INTERVIEW: Prof. Chukwulobelu Appraises Soludo’s Performance, Narrates On Other Issues

The Secretary to the Government of Anambra State, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, has asserted that Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, is doing very well and therefore will get his second term.

This among many other things he disclosed during an exclusive interview session with the WAP. The one hour and forty-five minutes interview had the Secretary to Anambra State Government, explain himself, narrating his journey as a professor of Financial Economics at the Birmingham City University in the United Kingdom, to Anambra State, first as Commissioner and eventually as Secretary to Anambra State Government. Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu also told the story of his secrete that has kept him as the longest-serving SSG, his transition to Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s government, and what the Soludo’s government has been doing in the past twenty months. All these and more he said, while insisting that Prof. Soludo is doing exceptionally well, focused, and determined to move Anambra State forward.

The Anambra State Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu bared it all in this interview:

Q: So far, how would you rate the performance of Governor Soludo, what are the challenges?

A: I’m very happy that this government can hold its head high and say, “We are doing well”. I have become reenergized that indeed, government is a force for good; almost like the best form of philanthropy that touches the lives of the people.  Last week, some people were calling him (Prof. Chukwuma Soludo) “governor umuogbenye” (governor of the poor). The character of this government is becoming evident. When the governor won, everyone was excited. Now, how is this government doing well, one may ask? By the time Mr. Governor came in, roads were in a terrible state. Much so that he, at the time, acknowledged this, declaring that he would turn the entire state into a massive construction site. The Governor since assumption to office, has awarded 400 plus kilometers of road across every part of this state. Some communities have never seen roads; many of them are in the economic belt – Amansea to Awba-Ofemmili, Amansea to Ufuma; this government has taken road construction to those communities. I am very happy I stayed in this government because I have learned a lot. The Governor talks about execution which covers the period from project conception to delivery. Before March next year, many of these roads will be completed. Now, let me even access this government based on its own set agenda from inception. Prof. Soludo’s government has five fingers of development which are as follows; security, law and order, economic transformation and infrastructure development, human capital development, environment, value system, and governance.

Security, law, and order: Every government comes in, under different circumstances. Soludo came in and faced two major challenges; 8 LGAs were almost overrun by criminal gangs. The state was almost gone. By every objective assessment, you will score the governor A-plus on security. The governor reorganized the security architecture and created the Ministry of Homeland Security. Today, we have a central vigilante in all the 21 LGAs of the state.  The next challenge he faced was a complete decay of our roads and I have said earlier that this government is doing extraordinary work on our roads. This time, not just road construction, but quality roads that will stand the test of time. Although by next year, the campaign will start for the 2025 election, I like him (Prof. Soludo). He won’t be distracted. He said the best form of politics is developmental politics. You keep working, people will be seeing it.

Economic transformation and infrastructure development: Mr. Governor is using some economic policies to ensure that we keep growing. Like the palm revolution, he has distributed 1 million palms and coconuts and will do the same next year. Low-income earners have been taken out of the tax net. By March next year, all the completed roads will be marked.

The import emporium, the technology hub, and the new industrial hub that Afreximbank is funding part of the infrastructure there; are all coming up with great speed. The current airport must get to its full potential, but there might be another airport around Orumba South when development moves there. Some roads need to also be dualized, like Amawbia to Ekwulobia. So, this is a government that is detailed and foresighted. This government places a high premium on made in Anambra and the governor himself uses IVM, which is made in Anambra, as his official vehicle. I don’t know if there is any other governor in Nigeria that does that. Therefore, I score him highly, not because I am part of the government.

Development partners flock here. Confidence is back. The governor is now talking about Onitsha 2.0; a new Onitsha. There is Awka 2.0. He is saying that the International Convention Centre – ICC, will have a 5-star hotel to help push development in that direction. As we speak, the 10-storey 5-star hotel in the ICC is in the 2024 budget. So, it will start next year.

Environment: Thousands of trees have been planted by this administration to help the environment and control degradation. Refuse dumps littering different parts of our cities have been significantly taken care of. Remember, the governor asked to serve on the premise that he would “create a livable and prosperous homeland.” The governor also talks about a “clean, green and sustainable Anambra.”As we speak now, Okpoko has undergone a significant cleanup. Many blocked channels have been opened up. The government has now sent a comprehensive environmental law to the House of Assembly for consideration. So, this government is deliberate and focused.

Human capital development: This government has employed five thousand teachers and now employing another three thousand teachers for public schools. Basic education is now free and Ebuka, watch this space, I won’t be surprised if at some point, in 2024, he might announce that secondary education is completely free. There is free antenatal and free delivery, to the point that people are coming into Anambra to be delivered of their babies. Five thousand youths were trained and empowered with grants worth about N2 billion, and believe me, some of them will become employers of labour in the near future. The governor talks about moving Anambra State from a departure hub, to a destination point. He also talks about the Dubai-Taiwan model. I can tell you Ebuka, what is the Dubai-Taiwan model? The Dubai-Taiwan model is not tall buildings. It is built on the philosophy of “give me the book, hold the oil.” It is investment in human capital and that is what the Soludo’s led government is doing. The free education is deliberate. Next year, we will have finishing school where the best and brightest can go to. People don’t see transformational part of government because it comes gradually. Soludo is tenacious and he is on the right trajectory.

