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Tag: Soludo

  • Soludo and Okonjo-Iweala were my best appointees as president – Obasanjo reminisces

    Soludo and Okonjo-Iweala were my best appointees as president – Obasanjo reminisces

    Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday said Chukwuma Soludo and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala were the best appointees he made as president of Nigeria between 1999 to 2007.

    Obasanjo stated this during a ceremony to mark the first year in office of Soludo as Governor of Anambra State.

    He said he did not support Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, initially.

    The former president said: “Soludo was close to me as an economic adviser when I was president and never misadvised me even once. That was why I sent him to the Central Bank of Nigeria later on.

    “Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Chukwuma Soludo were the best appointments that I made while I was president.

    “When Soludo came to me when he wanted to be governor previousIy, I didn’t support him. Of course, I didn’t disguise my anger towards him. I told him he should be thinking of something national or international.

    “The experience I had of Anambra governorship then was that of Ngige and Chris Uba. I once told Soludo that this is what will continue to happen if people like him are running away from governance. So, when I told him I was disappointed in him going for governor, he also reminded me that I had earlier accused him of running away from governance. So, when he came back and told me he wanted to run, I told him he could go. I also told him – don’t forget that I reserve you for national assignment, so you can use governor as an appetizer.

    “From what I have heard and what I have seen, you have not disappointed me and I believe you have not disappointed the people of Anambra State. When you are done with this, you can think of something international, or national, that is where you belong,” Obasanjo said.

    Earlier, Soludo had taken time to reel out his achievements in the past year of being the governor of Anambra State.

    “Here, our mantra is ‘doing more with less’. We want to build a state that everyone will be proud of, and my children and great-grandchildren will be happy to live in.

    “We want to transform Anambra to a liveable and prosperous homeland so that wherever we are, we will desire to be here. The Igbo man no matter where he lives, always desires to be brought back and buried here when they die. But we want to build a place we will not only be happy to be brought back for burial but that we will also like to live in.

    “For me, I will be proud to live here, even when I am done with this job. The goodwill is here, the environment is getting better and we shall continue to strive to make it work. We only ask that wealthy Anambra people should help us by bringing back part of their investment. If we can get Anambra people in other states, who can pay their taxes here, then just sit back and see your money work for you,” Soludo said.

    He said that in one year as governor, he had employed 5,000 teachers at once, 3,000 health workers and constructed several roads in the state.

    “Nigeria is a place where governors only employ massively when they are leaving office, but in one year, we have made many employments in the education and health sector, and we are planning more.”

    The event, which was attended by several dignitaries from across the country, including prominent Anambra indigenes, was held at the International Convention Center, Awka.

  • Soludo did not spend N3.5bn on vote buying – Aide

    Soludo did not spend N3.5bn on vote buying – Aide

    Mr. Christian Aburime, Press Secretary to Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, has debunked rumours making round that his principal spent a whooping N3.5 billion to execute the March 18 House of Assembly election in the State.

    Aburime, in a statement issued in Awka on Monday, described the piece of information as satanic, despicable and illogical as N3.5 billion could not be disbursed at a time when the society was passing through a crunchy cashless phase.

    He said Soludo did not need to buy votes to win an election. He is a democrat who enjoys the overwhelming support of the good people of Anambra State.

    Aburime said the bogus claims by the authors are a figment of their imagination and should be disregarded by the general public.

    According to him, the attention of the Government of Anambra has been drawn to a false publication being peddled in some sections of the media bordering on vote buying.

    “The allegation is further baseless against the background that it is coming at a time of acute shortage of cash due to the Federal Government’s Naira Redesign Policy which sadly exposes the devilish intentions of the writer(s).

    Anambra people are advised to disregard the group which made the allegations as it had been known to be serial blackmailers over the years and do not serve any useful purpose to society.

    “Governor Soludo does not need to buy votes to win an election, he is a democrat who enjoys the overwhelming support of the good people of Anambra State,” he said.

  • CBN has approved use of old Naira notes – Soludo reveals

    CBN has approved use of old Naira notes – Soludo reveals

    Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed commercial banks to pay out old and new naira notes to customers.

    Soludo, in a statement he personally signed, said Dr. Godwin Emefiele, the CBN Governor, had personally confirmed the development to him in a phone conversation on Sunday night after a Bankers’ Committee meeting.

    The Anambra governor directive was sequel to CBN’s directive to Commercial banks to dispense and to also receive old currency notes as deposits from customers.

