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Don’t Mess With Our 600,000 Votes, Nnewi Groups Warn Parties

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Nnewi

The Nnewi Professionals, the Federation of Old Nnewi Division, FOND, and the Anaedo Youths, have warned political parties in Anambra State to pick their candidate from Nnewi or lose the over 600,000 votes coming from the industrial city.

The warning was given on behalf of the groups by Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Nnamdi Azikiwe University-NAU and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi, Professor Obi Nwosu.

Professor Nwosu who addressed newsmen on behalf of the groups on Monday at Nnewi,  said that it was long overdue for Nnewi to govern the state, claiming that the industrial city which he described as the Japan of Africa must produce Governor Willie Obiano’s successor.

He said the groups are non partisan and would not support any political party and have not anointed any aspirant, however, urged the political parties to choose Nnewi aspirants or lose the support of over 600,000 voters in Nnewi.

Prof Nwosu who was a former Chairman on Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Anambra State, and the Chairman of the first Nnewi Political Summit, said that the likes of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, first Senate President, Rt. Hon. Nwafor Orizu and Chief Jerome Udoji, will be restless in their graves over inability of the FOND, with three council areas of Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo not being able to produce an elected governor of the State.

According to Prof. Nwosu, “Down  Anambra South, there is no doubt that no community can claim to have contributed more than Nnewi town in any level or capacity to the present development and growth of Anambra State and I stand to be challenged.”

“The bone of contention is more so, leveraged to a favourable comparative advantage when we remember people like Chief Mbazulike Amechi, Sir Emeka Offor, Chief Emma Bishop Okonkwo, Dr Cletus Ibeto, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Dr Cosmas Maduka, among many others.”

“We insisted that political parties must find their candidates from Nnewi or its environs, and the person must be God fearing, with the ability, amiability and availability to continue and improve on outgoing leadership effort.

“Although it is not my wish to set our community against other towns in the zone but one must be very factual and honest because without honesty and fair play, we cannot really make much progress, after all no zone or community in Anambra State can produce a governor without the support and cooperation of others.

“However, we are appealing to Nnewi people to, for now forget all our political, social and other minor differences and disputes to ensure that we all join hands together to make the project work. Happily, a lot of our credible sons and daughters have already declared their interest for the seat of the governor and it is very clear that most of them are of good quality and suitable for the seat.”

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Anambra Guber

Common Reasons Why Your Man Has Lost Interest In You

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When men start to lose interest in their women, some may look for a new relationship and others try to adjust with their existing partner.

Here are some common reasons why your man is losing interest in you;

READ ALSO: 5 Things Every Couple Should Do After Getting Married

1. Efforts don’t match

If he does his best and you don’t. it won’t be long before he starts to get distant and aloof.

Effort in relationships does not have to be the same in value, it just has to be significant enough to count. You’ve just gotta to give back. If not, the relationship will look pretty one-sided and resentment will start to build.

2. You’re not supportive

You should always let your man know that you’re riding for him, that you’ve got his back especially if he is one who’s obviously doing his best to do right by you.

If your words and actions rarely show support or any interest in the things he holds dear, he might start to feel that you really do not care about him

Side Chick Deactivates Social Media Accounts, Husband Relocates, As More Details Of Calabar Car Chase Tragedy Emerge

3. Cheating

Men are notorious for finding it difficult to deal with a woman who cheats on them. No one does, but men have a notoriety for being more intolerant to it. That’s actually ironic, though, as women actually tend to forgive cheating from men a lot.

4. Difference in sex drive

If the gap in the sex drive between him and his girlfriend is vast, it will affect the relationship adversely and it won’t be long before the man gets fed up. If the woman has a higher sex drive or if he has a higher sex drive, something’s going to get terribly wrong as some point. This is why it is better to always have that conversation about sexual compatibility early enough.

5. Disrespect

Nothing makes people fed up more than constant disrespect. Being belittled, being made to feel like nothing, having your importance questioned and being made to feel like your presence, opinions and being doesn’t count for much… anyone would seek to get out of a relationship under circumstance as this – most certainly men would, too!

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APC Clears Ekiti Councils Poll

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared Saturday’s Ekiti State local government councils poll, winning all the 35 council chairmanship seats and 176 out of the 177 councilorship seats declared.

Justice Jide Aladejana, the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission announced the result on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti.

Aladejana said that the commission had postponed councilorship election in Erinjiyan ward, following violence that broke out during the poll in the town.

