Shetima, Obasanjo, Jonathan, others in Anambra as Soludo takes oath of office for 2nd term

2026-03-17 - 15:43

By Vincent Ujumadu Nigeria’s Vice President, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, two former Presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, as well as former Governor Chris Ngige, Deputy Governors from five states and other dignitaries, graced the swearing in of Governor Chukwuma Soludo as he begins his second tenure in office. Other dignitaries at the well- attended ceremony at Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka include the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Igunwusi, Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, South East coordinator of City Boys Movement, Obinna Iyiegbu, and top government officials at both state and national levels. In his speech after being administered with the oath of office by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu, Soludo informed the audience that his first four years was devoted to addressing the basics, which included restoring security, law and order and addressing waste management and urban regeneration, rebuilding public schools and hospitals, infrastructural revolution especially roads and unprecedented road dualization for the present and future generations. He also said that his administration broke the 34 -year old jinx by building a befitting government house and lodge, digitized government processes and mainstreamed transparency and value-for- money governance, restored public finance on a path of sustainability, rescued the environment and intentionally invested in leisure and entertainment to turn Anambra into a preferred destination. He said that over the next four years, he would consolidate the ongoing transformations across all sectors, accelerate actions to secure the spaces and pillars for the prosperity of generations yet unborn, as well as institutionalize change within the “built to last” framework. He said: “Security and electricity will remain priorities. Anambra’s land mass is rapidly being developed in a haphazard and chaotic manner, making a physical master plan an emergency. “That is why we are intentionally securing strategic land spaces as a land bank for future developments. With an estimated population of about 40 million by 2070 and nearly 50 million by 2100, the state will require at least three airports, but in the next ten years there will hardly be any space for them except we act today. “We have already planned and investing in four new cities and a district simultaneously. They are New Niger City near Onitsha, Awka 2.0, the Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City (AMIC), an Aerotropolis, and the Innovation District, which is our own Silicon Valley.” According to him, the CPCS of Canada has completed the Anambra’s rail and gas master plan and work would begin soon. He added: “Anambra is back and rising stronger and bolder! And at the end of the next four years, there will be no doubt: the foundations to a Livable and Prosperous Smart Mega City—the ADTS– will be solid. “We now have a record of delivering more than our promise. Hence, when you echo with me that “Solution is Here,” know that it is not a slogan. It is our covenant, Our promise.” In his address, Vice President Kashim Shettima described Soludo as a courageous leader, insisting that he has through his developmental strides shown Anambra people the stuff he is made of. “Soludo has shown courage and what it means to be a leader. He has worked and there is no doubt that the people of Anambra State have seen what some of us saw in him. “It is not surprising that his people have voted him again and entrusted him with the number one office. It is not about the brilliance of the man at the top, but about his steadiness and courage. This task of leadership is not usually easy. The true burden before us is the reformation of our people. “From what we have seen, Anambra has every reason to look ahead with hope and happiness.”