Ahead of the November 8 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, I have taken my stand, clearly and without apology: I will ride or die with Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. For me, this is not just another political season or a matter of supporting a candidate—I am standing with a movement, a vision, and a future that is already unfolding before our eyes. I am standing with Soludo because I have seen enough to know that Anambra’s time for greatness is now—and we are blessed to have the right man at the wheel.
This commitment is rooted in the weight of history, the clarity of Soludo’s vision, and the unmatched results of his leadership so far. I am riding with Soludo because I believe that with him, Anambra will not just be a commercial hub but a symbol of what’s possible when brilliance meets integrity and action.
When the story of transformational leadership is told—not just in Nigeria but across the world—one name continues to echo through the corridors of history: Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. His life is not just a personal success story; it’s a blueprint for societies longing to break free from mediocrity into global prominence.
Born in the small town of Isuofia, Soludo rose from humble beginnings to becoming a world-acclaimed economist, an intellectual force who has sat at decision-making tables with presidents, world leaders, and global institutions. But Soludo’s genius was never just in what he achieved for himself. It was in how he used his brilliance to solve problems far beyond his personal life. That, for me, is where leadership begins.
Many remember him for the audacious banking reforms he championed as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. At a time when Nigeria’s financial system was teetering on the brink of collapse, it was Soludo’s fearless ₦25 billion capitalization policy that stabilized the banks and positioned Nigeria to compete in the global economy. He did not just save banks; he saved livelihoods, salaries, pensions, and futures. That is the calibre of mind we are privileged to have steering the affairs of Anambra today.
But Soludo’s greatness is not trapped in the pages of the past. What makes his story even more compelling is his choice to return home—not for wealth, but for legacy. Unlike many who retire into comfort after reaching the global stage, Soludo came back to build, to serve, to leave a signature of excellence on the soil that raised him. In just a few years as Governor, the transformation is already speaking loud and clear, from the rural roads of Anambra West to the bustling arteries of Onitsha and Awka.
This is not politics as usual. It is deliberate, targeted development anchored by strategy and competence. Over 400 kilometres of roads are currently under construction simultaneously, a scale of infrastructural development never before witnessed in Anambra’s history. But it doesn’t stop at roads. Soludo understands that the future will not be built solely with concrete but also with code. That’s why he established the Solution Innovation District (SID), a bold move that is already empowering over 20,000 Anambra youths with digital skills—coding, artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital marketing. This is how a nation is built.
Beyond infrastructure and innovation, he is confronting the rot others left behind. Schools that were abandoned are now alive again with 8,115 freshly recruited teachers, improved curricula, and a renewed focus on preparing Anambra children not just for certificates but for global relevance. He is digitizing the public sector, cutting away the thick fog of bureaucracy that breeds corruption. Even in the treacherous terrain of security, Soludo has stood firm, fearlessly dismantling the strongholds of terror and bringing hope to communities that had lost their peace.
And through all this, Soludo remains remarkably humble. Despite walking global corridors of influence—from the World Bank to the UN—he kneels before elders, listens to market women, engages students, and reasons with artisans. His leadership philosophy is simple: think globally, act locally. And that’s exactly what he’s doing.
For me, this is personal. I have seen leaders come and go, promising the moon and delivering shadows. I have witnessed the politics of bread and butter, empty slogans, and short-term gratification that leave the people poorer after the election dust settles. But Soludo is different. He is not experimenting with Anambra; he is building it with precision, backed by experience, and global connections that many politicians can only dream of.
I ride or die with Soludo because I believe in where he’s taking us. I believe in a future where our children will not have to run to Lagos, Abuja, or London for opportunities but will find fulfillment right here in Awka, in Nnewi, in Otuocha, in Ihiala, in Orumba. I believe in an Anambra where our identity is no longer reduced to hustle but elevated to leadership in the global economy. And I believe in a leader who has already put himself in the pages of world history—and is now writing Anambra’s chapter.
This is bigger than politics. This is legacy work. It is about lifting people from mere survival to global significance. It’s about the audacity of a small Igbo state dreaming global dreams and daring to achieve them.
With Soludo, Anambra is not just in good hands—we are in the hands of one who has shaped economies, transformed systems, and proven that excellence is not a campaign promise but a way of life.
For that reason, I stand firm. No retreat. No surrender. I will ride or die with Soludo—because this journey is not just about today