He appreciated security agencies and the staff of the commission as well as the electorate for participating in the poll and for their cooperate for the successful conduct of the election.

The election was held across the 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and the 19 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) as well as the 177 wards of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), boycotted the election, claiming that the APC led administration in the state was incapable of organising credible, free and fair election without violence.

Six other political parties however, participated in the Ekiti councils poll.

They included Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress(APC), National Rescue Movement(NRM), and Young Progressives Party (YPP).

Speaking on the election, Mr Raphael Adeyanju, the state PDP Publicity Secretary, described it as a sham.

Adeyanju said that the result of the election and the obvious low turn out of voters had confirmed fears by the party that the result had already been predetermined by the ruling APC ahead of the poll.

The spokesperson for PDP also described the conduct of election in the newly created LCDAs as unconstitutional, claiming that since the constitution of Nigeria only recognised the existing sixteen LGAs in State, the election in the 19 LCDAs was an aberration and a waste of resources.(NAN)

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Ngige Mocks Andy Uba As Anambra APC Crisis Deepens

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Senator Chris Ngige has mocked Senator Andy Uba over what he alleged as the primary election fraud in the Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC of last June which he said led to the unfolding crisis in the state chapter of the party.

Noting the suspension of the acting party chairman in a statement late on Monday, November 29, 2021, Ngige said the acting chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike supervised the “26th June 2021 heist in which though no primary election held, the Acting Chairman in concert with some persons who did not wish our state chapter well, announced some allocated, fictitious figures for each of the 13 aspirants and declared a winner. 

 GreenWhiteGreen GWG reports that Senator Andy Uba won the primary with more than 330,000 votes but returned less than 50,000 votes in the main election earlier in November.

The statement followed the reported suspension of Prince Ejidike by some party members.

Responding to the suspension with a promise to quieten the tension in the party, Ngige in the statement advised Basil Ejidike not to “invent a Trojan Horse but look inwards and manage  the self-inflicted tear in the State Exco and Working Committee of the party.”

Ejidike had accused Ngige and some other party members of engineering his suspension.

But responding, Ngige in a statement made available by his Media Office, said:

“The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has been inundated with calls from his home state, over the unfortunate development in the State Chapter of our great party, APC, culminating in the suspension of the Acting State Chairman. 

“All these are the fallout of the 26th June 2021 heist in which though no primary election held, the Acting Chairman in concert with some persons who did not wish our state chapter well, announced some allocated, fictitious figures for each of the 13 aspirants and declared a winner. 

“The situation simmered, festered and resulted in the loss of the governorship election. The Honourable Minister had watched these developments with disbelief and consternation because this is not the style of the original APC members in Anambra State over the years!   

“Nigerians are aware of the unceasing post-COVID-19 efforts of the Federal Government to stabilize the labour milieu and buoy national productivity, hence the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment daily battles with very tight schedules, to spare even scant thought for the post-election intrigues in his state chapter of the party. 

“Despite that, Senator Ngige wishes to assure all members that issues in contention will soon be laid to rest as the critical state stakeholders of the party in the state,  will shortly work towards their resolution.”

 GreenWhiteGreen GWG reports that Ngige was below the radar in the APC campaign to elect Andy Uba governor despite being appointed by the candidate as chairman of the board of trustees of the campaign organization.

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Tony Nwoye Hails His Boss, Arthur Eze At 73

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Nwoye Arthur Eze

Dr Tony Nwoye has celebrated Ukpo born billionaire business mogul, Prince (Engr) Dr Arthur Ikpechukwu Eze, on the occasion of his 73rd birthday on Thursday, November 25, 2021.

Dr Nwoye in a birthday message released by his media assistant described Prince (Engr) Arthur Eze as an institution whose wings are too large to carry any person. He said that Prince (Engr) Arthur Eze had played tremendous roles  in all his political ambitions through his financial and moral supports to him.

Dr Tony described  Prince Eze as his boss, mentor and benefactor, hailing him as the Prince of Africa and Ozoigbondu Global.

Noting what he described as the celebrant’s generosity, he also described Prince Arthur Eze as philanthropist extraordinaire, detribalized Nigerian, bridge builder and human emancipator.

He further went on to commend and thank the celebrant, for being the big tree where many birds fling to for succour and prayed the Almighty God to continue to guide and protect Ozoigbondu  as he continues to add value to humanity especially the indigent in the society.

In conclusion, he prayed the Almighty God to grant the celebrant a sound health and a longevity of age.

