By Christian ABURIME
Success naturally attracts friends and foes in every sphere of life. It also elicits admiration and bitterness in equal measure, depending on the eyes of the beholders. At a time that the successful Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, is getting deserved plaudits for his sterling performance in transforming Anambra State, agents of darkness are trying hard to cast shadows on his shine. In vain, they play their dark game.
Steve Osuji’s recent writeup, titled “SOLUDO-OBI RIVALRY: Scurrying about under Obi’s Shadow!”, dripping with malice and devoid of substance, is a pitiful attempt to tarnish the reputation of Governor Soludo and drag him into a needless controversy by fabricating an imaginative rivalry with Mr. Peter Obi. This rejoinder dismantles Osuji’s unfounded claims, highlights Governor Soludo’s undeniable achievements, and exposes Osuji’s lamentable career as a failed journalist whose pen has consistently served as a tool for vendetta rather than truth.
Osuji’s assertion that Governor Soludo suffers from an “Obi Complex” or “trauma” is a laughable fiction, conjured by a mind desperate for relevance. Governor Soludo, a globally respected economist, first-class intellectual and former Central Bank Governor, has no need to envy, fear, or attack anyone, least of all Mr Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State.
The trajectories of these two sons of Anambra are distinct, and to suggest that Governor Soludo’s actions are driven by juvenile envy is an insult to his intellect and stature. Beyond fabrications, when and where did Governor Soludo recently talk against or about Peter Obi that warrants Osuji’s current strange diatribe and contrived allegations? Where? When?
Osuji’s claim that Governor Soludo believes “no Igboman should aspire to be president until he is ready” is a baseless slur, unsupported by any evidence. Governor Soludo has consistently advocated for Igbo unity and progress, and his public statements always reflect a commitment to Anambra’s development, not petty rivalries.
Osuji’s accusation that Governor Soludo joins “Obi’s political opponents” to criticise him is equally spurious. Governor Soludo’s government is focused on addressing Anambra’s challenges, not engaging in political mudslinging. If the Governor has commented on national issues, it is within his right as a statesman and governor to contribute to public discourse, not as a vendetta against Obi.
Osuji’s attempt to paint Governor Soludo as a traitor to Igbo unity is a cheap tactic, revealing his own disconnect from the values of fairness and brotherhood he hypocritically invokes.
Further contrary to Osuji’s malicious claim that Anambra has become “more wretched” under Professor Soludo, the state has witnessed unprecedented progress since the Governor assumed office in 2022. His administration’s achievements speak volumes, rendering Osuji’s criticisms as mere noise from a disgruntled detractor.
Just for the sake of reinforcing what has always been well known to Ndi Anambra, except mischief-makers, highlights of Governor Soludo’s transformative governance and verifiable performance cut across various sectors.
For instance, in the infrastructure revolution, Governor Soludo has overseen the construction and rehabilitation of over 754 kilometres of roads, with 462 kilometres already completed and commissioned, utilising durable stone-based and cement stabilisation technology. The quality roads being built run across Anambra’s 21 local government areas, connecting rural communities and boosting economic activity. The Ekwulobia Flyover and other mega projects, such as the amazing Okpoko slum transformation, are also transforming Anambra’s landscape, contrary to Osuji’s false claim of a “dirtier” state. Besides, about to be commissioned are the new ultramodern Government House/Governors Lodge complex, completed by Governor Soludo, breaking a 34-year jinx, as well as the exciting, sprawling Solution Fun City, a tourist delight that will turn Anambra into a choice destination.
Through the “One Youth, Two Skills” initiative, Governor Soludo’s government has trained and empowered 5,000 of Anambra youths with entrepreneurial skills, reducing unemployment and fostering self-reliance.