    According to him, tellers at the commercial banks are to generate the codes for deposits and there is no limit to the number of times an individual or company can make deposits.

    “The Governor of the CBN gave the directive at a Bankers’ Committee meeting held on Sunday.

    “The CBN Governor, Dr Godwin Emefiele, personally confirmed this development to me during a phone conversation on Sunday night.

    “Residents of Anambra are therefore advised to freely accept and transact their businesses with the old currency notes, including N200; N500; and N1,000w as well as the new notes,” he said.

    Soludo said Anambra residents should report any bank that refuses to accept deposits of the old notes.

    “Anambra State Government will not only report such a bank to the CBN, but will also immediately shut down the defaulting branch,” he said.

  • Amb. Ojukwu submits commission’s report on violence in South-East to Soludo

    Amb. Ojukwu submits commission’s report on violence in South-East to Soludo

    Amb. Bianca Ojukwu, Secretary of the 17-Man Truth, Peace, and Justice Commission, has submitted its report on violence in the South-East to Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra.

    The commission was constituted by Soludo to look into the remote and immediate causes of the agitations, restiveness, violence, and struggles in the South East as well as document victims and circumstances of death, brutality, and incarceration.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Commission on Saturday and made available in Enugu.

    The statement said that the “Commission is headed by Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission”.

    It said that the report was submitted to Gov. Soludo on Friday at the Executive Chamber, Government House, Awka, by Ojukwu who read out a summary of the Commission’s work and later presented the same to the governor on behalf of the Commission.

    Giving a background to the report, Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, explained that the inception of the report provides a framework of diagnosis for the crises of agitation, violence and victimisation in the South-East.

    “The Chairman indicated that the report paints a clear picture that the narrative of the present agitation and violence in the states of the South East is quite complex and not amenable to a single narrative.

    “The interim recommendations, amongst others, include a Bureau of Missing Persons (BMP) within the Ministry of Justice or of Security and Homeland Affairs to document the missing and the disappeared.

    “Other recommendations include professionalization and effective co-ordination of vigilante services in the state, institutionalising deliverables for the Ministry of Security and Homeland Affairs.

    “Establishing an Anambra Integrated Civic Surveillance System as well as establishing an Anambra State Safety and Environmental Commission.

    “The commission will commence its public hearings after the election cycle,” it said.

    Responding, Gov. Soludo thanked the Chairman and members of the Commission for the good job done so far.

    The governor also approved their (commission’s) request to extend time for the conclusion and submission of their final report until the end of 2023.

  • “Restore Obi’s billboards”,- South-East youths issue 48-hour ultimatum to Soludo

    “Restore Obi’s billboards”,- South-East youths issue 48-hour ultimatum to Soludo

    A socio-political youth group, Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to restore the campaign billboards of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi.

    Obi’s billboards and those of the LP Anambra Central senatorial candidate, Victor Umeh, located at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University temporary site were removed by the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency, on Saturday.

    The agency said the candidates did not follow the laid down procedures for erecting billboards.

    "Restore Obi’s billboards",- South-East youths issue 48-hour ultimatum to Soludo

    But in a statement on Thursday, COSEYL, while condemning the removal, described the action as illegal, saying that the advert fees were fully paid for by the candidates.

    The statement was signed by the group’s President General, Goodluck Ibem and Publicity Secretary, Mr Okey Nwaoru.

    It reads: “We condemn in strongest terms the illegal removal of the campaign billboards of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi and the Anambra Central Senatorial Candidate Senator Victor Umeh which advert fees have been fully paid for by them.

    “We have waited for some days hoping that Governor Soludo will correct the error of such great dishonour against Ndigbo but he has not corrected himself.

    “The illegal action by Soludo to remove campaign billboards of these noble candidates because they are not in his political party is unconstitutional and undemocratic, to say the least.

    “We are aware that why Soludo is after Mr Peter Obi and Senator Victor Umeh because these two personalities represent integrity, sincerity and transparency which is a variant of what Soludo believes in.

    "Restore Obi’s billboards",- South-East youths issue 48-hour ultimatum to Soludo

    “The actions of Soludo clearly show that he ventured into politics because of his selfish desire which is why he is disturbed anytime he sees the billboards of these men of integrity and transparency.

    “We give Governor Soludo 48 hours to replace those billboards of Mr Peter Obi and Senator Victor Umeh which he illegally removed or face the wrath of the youths.

    “It is quite unfortunate that only the democracy dividends of Governor Soludo are to insult the sensibility of Ndigbo and what Ndigbo stands for. He is also on the opposing side of Igbos’ integrity and always does the direct opposite of what he says.