Value system and governance (administrative reforms): If we then move to administrative reforms, both the judiciary and legislature are supported by this government to be the very best they can be as independent arms of the government. Across the state, the government has installed solar lights in all courts in Anambra State. Some of these bold governance reforms are contained in the 2024 budget. Already, for the executive, cost of governance has been remarkably reduced by this government. The government set up the Peace, Truth and Justice Committee and they have submitted their preliminary report which will help government in value system reforms. Look at the administrative reforms; doing more with less, prudence. Ask any contractor, if Soludo signs “approved,” it’s as good as cash. So, to answer your direct question, he has done well in absolute terms.

The challenge is that I discovered that some of our people are cynical. Rather than wish government to succeed, it’s as if they are wishing that their own government fails. It’s not right. This cynicism, the media and journalists should help to properly educate and inform our people.

Q: Your Honour, you have been here for a while now. How did you get into the picture?

A: I came into government in 2014. Precisely April 14, 2014. Before then, there was a week period that I was a member of Anambra State Economic Think Tank – ANETT, under the former governor, His Excellency, Chief Dr. Willie Obiano. I came into that government on the back of the review I did for the candidate at the time, of his blueprint for government which was about a two hundred plus page document. The former governor and I were classmates at Christ the King College – CKC, Onitsha and before I joined the government, I was in the United Kingdom where I was plying my trade as a Professor of Financial Economics. Well, it’s a long story which has been captured in the Memo that I am writing. It contains details of my journey in government. So, I would say, watch out for my memo.

Q: How did you and Prof. Soludo come about?

A: As a university professor in Birmingham City University, some of the students I supervised then were writing on bank consolidation in Nigeria, which was introduced by Prof. Soludo, the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria at the time. Then when I joined government, Prof. Soludo led the Ohaneze team to Anambra on restructuring conversation. However, we worked closely when Governor Obiano set up the vision 2070, and Prof. Soludo was the chairman and asked that I become the secretary. Then also I became the Director General of Soludo’s campaign although a lot of people did the work, and the major work was done by the governor himself. However, those gave me the opportunity to work closely with Prof. Soludo. So, when he won the governorship election, after swearing-in, he asked me to continue as SSG.

Q: How would you describe your experience transitioning from one government to another?

A: For me, transitioning from one administration to the other doesn’t present any challenge to me. I have tried in this job to do it with a high sense of honour and integrity. I believe it’s a privilege for anyone to serve. Having this privilege requires of me to ensure that this job is done with the highest level of integrity. It also helps that you define your life. You define what you want in life. Loyalty for me is working efficiently and effectively and in sincerity for whoever employs you. Loyalty is doing your work well. Being able to see where things are not going well and tell your principal “let this be done this way”.

Q: Having served this long as SSG, what is your secret?

A To be very honest, I don’t know the secret. All I know is that I came to the job with all the things I have formed over the past 58 years of my life. I was 58 at the time I joined government. But honestly, this question can best be answered by my employers. All I know is that I came as me; Solo Ossy Chukwulobelu, formed over a long period of time from my journey through life.

Q: Let’s talk about the 2023 Presidential Election and the Position of the Governor

A: You know, although there are so much one would have said about that election, but it is now in the past. The election has come and gone with all the controversy and distraction. We have moved on and we are focusing on the good and tough job Prof. Charles Soludo is doing in Anambra State. So, let’s just leave it there.

Q:  A lot of people say Governor Soludo does not listen to anyone. What do you say to that?

A: I was discussing with someone and he said this same thing, that Governor Soludo doesn’t hear or take advice. I said okay, let’s look at it. Please, are you able to tell me example, concrete examples of where the governor refused to take or accept counsel. Give me examples. I can tell you, he couldn’t. I can’t even begin now to recall many, if not uncountable instances where the governor reversed himself, or changed cause of action when confronted with superior argument. There is what Mr. Governor calls “learning by doing,” but he changes his mind on any issue when presented with a better alternative. People should not be stocked in the old narrative. Although the opposition sometimes capitalizes on this and sometimes write complete falsehood.

Q: Why is the Governor yet to Conduct LGA Election?

A: The state of local government administration in Anambra is not very good. Yes, the governor promised that he would conduct local government election, but you don’t want an election that will further become a problem rather than a solution. The governor will fulfill his promise, but when is not something I can answer. For now, what the governor is doing is reorganizing the local government administrative system. Remember that in some LGAs, the headquarters were attacked and destroyed. Many workers no longer go to work. Some local government headquarters have not started to function just yet. So, it’s a process. The governor is rebuilding and after that, the election will be conducted.

Q: The next Governorship Election is already a popular public debate. What are Soludo’s chances?

A: Mr. Governor will get his second term and it will be 21 over 21. Go and write it down, Mr. Governor will get his second term. I am saying this not because I am in government. You see, our people say that it’s God that makes a king. At any point in a people’s life, God brings out the person that will lead the people. There is no shaking at all. The Governor will win his second term. It’s not a pipe dream. I am very confident. No shaking. (Westafricanpilot)