When it comes to security and stability, Governor Soludo’s proactive measures, including the coming into effect of the Homeland Security Law, the establishment of the Anambra Vigilante Services and partnerships with federal security agencies, have significantly curbed insecurity, restoring peace to communities once plagued by unknown gunmen. Today, Governor Soludo’s applauded “Agunechemba” security initiative has liberated the state from the siege of kidnappers, ritual killers and diehard criminals, significantly reducing crime rates. This has laid the foundation for sustainable development.
In education and healthcare, Governor Soludo’s administration has implemented free education in public schools, ensuring access to quality education for all. He has also hired 8,115 teachers, leading to a significant increase in student enrollment and a reduction in out-of-school children. Today, Anambra tops the national indices of educational excellence and the lowest in out-of-school syndrome in the country. The story is the same in healthcare sector with the upgrade of general hospitals and primary healthcare centres, plus free antenatal and delivery services for mothers, all of which have improved healthcare delivery across the state.
Far from Osuji’s baseless claim of a “dirtier” Anambra, Governor Soludo’s waste management reforms and urban renewal projects have enhanced the cleanliness and aesthetics of major cities like Onitsha, Awka, and Nnewi. Has Osuji visited the brand new Okpoko lately, the erstwhile dirtiest slum in the state? Let him pay a visit, see the transformed Okpoko as a New Haven and eat his words!
These achievements, among numerous others being recorded with the most prudent financial management and zero debt in the state’s history, demonstrate Governor Soludo’s commitment to transforming Anambra into a prosperous, livable state. Of course, his vision of making Anambra a “Dubai-Taiwan” is not mere rhetoric but a strategic blueprint backed by the right tangible foundation being laid today.
Osuji’s claim that Governor Soludo will “fail woefully” in the November election is the most laughable grand delusion of his sponsors, as the people of Anambra, who have witnessed his impactful leadership, are poised to reward him with overwhelming support. Clueless Osuji should have been at the packed town hall meetings in Awka, Lagos and Abuja where the Governor recently presented his score card to an ever appreciative Ndi Anambra.
Apparently, Steve Osuji’s write-up is not the work of a credible journalist but the rant of a rented man whose career has been defined by mediocrity and mischief. Osuji’s tenure at reputable media houses like The Nation, The Guardian, and ThisDay was marked by controversy and underperformance, earning him a reputation as a hired pen with little regard for journalistic ethics. In his home state, Imo State, where he served as a media aide, Osuji’s legacy is one of divisive propaganda, gross incompetence, alienating stakeholders, and contributing to communication failures that undermined his principals. His inability to secure stable employment reflects his lack of professionalism and credibility, reducing him to penning beggarly, sponsored hatchet jobs to make ends meet.
By the way, Osuji’s claim of having “just visited” Anambra is dubious, as his description of the state contradicts the visible progress attested to by residents and visitors alike. His reliance on innuendo and insults, such as calling Governor Soludo “loquacious” and “bombastic,” exposes his intellectual laziness and inability to engage in substantive critique.
A true journalist seeks facts, not fiction; Osuji, however, thrives on distortion, a trait that has rendered him irrelevant in Nigeria’s media landscape.
Governor Soludo has no time for the petty polemics Osuji seeks to manufacture. His focus remains on delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Anambra, breaking new grounds and building on the legacies of past leaders, whose contributions to the state are always duly acknowledged. Ndi Anambra are better advised to disregard Osuji’s mischievous writeup and focus on the facts of Governor Soludo’s game-changing leadership. To Steve Osuji, we offer a word of advice: abandon the path of calumny and seek redemption through honest, dignified labour. Your pen, once a tool for enlightenment, has become a weapon of disgrace. It would be a tragedy if it is too late to reclaim your dignity.
In all, whatever dark holes agents of darkness may continue to crawl out from, Governor Chukwuma Soludo remains an unflappable progressive leader, undeterred by the antics of failed propaganda contractors like Osuji. Anambra is on the rise, and no amount of sponsored vitriol can dim the light of progress shining across the state.
_Christian Aburime is the Press Secretary to Governor Soludo_