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EFCC Places Anambra Governor, Obiano On Watchlist

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has placed the incumbent Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, on a watchlist, ahead of the handover of government in the state.

This was contained in a letter to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) dated November 15, 2021.

The EFCC requested the immigration to place Governor Obiano on a watchlist and inform it anytime he is travelling out of the country from any of the international airports, as well as other points of entry and exit.

It is, however, not clear why the anti-graft agency placed the governor on a watchlist.

Sources told Channels Television that the move was an indication that the agency may have been discreetly investigating the governor and possibly have intelligence that he was planning to escape after handing over power to his successor, Professor Charles Soludo, on March 16, 2022.

Sitting governors in Nigeria have immunity from criminal prosecution while in office.

Obiano, 66, will hand over the leadership of Anambra to Professor Soludo in March 2022 when he completes his two terms as governor of the state.

By that time, he would have completed his eight-year long term in office after winning the governorship election in 2013 on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The governor had left the banking system to join politics before winning the election to succeed former Governor Peter Obi.

On the other hand, Professor Soludo – a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, will succeed the incumbent governor, having won the election held earlier in November.

Flying the flag of the ruling party in the state, he swept to victory, winning 19 of the 21 local government areas of the state.

Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (Mr Valentine Ozigbo) and Young Progressives Party (Senator Ifeanyi Ubah) each won a local government.

But the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Andy Uba, was unable to win any local government in the election.

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Anambra: APC’s Loss Of Bayelsa Is Bad Omen For Soludo, APGA – Legal Expert

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The nullification of the victory of David Lyon, the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate in the Bayelsa State governorship election of 2019 provides strong ground for the possible nullification of the victory of Prof Chukwuma Soludo, the victorious All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA candidate in the recent Anambra State governorship election.

The point was deposed by Human Rights lawyer and activist, Dr. Jezie Ekejiuba in a memo sent to News Express, an online news platform.

 GreenWhiteGreen GWG reports that Lyon’s victory was annulled following the disqualification of his running mate upon the irregularities in his name.

Noting the contentions over the form allegedly submitted by Soludo in which the victorious APGA candidate was alleged to have filled that he was running to be governor of Aguata, Ekejiuba who is President of Anambra State Association of Registered Voters (ASARVOTE), told the News Express:

“In my legal opinion this Prof. Soludo’s election form scandal is not a technical issue of law but substantial issue of law jurisprudentially speaking on this point alone: The office of Governor of Aguata II-Anambra does not exist under the Nigerian Constitution. What exists is the office of Governor of Anambra State. It is high time election candidates begin consulting lawyers as it is done overseas for the filling of election forms.

“In filling the form, Prof. Soludo failed to know the law that Anambra State is the legal term for Constituency for a person contesting for office of Governor of a state. He unknowingly filled as if what he was asked was his Constituency of origin which is Aguata II Constituency. The legal implication of what he filled in the document (form) is that he has filled that he is contesting for Governor of Aguata II-Anambra which under the Constitution does not exist. This is a substantial issue for determination by a court, certainly it is not a technical issue.”

On the authenticity of the forms, Ekejiuba said: “The document (election form) is a Certified True Copy (C.T.C) posted by a pro-Soludo supporter. It is an authentic form from INEC. The form for an election for office of Governor of a state is the root of title for the contest of the election for office of Governor of a state. The relevance attached to it by law is clear. See Supreme Court voided election of APC governor-elect’s mandate for Bayelsa State because of wrong name of his Deputy Governor-elect now enjoyed by second runners up Gov. Diri of PDP.”

He further said: “My submissions are not based on the above case for judgment on November 30, 2021 disqualification under Section 31 of the Electoral Act, but on any possible challenge of Soludo’s victory at the Election Tribunal on the grounds, not on qualification, but that APGA has no candidate through filling and submission of election form for election to office of Governor of Anambra State. That the Election form Prof. Soludo filled is for office of Governor of Aguata II-Anambra which is unknown to the Nigerian Constitution. This is my angle of submission. Although the above case will throw more light on the imbroglio, but to me it is a matter for an Election Tribunal not on qualification, but on APGA not having a Candidate for the election.”

Asked who stands to benefit in case Soludo’s election during the November 6 ballot is annulled, Ekejiuba said it would be the first runner-up, Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – who, incidentally, has accepted defeat, and not the third-placed Senator Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who has vowed to challenge the election outcome.

His words: “By necessary implication the runners up is Chief Valentine Ozigbo of PDP in the event of Prof. Soludo’s election being rendered null and void by court because of Prof. Soludo’s election form scandal!”

