three years in office as a monumental.
Some of the traders and residents who responded to the interview said that the governor has crested his name in gold through his ability to construct numerous outstanding projects in Onitsha South and the entire Anambra State.
Mrs. Charity Okenwa, a private school teacher, said that the residents of Fegge have been enjoying good road networks since Prof. Soludo assumed office as the governor of the state.
Mrs. Okenwa noted that the road network in the area has helped the residents to also enjoy easy accessibility to their various houses.
“As you can see, all the streets in Fegge now have a good road connection. And such development has made the residents to enjoy easy accessibility to their homes unlike before,” she added.
In his own contribution, Deacon Uchenna Mmadu, a trader in Ochanja, said that the market has experienced a lot of impressive developments such as better road accesibility within the market through the residential areas.
He also said that the Óchánja Market Roundabout with the thrilling fountain streaming down the place has become a tourist attraction.
He commended Prof. Soludo for the construction of Oduigbo section of the market, while describing it as a great asset for traders and the entire people of the state.
In his reaction, Mr. Timothy Nwoye, a mechanic, described Prof. Soludo as a working governor who has proved to Ndị Anambra his worth.
Mr. Nwoye expressed joy over the completion of Fegge Specialist Hospital, Onitsha, adding that such standard health facility will help to provide the proper healthcare Fegge residents desired.
He added that construction of hospital project in the area has been a longtime yearning of the residents to be able to enjoy a proximity of quality healthcare delivery.
Mr. Nwoye stressed, “Prof. Soludo led administration has proved to us that he is a man of the people because it is only a governor who has the need of his people at heart that can do what he is doing”.
Also in her response, Engr. Mrs. Hope Obinka hailed the innovative prowess of Governor Soludo, whom she said has virtually taken standard road construction to almost every part of the 21 local government areas of the state.
Mrs. Obinka praised Prof. Soludo for the newly completed Fegge Specialist Hospital, while urging him and his team in the health sector to ensure that the staff of the hospital comply with quality service delivery.
Other respondents rained encomuims on Governor Soludo’s ability to invest in human capital development by training many youths on vocational skills as well as employing more workers in the state.
*Azukaego is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State*
