By Cajetan Mmuta
The 100 wise men and women of the 2022 transition committee for the inauguration of the Anambra State governor-elect, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, came into place last week.
The body is chaired by a former Minister of Education and Vice President of the World Bank (Africa), Prof. Oby Ezekwesili.
The committee began sitting with its inaugural at the Agulu Lake Hotel in the state, on a note of controversy.
On Thursday, January 20, 2022, the precincts of Golden Tulip Hotel, which forms part of the tourist haven of Agulu Lake in Anaocha local government area of Anambra State, came alive.
In its serene space was a convergence of eminent personalities from across core professions, disciplines, and callings. The ceremony was the inauguration of the 100-man 2022 Transition Committee of governor-elect Chukwuma Soludo and his deputy Governor Onyekachukwu Ibezim.
The special gathering marked the process for modifying a new era of Soludo’s government under the umbrella of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state. The new administration, when inaugurated on March 17, 2022, will assume reins of power which marks the end of the eight years government of Willie Obiano.
It is on record that Soludo, as governor Obiano’s successor, emerged victorious after the intense heat of the November 6, 2021 governorship election held in Anambra State. There is no doubt that providence smiled on APGA, Obiano, and Soludo in that election, given the gale of controversy and tension that trailed the exercise.
It is obvious that APGA and its household in government had secured the much-desired victory and attention has now shifted from the party’s secretariat to the Awka Government House, for the real business of governance. This is so because to whom much is given, much is also expected. For the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Soludo, the stage is set. And as the first professor (of Economics), of course, to ascend the exalted number seat of the state as the people’s steward after past governors from other disciplines have had their shots, rightly or wrongly with their best to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people by repositioning the state on the path of history, he needs not to be reminded that excuses are not tenable in the boxing ring.
As a village boy and Nwa Mgbafor, as he would prefer to be called, he has had a raw taste, deal, and feelings of what the ordinary citizens daily go through, and having sweated to secure this hard-earned reprieve after two failed attempts to give his best to the people of Anambra State, it holds therefore that the battle is not going to be an easy one.
There is, no doubt, that the state is strategic and peculiar in various forms. It is instructive that Soludo must know the totality of his name, image, rustic village, especially the state he vowed to work for, and more importantly too, his profession and global community where he still draws strength from is highly at stake. Can he redeem himself and stand tall; taking a sober look at the thrills and frills of his predecessors? History beckons timeously and his count of steps into glory and story starts now.
However, the soured odium of infractions that emerged from the Agulu Lake hotel inauguration speaks volumes of what may likely rule or ruin the government that’s about to take place soon. It is not in doubt that Nigerians are in dire stress and yearning for a messiah who will rescue them from the painful clutches of social and political alienation, immunity of corruption, egoism, and sedentary politics, but what’s worse and has out, the electorate out of interest in our governance systems are the airs of insensitivity along with the leaders and elites. These two are key reasons for the wide gap and apparent instability in the polity. Anambra is not different.
While it is evident that government in the state is about to experience a new lease of political dynamism or trend, the brazen display of political bravado and a semblance of motor park touts’ style of barring journalists who are members of the fourth estate of the realm, from covering a mandatory public event, leaves much to be desired from a government that is about to steps into the bigger shoes of Governor Obiano.
Noted, the outgoing government may not be a saint in its own right, but Soludo must be reminded that no government or individuals, no matter how strong or highly-placed, survives without the media because the practitioners see the mighty go up and come down from the rungs of power. Besides, nobody ever stops a professional and courageous newsman as a watchdog, agenda-setter, and educator from the onerous task of information dissemination, educating the public and raising the alarm where and when necessary, as well as helping to shape a depressed society enmeshed in socio-political and economic anemia like ours.
It’s expected, therefore, that the incoming APGA led government must as a matter of duty and responsibility restrain its media handlers from all forms of excesses by striking the chord of peace and understanding, while it also extends hands of comradeship or collaboration to all the media in their efforts to help for a seamless implementation of all the policies and programmes of the state government towards entrenching a new order, growth, and development of the all segments of the state.
In addition, the government to be formed must know that the era of political esotericism, grandstanding and flowery languages in a government and governance that’s solely for highly impoverished grassroots, is mundane, especially, in this digital age. The renowned philosopher, Winston Churchill, said the price of greatness is responsibility. This is essential given Prof. Soludo’s new and emerging political poise in his address during the inauguration of the 80-man committee speaks volumes of what’s to come.
He declared that all the commissioners, aides, and other appointees would be considered on part-time, full-time, pro bono, in driving the business of governance for a better Anambra State. He also said there would be no fanfare during his inauguration as only 50 guests would be allowed to the venue of his inauguration, while funds for such would be used to address more important development issues in the state.
While expressing optimism to hit the ground running, the former CBN governor vowed to stop at nothing to ensure that the Anambra people who overwhelmingly voted for him are not disappointed. According to him, part of the tasks of the transition committee would be to draw a pool of resource persons, from where the government would pick capable hands to help it drive its policies. “This is an assemblage of the people I describe as wise men and women who have kindly accepted to pay to serve our homeland, under the leadership of one of Anambra’s finest gifts to the world, our own dear Oby Ezekwesili.
This committee comprises some of Nigeria’s best, and Anambra is deeply grateful that you are sacrificing your time and talents pro bono, to help our journey to a liveable and prosperous smart city.” He also promised to adopt an open governance model that would guarantee transparency and accountability to Ndi Anambra; saying that his administration would not waste the state’s resources on jamborees. “This is a friendly transition, it is an APGA government to APGA government, and we expect nothing except the level of cooperation expected among members of a family. And that we are having at this transition committee jointly, being inaugurated, speaks eloquently. It is almost like a combined transition committee, and it is a testimony that this is a family affair.”