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Andy Uba Alleges Plots To Pitch Him Against Uzodimma, Vows To Claim Mandate In Court

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Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra state, Senator Andy Uba, has lashed out at those he claimed were fearful of his shadow, alleging among others attempts to pitch him against Gov Hope Uzodimma as he prepares to claim his mandate in court.

In a statement signed by Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, Director, Media and Publicity of his campaign organisation, the Senator wondered why several days after the polls, his opponents, especially members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, still find it fashionable to conjure all manner of falsehood in his name.

“The elections have come and gone and we are in the process of interrogating the sanctity of its outcome. But instead of gearing up for the expected judicial battle ahead, APGA as a party and its leaders are busy trolling my person, in the mistaken believe that their underhand tactics would make me back out of my chosen course of action.

“I have only decided to take a civilised course of action, which is a recourse to the judiciary in the face of daunting illegalities that trailed the conduct of the elections. How this is so discomfitting to some, leading to the sponsorship of several false stories about my person, beats the imagination of all reasonable members of society.

“While leading members of APGA and their supporters gallivant from one television station to another spending resources belonging to our state in undisguised attempts at demonizing Senator Uba, the propaganda wing of the party does the same by busying itself churning out one badly cooked story after another.

“In one of such fairy tales, a nondescript online rendezvous claimed that Senator Andy Uba was lamenting that Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo state was no longer picking his calls. Nothing else could be farther than the truth, as it is public knowledge that as Chairman of the APC National Campaign Council, Senator Uba owes the Imo State Governor a huge debt of gratitude for his financial and leadership roles in the electioneering process.

“Indeed, we regard this foolish tale as part of a deliberate ploy by APGA to get as many APC chieftains as possible at odds with Senator Uba. The first, we recall, was the infantile story of dragging the Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, before an imaginary deity, and then an attempt at casting aspersions on the image of Distinguished Senator Stella Oduah, for the simple reason that she decided to pitch her tent with us in the APC.

“Although we are quite aware that several of such devious propaganda materials have been made ready for diseminnation, we urge discerning members of the public to disregard same whenever they summon the courage to push them out – believing, as we do, that in the final analysis, justice shall be last served.”

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Anambra Not Imo, Umeh Dismisses Andy Ubah’s Vow To Challenge Soludo’s Victory

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Senator Victor Umeh has dismissed threats by Senator Andy Uba, the APC candidate in the Anambra governorship election to seek judicial redress, saying he has no mandate to challenge and that Anambra is not Imo State where a fourth-placed candidate became governor.

Victor Umeh,  former National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) spoke while reacting to the threat of Senator Andy Uba, to challenge APGA’s victory.

READ ALSO:Ali Ndume Reveals How, Why Brig. Gen Dzarma Zirkusu Was Killed By ISWAP

Recall that Andy Uba had alleged that APGA did not win the election, citing alleged irregularities.

He had vowed to slug it out with Professor Chukwuma Soludo, winner of the election, while accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of conniving with APGA.

But in his response, Umeh said APGA’s lawyers were ready to meet Uba in court as Anambra was not Imo state.

He urged the people, especially APGA supporters not to lose sleep over Uba’s threat.

Speaking in his country home in Aguluzigbo, Anocha Local Government Area of Anambra, Umeh said the party’s lawyers are fully prepared for the challenge, any time Uba is ready.

He said Uba has no mandate to reclaim because the people of Anambra voted for APGA.

“The election which took place in all the 21 local government areas in the state and he didn’t win any Council area, so what is he going to Court for?”

“The out come of the election, was a true reflection of what Anambra people want. Anambra people didn’t give Andy Uba any mandate. They wanted Soludo, and they voted for him massively.

“We are use to challenge any case. I have been in Politics for more than 20-years now, so, APGA is not afraid of going to Court with Andy Uba. Nothing will make Anambra people to vote for a party that has nothing to offer.

“Nigeria Judiciary is not an undertaker. Please tell him, we are waiting for him in the Court. Anambra is not Imo State, where a fourth candidate in election suddenly became a governor”, Umeh stated.

In Imo, INEC had declared Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the election.

But Hope Uzodinma of APC, who was declared fourth in the election, challenged Ihedioha’s victory up to the Supreme Court, which annulled PDP’s victory and declared the fourth placed APC winner of the election.

