POST COVID-19: Orumba Women Urge Ndi- Anambra To Draft Soludo Into Anambra 2021 Guber Race

As the 2021 Anambra governorship election approaches, more calls are being made by groups, opinion leaders and some political heavy weights on the need for Prof Chukwuma Soludo to join the race

Orumba North Women under the aegis of Anambra Demands Soludo(ADS) Orumba Stakeholders became the latest addition to the several voices clamouring for Soludo to join the race

The highly influencial women group made this passionate call recently at a stakeholders meeting, appealing to political parties, Organizations and individuals in Anambra State to work hand in hand with them in drafting Prof Chukwuma Soludo to run for governor in the Anambra 2021 election.

This is also coming on the heels of an earlier one made by their umbrella body on the same subject matter recently in Ndiokpalaeze.

Led by Her Excellency Mrs Ifeoma Ekwueme, wife of former Nigeria’s Vice President, late Dr Alex Ekwueme, the ADS Orumba North Women Stakeholders noted that as mothers, they are worried and concerned about the the dangers which the massive migration of their children to Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries portend and the increasing disinterest of their young ones to stay back home and make a living.

The women made up of women President Generals and other top women leaders of the 16 communities in the Local Government Area observed that Nigerians are experiencing extraordinary times where the twin problems of covid-19 pandemic and the slide in the price of oil have made it imperative to search for a world class thinker and doer with exceptional track records of performance in structured settings and public office to lead the state post covid- 19 and continue the good works of His Excellency Dr Willie Obiano.

They explained that ” the days when Abuja played the role of benevolent father Christmas are over; stressing that States that will survive the post COVID-19 era must look for new and ingenious ways to continue to improve the quality of life of citizens and also create qualitative jobs for the teeming population.

“That is the challenge of post covid- 19 and that is why we are picking on Soludo out of the others aspiring to lead our state. ” They advised

The women group further said that with the various stellar achievements of Soludo in his international and national assignments and the fact that the world always look his way for solutions in times of dire challenges, they are convinced that Anambra needs him now more than ever before to come home and perform those feats he is known for.

The Orumba ADS women recalled with satisfaction the millions of jobs Soludo created as the Chief Economic Adviser to former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and as the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the economic boom ignited by the big and reliable banks his bank consolidation spurned, the creative measures he put in place that have halted frequent bank collapses with the attendant miseries such bring to families and businesses, the billionaires enterprenuers his policy created especially in Anambra state, the rehabilitation of Mints which reversed the practice of printing Nigeria’ s currencies and cheque books abroad, his repositioning of Nigerian Bureau of Statistics for more reliable data for national planning, the opening and construction of a befitting CBN branch in Awka which prevents loss of lives and cash through armed robbery attacks associated with cash movements to Enugu, his numerous social intervention programmes in education, health and empowerments especially making credits accessible to widows among many others.

Mrs Ekwueme in her speech particularly recalled with delight how Soludo’s intervention in facilitating the release of funds during his tenure as CBN governor, fast tracked the rehabilitation of the once deplorable Ekwulobia-Ufuma- Umunze- Ibinta road which resulted in easier movement of people and goods and improved economic activities in Orumba.

While resolving to take the message of ‘Soludo for Anambra 2021 Project’ to the towns and villages in the local government, they urged Ndi- Anambra to ” rise above parties’ politics , religion , money and actualise a decision that will make their children and grand children to be proud of them.”

Finally they agreed to reach out to Soludo who is currently leading a crack team of technocrats that are envisioning the future of Anambra state for the next 50 years and serving Nigeria in the Presidential Economic Advisory Council among other international engagements, to place their demand that he comes home and run for the said election, assuring him of their unalloyed support and those of their communities and families.

Joe C Anatune