    “We warn Governor Soludo to remove the hand of the monkey from soap before it turns to the hand of a human being. Enough said!”

  • LP cries out, alleging Soludo ordered removal of all Peter Obi, Labour Party billboards in Anambra

    LP cries out, alleging Soludo ordered removal of all Peter Obi, Labour Party billboards in Anambra

    The Labor Party (LP) in Anambra State has cried out over alleged mass removal of all billboards of her Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi all over the state.

    Describing the action as “punitive, condemnable and unacceptable”, the LP chairman in Anambra -Chief Ugochukwu Emeh, who addressed a press conference on the unfortunate issue at the Obidatti Campaign HQ in Udoka Estate, Sunday afternoon noted that the act was alien to the state’s polity, hence should be discouraged immediately.

    Chief Emeh noted that “the good people of Anambra state had greeted the emergence of Prof Chukwuma Soludo with great expectations. The citizens enthusiastically anticipated that the light that would transform and illuminate the state has come at last. But unfortunately it’s now obvious that it was a sad and misplaced expectations.

    The LP chairman therefore reminded Soludo that there was nothing really wrong with nursing an ambition, but that must be guided by decorum, diligence and sanity of live and let live. No such ambitious person should cut his nose to spite his face.

    And with this shameful act of ordering the pulling down of our(LP) presidential campaign billboards across the state, and replacing them with APGA messages, the governor has shot himself in the foot. The smear even extended and soiled all APGA candidates.

    His action depicts arrogance of power, and shows his disdain for the feelings and aspirations of any other person, even his party members.

    Emeh appealed to the citizens and members of LP and Obidient Movement in the state to remain very peaceful, focused and law abiding.

    The Labour Party chairman expressed dismay that it’s now clear that Soludo lacks the ingredients of democracy and plurality of opinions, hence his series of unguarded and unwarranted attacks on Peter Obi, LP and the Obedient Movement.”

    He reiterated that with the gale of endorsement for Obi and his running mate, Dr Ahmed Datti no attacks of their billboards will slow down the Obidient political Movement thats has been sweeping across the nation’s political landscape like a tornado.

    Emeh however called on men and women of good conscience to call the governor to order before the antagonistic disposition becomes a culture.

    Meanwhile, when contacted for his reaction the Managing Director of Anambra State Signage Agency, the body in charge of outdoor adverts/signage issues, Mr Tony Ujubuonu,
    explained that the party was unable to meet up the conditions of the state government, and the billboards were removed, and payments returned to the party.

    While tendering pictures of the dismantled billboards that were at the same time replaced as well as the duly paid charges as demanded by the signage agency, the LP revealed that their billboards that were dismantled have been replaced with those of the governor’s party, APGA.

  • Soludo condemns killing of Obosi PG, 4 others, promises to apprehend culprits

    Soludo condemns killing of Obosi PG, 4 others, promises to apprehend culprits

    Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra on Tuesday condemned recent killings in parts of the state.

    Soludo was reacting to killings in Okpuno in Awka South Local Government Area and Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area.

    Four youths identified as Onyiebo Okoye, Kenechukwu Okeke, Jude Ebenezar, and Obinna Maduka were killed in Okpuno community on Jan.1.

    The President General of Obosi town, Chief Ike Okolo, was shot dead at a petrol station on Jan. 2.

    Soludo, who described the killings as cult-related, assured that the culprits would be apprehended and made to face the law.

    Mr. Christian Aburime, Press Secretary to the Governor, reported him as saying that the perpetrators would be apprehended and decisively dealt with, even if they ran out of town.

    He said Anambra had enjoyed the best Christmas ever in decades with a new system of traffic control put in place by the government, Anambra Youth Volunteers, and the Anambra State Traffic Management Agency.

    “The governor has condemned the cult-related war among rival groups and subsequent killings in Obosi and Okpuno in Idemili North and Awka South Council Areas.

    “He assures that the perpetrators will be apprehended and decisively dealt with, even if they have run out of town. He stressed that they will be hunted down to face the full wrath of the law.

    “The governor further reassured that the cult gangs will surely be tracked down and dealt with decisively in accordance with the law,” he said.

    Soludo called on the state residents to go about their normal duties and enjoy the season as the challenges were isolated cases which would be nipped in the bud soon.