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Soludo: Broader Implications Of Anambra Election

By Dakuku Peterside

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At face value, the Anambra election 2021 is over, but the lessons have far broader implications that will endure. Beyond these lessons, of what is considered the most consequential election in 2021, is the management of the people’s expectations and the governor-elect’s ability to fix the jigsaw puzzle of the many contradictions that Anambra represents. 

 Let’s begin with the elections, context and lessons learnt. Anambra 2021 is an off-season election, and historically off-season elections are indicators of what to expect in preceding general elections. As Dr Chidi Amuta had presented in his column elsewhere, Anambra is unique for many reasons and whatever happens in that state applies to other states in Nigeria, perhaps in different dimensions.

First, the contest of the election was defined by the peculiarities of insecurity in the state where non-state actors are contesting for power and are enjoying semi legitimacy because of the apparent support they are getting from locals. IPOB’s persistent sit-at-home regime preceding the election caused a low turnout of voters, and contestants campaigned under a canopy of mortal fear of real danger. The fear of unknown gunmen pervaded the entire space. 

Second, the government demonstrated its powers to provide security to citizens of Anambra to participate in democracy’s most important ritual of casting votes against the afront of IPOB and Unknown Gunmen who threatened to unleash mayhem in the state against candidates and citizens who planned to participate in the election. Whether the relative peace enjoyed by citizens is a function of the deployment of massive security or the effect of the suspension of the sit-at-home order by IPOB will be an exciting study. 

Third, the historical peculiarities of Anambra state gubernatorial elections that have seen a series of pitched battles among unruly factions of desperate political hustlers, a high-level religious incursion into civil politics, a tale of high drama, crude machinations, and the deployment of violence, even “dark juju”, and cultic mindlessness. The governor’s power is the ultimate power in a state like Anambra, with more than the usual number of billionaires hustling to capture or possibly buy state power, not necessarily for the people’s good.

 The November 6th and 9th elections came and passed with little sinister drama, as some pundits predicted. Anambra citizens defied all odds to heed the call to vote. Comparatively, INEC conducted a credible election by Nigerian standards and declared Prof Charles Soludo the governor-elect. INEC may indeed have fallen short of its benchmark, but yet Anambra 2021 represents hope. In the circumstance of logistics challenge and the pervading threat of local militia, the Nigerian security agencies deployed to Anambra in their thousands also did a fantastic job of providing security to the life and property of people and defying non-state actors who threatened to derail the electoral process. IPOB, in the last few days before the elections, called off the general sit-at-home in Anambra and other Southeast states, thereby reducing the tension in the polity. 

 Candidates for the governorship election were generally peaceful and resisted any tendencies for violence or encouraging their supporters to perpetrate electoral violence. Although there were alleged pockets of electoral malpractices here and there, there was no major incident of large-scale rigging reported in national media. Overall, the exercise was a success. That the election held and produced a winner is an incredible feat to accomplish, given the uncertainties and nature of events before the election. 

 There are so many lessons to draw from this election by Nigeria and Nigerians. The first is that when the Nigerian state decides to protect its interest and citizens against non-state actors, it goes out of its way to do that. The sheer massive deployment of security agents and the bravery with which they protected lives and property during the election is worthy of note. Such attitude and courage are needed to combat banditry and kidnapping in various parts of the country. Although the ‘militarisation’ of the election process is against democratic precepts, in this case, it was a welcome development. Nigerians should have hope that the Nigerian state cannot be held to ransom by non-state actors, no matter how legitimate their claims may be. The counter-argument is that this level of deployment is only possible because this is an off-season, isolated election. This advances the case for staggered elections. 

The second lesson is the efficacy of technology deployment in election management. INEC showed great confidence in these technologies. Anambra elections allowed INEC the opportunity to test-run some of the recently added technology for conducting free and fair elections. Although a few glitches were recorded during the polls with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), INEC has reassured Nigerians of the importance of using this technology and hope to use it effectively and efficiently in subsequent elections. 

The third lesson is that all politics is local. The people know what they want, given the right environment, they can express their preference for the kind of leadership they believe can help them fix their challenges and achieve their aspirations. The people of Anambra have consistently shown a preference for accomplished professionals, technocrats or intellectuals, and this latest election follows that trend. We expect a new renaissance in politics where young intellectuals and people from the private sector would take up politics and have a realistic expectation to win if there is a level playing field for all. Soludo signifies this ideal. His pedigree and knowledge in management and leadership excited many voters who feel that such knowledge and expertise will translate into good governance and development of the state. Other technocrats and citizens are watching to see how all of these play out and shape the future of politics in Southeast Nigeria.

