Pascal Oparada
Soludo Chukwuma Charles will be a two-time governor of some sort. First, as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and now the governor of Anambra State, a strategic state in the Southeast.
His reign as governor of Nigeria’s apex bank under President Olusegun Obasanjo between 2004-2009, Soludo weathered the storm of the then faltering banking system in Nigeria.
He asked banks in the country to recapitalise or die, a move many scoffed at in the beginning but turn out to be a lifesaver for the Nigerian economy.
The exchange rate remained stable under him at N117/$1.
Now that he has been elected the governor of Anambra State, considered to be the epicentre of insecurity in the southeast, Nigerians hope that he would replicate his success at the CBN in the state.
Kingsley Moghalu, former presidential candidate of the YPP said Soludo’s job is already cut out for him.
In a congratulatory tweet, Moghalu said he hopes Soludo will work ‘hard and productively’ for Ndi Anambra.
“I congratulate Prof. @CCSoludo on his election as the next Governor of Anambra State. I also congratulate Ndi Anambra for having spoken with one voice, which we must respect, in favour of Soludo and APGA for our governorship. It is no surprise:
“Anambra has consistently voted APGA for the leadership of the state, even as it has voted more independently for national elective offices. I am hopeful that Soludo will work hard and productively for our dear state, and I warmly wish him a successful tenure in office,” Moghalu said.
“Soludo once said he was going to turn Anambra into Dubai when he was running for governor a while back. He’s governor now, we are expecting Dubai,” Udeogu said in a tweet.
Others said his first task as governor should be to calm frayed nerves and bring stability to the state that has become a haven to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and bring an end to killings in the state.
Others said he should work to increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state eroded under the outgoing governor, Willie Obiano.
