Has Soludo Lost Grip of Anambra?

Despite Governor Chukwumah Soludo’s promise to transform Anambra State into Dubai and Taiwan, the state has become the epicentre of insecurity in the South-east with rampant incidents of deadly cult clashes, senseless killing of innocent residents by rampaging gunmen, and kidnapping for ransom, making it a high-risk business environment, Ejiofor Alike reports

Professor Chukwumah Soludo’s swearing in as governor of Anambra State in March 2022 was greeted with high expectations by both the residents of the state and other Nigerians given the track record of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and his campaign promise to transform the state into Dubai and Taiwan.

Soludo’s campaign manifesto had also offered hope to the residents of the state and the entire South-east.

In his manifesto titled: ‘Soludo Solution,’ the world-renowned economist promised to design and enforce a template of minimum standards for infrastructure and other facilities in cities, markets, and communities in the state.

“Our goal is to become the most livable smart megacity. This requires planning, and enforcement of minimum best practices and standards for the ease of transport, communication, recreational facilities, public conveniences, etc. Anambra must be transformed into a mega-urban and industrial city-state with a sustainable mechanism. It is a vision that hopes to exploit the geographical advantage and the unique entrepreneurial capabilities of the people of Anambra State,” Soludo had stated in his manifesto.

During his campaign, he had noted that the state has all it takes to be Africa’s Taiwan, Singapore or Dubai.

Soludo had also revealed that his vision of transforming the state into Dubai and Taiwan was a well-thought-out process dating back to 2006.

Two months ahead of his March 17, 2022 swearing in, he raised public expectations further with his inauguration of 80-member committee headed by a former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili.

Soludo also gave a strong indication that non-indigenes could be appointed into his cabinet.

 “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 is 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,” he told the transition committee.

To cut costs of governance, promote domestic brands and boost the local economy, he adopted vehicles manufactured by the Innoson Vehicle Motors (IVM) as official vehicles in the state.

Soludo’s preparedness to restore the lost glory of Nnewi and Onitsha as industrial hubs, and write the name of Anambra State on the global map was evident.

However, less than two years to the end of his first term in office, his campaign promises are far from being realised as deadly cultists, gunmen on killing spree and kidnappers have made the state the worst livable in the South-east, contrary to his vision of making the state the “most livable smart megacity.”

Many towns and villages in the state, especially those that share boundaries with Imo State have been deserted due to rampaging gunmen, cultists and kidnappers, who abduct the residents freely and either collect ransom running into millions of naira or kill their victims and harvest their body parts for rituals.

Commenting on the frightening level insecurity in the state, the Coordinator of the South-East Security Forum, Chief JohnBosco Odimegwu, was quoted in a media report as saying that the investigation conducted by the organisation showed that with 10 kidnappers’ camps, Anambra has the highest number of camps in the South-east, followed by Imo State with nine camps.

“In Anambra State alone there are 10 camps, which include Tango 1 and 2 in Ihiala, Mother Valley in Nnewi, Nnewi camp, Burrow Pit Camp, Orsumoghu, Ogbunka Camp in Orumba South.

“Other camps are Ogwuaniocha/Osomala in Ogbaru Local Government Area, Uli/Lilu, Mbosi, Ihiala LGA, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi LGA, Orsumogho-Ihitenansa through Ukpor camp, and Ihiala camp,” he explained.

According to him, while Imo State has nine kidnappers’ camps, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi states have two camps each.

Also commenting on the situation, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Celestine Okoye, had also reportedly lamented the rate of kidnapping in Awka, the state capital, particularly in the Dubai Estate area.

Okoye had also raised the alarm that his life was under threat from suspected hoodlums for his refusal to help them secure bail for their members in police custody.

He alleged that some influential individuals in Awka were sponsoring cultists and kidnappers.

Apart from gunmen and kidnappers, cultists are also having a field day in the state.

In one fell swoop, cultists in a black SUV had rained bullets on residents of Nibo community in Awka South LGA of the state, who were celebrating New Yam Festival and killed no fewer than 16 people on October 20, 2024.

The state police public relations officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, had in a statement, attributed the incident to cult activities.

Ironically, the crime scene was not far from the Governor’s Lodge, where Soludo resides.

In his reaction to the state of insecurity in the state, the Chairman of the United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo had also noted in media reports that the state was becoming a ghost state.

“We know there is a general security situation in the nation and majorly in some parts of Nigeria. However, we know that the security situation in Anambra got worse when Soludo took over,” he said.

“Do you remember the promises that he made? The Dubai, Taiwan, and Hong Kong promise… It is from that perspective that I assess his administration,” Okonkwo added.

Soludo’s recent excuse that high level of illiteracy in the state was responsible for the delay in transforming the state to Dubai and Taiwan was a strong indication of his poor knowledge of the level of literacy in the state before he became governor.

To address the state of insecurity in the state, he recently swore in a former Commissioner for Works and Transport in the state, Mr. Ken Emeakayi as his Special Adviser on Security.

Coincidentally, Emeakayi’s Ihiala Local Government Area is the worst hit by the insecurity in the state as it shares boundary with Imo State.

Emeakayi was commissioner under the late former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju’s administration.

However, he was accused of using the Anambra State Vigilance Service better known as the Bakassi Boys to hunt down Mbadinju’s political enemies.

In June 2003, Emeakayi; Onitsha Camp Commander of the Bakassi Boys, Mr. Chinenye Ihenko (alias Okpompi), and 10 others were charged with the murder of a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Onitsha Branch, Mr. Barnabas Igwe and his pregnant wife, Amaka, on September 1, 2002 in Onitsha.

The slain NBA chairman was critical of Mbadinju’s administration.

However, the court gave Emeakayi and others a clean bill of health.

Can Emeakayi help Soludo to rescue the state from gunmen, kidnappers and cultists? Events of the next few months will provide answers to this question.