 After November 9th, Governor-elect Soludo will notice that a Governor by appointment and another by-election are two different scenarios with no meeting point. The meaning of words and concepts are different and new realities will replace old ones. Pre-election truth will substantially differ from post-election truth. Intellectualising governance and leadership are more straightforward than practising it. If academic brilliance makes for good governance, Ashraf Ghani could have delivered in Afghanistan. Being a state governor is not an easy task much more, being a governor of Anambra state with its convoluted contradictions. A state where high net worth individuals and non-state actors’ clamour to capture or influence leadership structures and processes, sometimes at all costs. A state with a relatively thriving economy based on industrialisation and enterprise and massive potential for growth – a state of the likes of Azikiwe’s, Ekwueme’s, Ojukwu’s, and more recently, Peter Obi’s. 

 The people’s expectations of Governor-elect, Prof Soludo, is very high. It is very high not only because he ran an eloquent campaign on ‘Solutions’ to Anambra problems and made several promises on how to tackle most of the problems bedevilling the growth of the state, but his pedigree as an intellectual, technocrat and one of the best minds Anambra produced in recent times imbued in people high hopes that he will perform well as a governor. 

The enormity of expectation is seen in the reactions of Nigerians, both home and abroad, to his election. Some are seeing him as the pivot of Nigeria’s turnaround to the path of progress on all fronts because they believe a man with a “good head” will run Anambra state, and in extension, other states will emulate Anambra in voting incredible candidates given how good Prof Soludo will be as a governor. Some even believe that the emergence of Soludo could open up a new vista of leadership quality upgrade in the country. 

During his campaign, he highlighted that he would improve education, increase local and foreign direct investment, increase internally generated revenue, provide about 130,000 jobs, and create 1000 millionaires annually. It is one thing to inspire people to dream big, share a vision, and aspire to great heights, and another to design the “How” to bring the vision to life. The common assumption is that the people of Anambra voted for Soludo because he is a man of ideas, a proven technocrat and intellectual per excellence. I hope that these exceptional qualities that stand him out will manifest in his delivery of good governance. 

There is no doubt that many are rooting for him to succeed, and he will enjoy the support of many in his bid to grow Anambra state. In his acceptance speech, he posits, “My role will be that of your chief servant, and I will work every minute of the day with you to make you profoundly proud. I will need the guidance, advice and contribution of everyone to succeed”. He will need to rally every citizen of Anambra to work with him to achieve these expectations.

I implore him to start on time to manage peoples’ expectations and be realistic about his potentials and limitations in providing solutions to the myriads of problems of Anambra people. He should always carry people along to understand his vision, agenda, strategy, and policies. This action is essential because rising expectations sometimes lead to increasing frustrations. Even when working hard and putting his best in leading Anambra, if people expect Eldorado and expect it pronto, whatever effort and accomplishments he may have made will be seen from a narrow prism.  

There are three main areas Anambra people will expect the governor-elect to focus on immediately he takes over the state. One is tackling the debilitating insecurity in the state. Through dialogue or use of force, the governor must confront insecurity in Anambra, deal with IPOB and the agitation for Biafra, deal with rising cases of kidnapping, criminality and killings, especially politically motivated ones. He and other southeast governors must work together to bring sanity and peace to the SouthEast. 

The second area is infrastructural development. Lack of infrastructure is the bane of Nigeria. At the state level, infrastructural development will open the state’s economy and provide a high-quality standard of living for residents. The people of Anambra are known for their entrepreneurial spirit. All they need is the right environment to evolve to a modern-day industrial hub. 

The last is human capital development. The governor must come up with a way of harnessing these entrepreneurial skills and spirit for the good of all. He must work “hand in gloves” with the private sector to create businesses and jobs for the residents whilst upskilling them through the provision of high-quality education and professional training.

Like him or loath him, Prof Soludo is the governor-elect of Anambra state. And come March 2022, he will become the next executive governor of the state, barring any legal manoeuvrings. He is riding on great populism based on his antecedents and pedigree. This has brought huge expectations from most Nigerians, especially given that he symbolised the incursion into politics by technocrats and intellectuals who usually would rather stay aloof before now. He is a game-changer. 

Whilst managing these huge expectations, he must develop a great strategy to accomplish great things in Anambra and make Igbos proud. He is the only governor from APGA, and he must think deeply about the future of the party and whether to expand and go national or remain local. He will be compared with his predecessors, and he must not pale in comparison. He must not fail. My advice to the governor-elect is “focus on the people! Power belongs to God and the people”. 

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