  • Anambra poll: I was given a car, N50,000 to thumbprint for Soludo – Man reveals

    Anambra poll: I was given a car, N50,000 to thumbprint for Soludo – Man reveals

    Ebonyi State police command arrested one Anthony Onuoha over alleged car theft on Thursday, confessing to having worked for Prof. Charles Soludo to rig last year’s Anambra governorship election

    Onuoha, who was paraded alongside other suspects, alleged that they were hired by one Uche General, to rig the governorship election for the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

    The suspect alleged that they were given a car and fifty thousand naira after the election.

    According to him: “Last year November, a car was given to me after governor Soludo’s election, because I was involved as one of the 30 persons that were kept in one place to work for APGA. We were promised to be given a car and fifty thousand naira after the election.

    “What attracted me to work for APGA was the car and not the fifty thousand naira. I went to Anambra State that November; I was picked by one Mr. Uche General, I don’t know his surname. Uche General was the one in charge of the section.”

    “The role I played there was that we were kept at Awka North to thumbprint ballot papers on that day of the election. We thumb-printed for APGA governorship candidate, Charles Soludo, and we agreed that at the end of the day, we will be given a car and fifty thousand naira, which they did.

    “We are nine persons that were given a car out of over thirty persons that were hired for the job. This car was given to me by them and the fifty thousand naira to fuel it,” he alleged.

  • Soludo gives a boost to education, employs 5000 fresh teachers in Anambra (Photos)

    Soludo gives a boost to education, employs 5000 fresh teachers in Anambra (Photos)

    Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has employed 5000 fresh teachers to boost education in Anambra State.

    The entire recruitment process was done through a transparent and competitive process supervised by the State Ministry of Education.

    Governor Soludo presented the appointment letters to the recently recruited 5000 teachers in a televised grand noonday ceremony on Friday, December 2, at the International Convention Centre, Awka.

    The gathered teachers and their guests were full of praise for Governor Soludo for having faith in them as a continuation of his open demonstration of transparency and credibility in all sectors in Anambra State.

    It was an occasion to savour as Governor Soludo shared ennobling company with the teachers because the governor sees himself, first and foremost, as a teacher having lectured for many years at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and in some other universities all over the world.

    Many educationists lauded Governor Soludo for his landmark innovative method of recruiting teachers credibly, transparently and competitively.
    Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Professor (Mrs.) Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, who superintended all stages of the recruitment exercise basked in the glory of the moment, attesting to the fact that the process was quite challenging.

    She was steadfast in carrying out Governor Soludo’s mandate of making the exercise comprehensively transparent and credible.
    It needs to be recalled that following the dearth of teachers in schools as inherited by the administration on assumption of office, Governor Soludo took the immediate decision of the approval for the recruitment of 5,000 teachers.
    The competitive process of the recruitment has been described by multiform observers as being the most credible and transparent in recent times.

    According to the records, out of the 40,120 candidates who responded to the initial advertisement, 13,500 scaled through the first Computer Based Test (CBT) which had 60 percent as the cut-off mark.

    The supplementary test took the cut-off mark down to 55 percent, thereby adding additional 2000 candidates to the number scheduled for the last CBT.
    The last CBT was scheduled in six centres at a cut-off mark of 55 percent. The 8,120 successful candidates were scheduled for oral and written interviews.
    The successful candidates were determined by adding the last CBT scores and the oral/written interview scores, and dividing by simple average. The cut-off mark was set at 60 percent.

    After the painstaking and rigorous exercise, the 5,000 teachers were selected strictly on merit. Anambra children deserve the best/ I will not give to them what I will not give to my own children.

    The presentation of the appointment letters to the recruited 5000 teachers on Friday, December 2, at the International Convention Centre, Awka, was the climax of a job well done by Governor Soludo who amidst laud ovation assured them that they will receive their December salaries.

    See photos below:

  • PHOTOS: Peter Obi and Gov Soludo exchanging banters

    PHOTOS: Peter Obi and Gov Soludo exchanging banters

     

    Governor Charles Soludo and LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi finally met after the former’s outbursts against Obi at an event.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls that Soludo had taken a swipe at Obi barely two weeks ago which turned the social media networks upside down.

    But from the photos taken in Awka there’s sign of any acrimony.

    See photos:


    Lets bury the hatchet, Soludo seems to be saying here. It was hearty greetings between the Anambra State Gov, Prof Chukwuma Soludo when he dashed across to the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, early afternoon today at the 70th birthday anniversary Thanksgiving mass of the Awka Catholic Bishop, Rev Paulinus EzeOkafor at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka. From Chuks Collins, Awka. Nov 24,2023