By Jude Atupulazi
The aspiration of the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to return a second time received a big boost after the country’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, gave his support to the project. This followed Tinubu’s visit to the state, Thursday, May 8, to commission some projects by Soludo.
The projects commissioned included the new Government House, the Solution Fun City and the iconic Light Tower which he described as a symbolic project. He also commissioned the Emeka Anyaoku International Centre at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Speaking during a town hall meeting at Alex Ekwueme Square, also recently reconstructed by Soludo, President Tinubu described the Governor as his friend, a brilliant man, smart brains and highly connected.
Tinubu said the gathering offered the nation another opportunity of celebrating diversity and maintaining brotherliness.
He said: ‘To me, a reflection of our diversity is present here with the presence of the Progressive Governors. Our diversity will lead to prosperity. There is solution in Anambra because we have Soludo.
‘I stood as candidate and I came here to seek your votes during the Presidential Election and in less than two years since assumption of office as your President, I thank you for your encouragement and support.
‘I am delighted to be back to commission projects. I come as a great friend. The South East Zone is home of enterprise and strength.
‘My visit today bears bold testament. Soludo is my friend and I salute his vision, he has the brains, he’s a great thinker, he knows the way and we will work together.
‘Soludo is a person who will bring prosperity to you and a solid foundation has been laid by him and Anambra is on the rise. I will work with Soludo as a friend and will work together to deliver dividends of democracy,’ Tinubu declared in what was an unveiled support for Soludo’s second term ambition.
Speaking specifically on the Light Tower, President Tinubu described it as a wonderful monument, saying, ‘The Anambra Tower of Light and other projects, together with the massive infrastructural transformation and human capital development, are bold infrastructure achieved in a short period in Anambra State. I recall when we came to tame the Atlantic Ocean in Lagos and people doubted it, but we stood our ground.’
The President promised that the federal government would continue to partner with Anambra State and the South East Geopolitical Zone to secure the people and their future.
He also promised to make huge ecological investment in the state to tackle erosion which has been ravaging most communities in the state.
‘Anambra has almost become the erosion capital of the world and we will do everything to make ecological investment in tackling erosion and abandoned federal road projects, especially the road linking Anambra with Kogi. The Ministry of Transportation will design the master plan.
‘With our progressive ideological alliance, we will continue to partner with Anambra State to deliver shared prosperity to ndi Anambra and Nigerians and we will continue to be brothers because we are one family, living in different rooms, but same house called Nigeria.
‘We must work together and bring prosperity. We are required to confront the wastefulness of the past, the ineptitude and bring confidence to our people. Agriculture is receiving massive attention. We have negotiated and passed into law the new minimum wage and I’m glad that I’m informed Anambra is paying.
‘We have to invest in our future and the future of children and education is the greatest investment and weapon against poverty. We will work to secure the future of our people. We will conquer insurgency and we will defeat them,’ Tinubu said.
In his speech, Governor Soludo said his administration had constructed over 500km of roads and flyovers, including other critical infrastructure across the state, alongside five General Hospitals and a trauma centre in the state.
‘We have completed over 500k roads and many smart schools and water projects, waiting for commissioning. We commissioned over 200km of roads by Keke riders. Tower of light and monuments of our heroes are symbolic. Ours is agenda with a deadline, in line with our vision of Anambra-Dubai-Taiwan. Anambra is clearly on the rise,’ said Soludo.
He added that Anambra People were happy to celebrate the President with the 179 communities giving him a chieftaincy title.
‘You tamed the Atlantic Ocean in Lagos and you are courageous in taming the economy. Stay the cause, Mr President. We also thank you for appointing Ndi Anambra into various positions.
‘Beyond Anambra State, Nigeria will survive and that is why Anambra State will not only support President Tinubu, but support him to succeed.
‘I’m an unrepentant progressive and APGA had given support to the President in 2011 and today I want to inform you that that culture of APGA has not changed because we have keyed into the progressive nature as progressives and we will support Mr. President.
‘Strongly rooted in centre progressivism, I want to tell you that that has not changed. APGA has strategically aligned with the centre,’ Soludo assured.
Former Secretary General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, described the President’s visit as strategic in strengthening ties with the state government.
‘It is for me a singular honour and pleasure to join the Governor in welcoming the President to Anambra State. I know you have observed the hard work of the Governor of Anambra State and the people of the state in welcoming you.
‘We will continue to pray that God will give you the wisdom to face and address the pluralism of this country. As a NADECO champion in the return of democracy in 1999, it gives me confidence that you will steer development of this country,’ Anyaoku stated.
The Governors of Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ogun, Delta, Borno, as well as Senators and House of Representatives members, accompanied the President on the visit.