On his plans for security, Soludo said it was intentional that he left out security experts in his committee, adding that security is a great challenge in Nigeria today, and would not be discussed in the open. “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 on security.”
He said: “The global objective of the transition committee is to help the government and the governor-elect to achieve a seamless transition, and we are ready to hit the ground running from day one. The task would be elaborated, but three stands out.”
Soludo also noted that “First is to ascertain, certify the state of affairs, the short to medium term deliverables of the vision 2070. To propose an actionable agenda for the next administration, three, to assist with talent hunt to populate the Anambra change data bank.”
The governor-elect added, “To achieve this, we will soon advertise for expression of interest, whereby we call on all problem solvers with integrity, competence, and passion, to indicate which problem or problems they can solve for Ndi Anambra, whether in full time, part-time or pro bono services. Together with the talent hunt from the committee, we will then have a robust pool to ensure we continuously fit round pegs in round holes.”
“We are open to seeking help,” Soludo said, adding, “and we will deeply appreciate advice and assistance from everybody to enable us to deliver efficient and effective services to millions of our people. While we will continue to be sensitive to politics, in a democracy, that is expected, we also know that the teeming millions just want public service to work and do not care who delivers them.
While defending his selection pattern for the committee, he explained: “We are deeply grateful to all of you who have accepted to actually pay to serve. Some are even in opposition parties, but let me say that sound ideas and implementation have no political party badge or state of origin.” He added “We envision an Anambra that will be the preferred destination in West Africa to live, learn, work, relax and enjoy, and we will welcome any and every contribution to make this work. Of course, Anambra is a state in the South-East and is not an island unto itself, so we will seek the cooperation and collaboration of other states, especially South-East and South-South states.
This will be critical for creating this prosperous homeland.”
Soludo pledged that “The times are hard, and the immediate future will be challenging. Despite this, Ndi Anambra expects extraordinary outcomes, and literally expects miracles; we can’t let them down, and no excuses will do. We are determined to give it our all, mobilizing the creative resources of our people all over the world to create a befitting homeland.”
Continuing, he said, “It is our collective dreams and assignment. Given the pool of human resources in this transition committee, Anambra people will expect an exemplary report, a very illuminating one. I’m looking forward to using the report of this committee as a template to operate from day one.”
“I’ll be heading to Okpoko immediately after the inauguration. I’ll put in eight hours of work immediately after the inauguration. Don’t expect fanfare because it won’t take place”, he said. He further promised to finish the works started by the outgoing Governor Willie Obiano and then initiate new ones.
The governor-elect stressed that he would source competent hands to help develop the state, irrespective of where they come from. He said, “If a Pakistani will give us 24 hours of electricity, I will bring him and make him commissioner for utilities. What the people care about are the services they get and not necessarily who did it. We want to get good results here. What matters is the result. Accountability is a must here.”
In separate reactions, a renowned economist and ex-presidential economic adviser, Prof. Osita Ogbu, expressed optimism that the incoming government of Soludo would enthrone South-East regional integration. He added that the assemblage of eminent persons from across all the states that make up the former South-Eastern region into the transition committee was a clear pointer that “Professor Soludo is planning beyond Anambra state in his administration to engender South-East regional integration”.
According to him, “Anambra State is very important to Ndigbo, and whatever happens in the state will have a spiral effect on all the Igbo states.”
“By assembling eminent persons from across the Igbo states to mid-wife the handing over to his administration and prepare the ground for the take-off of the administration, he (Prof Soludo) has shown that he is looking beyond governing Anambra State to creating a South-East regional integration, and, I will urge Ndigbo to join hands with the administration,” Ogbu said.
He added that, even after the handover, the transition committee members would continue to assist in the interpretation of the campaign manifestoes and designing of programmes and policies of the administration.
Ogbu, however, advised that “transparency, prudence, inclusiveness, and openness” should form the trademark of the Soludo administration.
Meanwhile, the director of the campaign organization of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate during November 6, 2021, in the state, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, has commended the chairman of the transition committee, Ezekwesili, for “simplifying the work of the team.”
He expressed optimism that the team would produce excellent results. Former member of the House of Representatives for Orumba federal constituency, Ben Nwankwo, and ex-commercial bank top executive, Kanayo Nwafor, also expressed hope that by the caliber of persons that constitute the transition committee and the all-inclusive nature of the membership, Soludo has demonstrated that his administration was committed to delivering good governance and not “coming to play politics”.
However, contrary to speculations that the transition committee members were sole appointees of Soludo, in exclusion of any nominees by the outgoing Governor Obiano, it was learned that the committee is a 100-member body made up of 80 persons nominated by Soludo and 20 others appointed by Governor Obiano. It was further gathered that while Ezekwesili heads the committee, Secretary to the Anambra State Government, SSG, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, is the secretary of the committee.
Soludo, at the ceremony, handed over nine-point terms of reference to the committee, with a charge not only to interpret his campaign manifesto but also to design programmes for the new administration while collating a hand-over note from the outgoing administration and scrutinizing the same for his government.
In another development, indications are rife that a silent war has erupted between Governor Obiano and his successor. Body language suggests that the incoming administration is locking horns with his predecessor over Sokudo’s choice to run his show without any external influence or dictation, not even from his supposed political godfather.
This explains why the ex-CBN and Isuofia born politician wants all his appointees to write an application so they can be considered on merit and not on political affiliations. Recall that the First Lady and wife of the governor, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, was reported to have kicked against her husband’s choice of Soludo as his successor.
This was part of the misgivings that rocked the house of APGA before, during, and after the Party’s primary election. But for Governor Obiano’s massive war chest and zest to write his name in the history books, the PDP would have pulled the rug off the feet of the ruling party in the state, observers note.
