Anambra 2021: Why we are rooting for Soludo — Nnazor

The Lagos State Coordinator of Soludo Solution Movement (SSM), Chief  Obioma Nnazor, popularly known as Aguejiejemba, has given reasons why the group is clamouring for Prof. Chukwuma  Soludo to contest the  November 2021 Anambra State governorship election.

Nnazor, in a statement said with the dwindling global economic condition, there is no other person that is more qualified to take over from Governor Willie Obiano than Chukwuma Soludo who is a Professor of Economics and former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria.

Excerpt:

With all the people that have shown interest so far for the election, why does your group left them to mobilise for somebody who has not officially declared interest the election?

Well, that shows you the difference between Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and others. We are conscious of the fact that Prof. Soludo has not declared his interest to contest the election, but we the concerned citizens of Anambra State don’t want the State to fall into a wrong hand. That is why we are appealing to him to come out and contest. Democracy has brought development to Anambra State. Anambra has been blessed with good governors. Dr. Chris Ngige, Peter Obi and Dr Willie Obiano. Each has been building from where the other stopped and what we want is forward ever and backward never. So, after looking at the people who have so far indicated interest in the job, we feel that Soludo is best suited to continue from where Governor Willie Obiano would stop. The world has been experiencing economic challenges for some time. To build projects now, you need to squeeze water from stone to do so and it is only a trained economist like Soludo that can do this.

What are those things you think that make Prof. Soludo unique?

Well, his records are too numerous to mention but his achievements during his time as Central Bank Governor is one of them. The revolution and innovations that he brought to the banking system is what we are enjoying in Nigeria today. If you throw your mind back to what the banking system in Nigeria was before he became the CBN governor, you would appreciate him. Do you know that (the reason) we have strong banks in Nigeria today is because of the capitalization of banks that he did as the CBN governor? Again, do you know that now highway robbery has reduced drastically? This is because the robbers know that traders no longer carry money when they are travelling as they were doing many years ago. Now, If they are coming from Aba or Onitsha to Lagos to buy goods, they would just put their transport fare in their pocket. When they get to Lagos, they would withdraw money and do their business. That is one of Soludo`s solutions which has saved a lot of lives. His appointment into President Buhari`s economic team even though he is not a card carrying member of APC shows you that he is a phenomenal  and the right person that Anambra State needs to continue the match to economic eldarado.

He has proved his mettle at both national and international level and we would not have such a sort-after asset and not make use of him in our local level. Soludo has the capacity to make Anambra state the Dubai of Africa.We in the Soludo Solution Movement strongly believe in his capacity and capability. He is highly intelligent, smart and well connected

What role is Soludo Solution Movement playing to achieve this dream?

We are mobilizing the people of Anambra State in waiting for him because we have the confidence that he would hearken to our clarion call to contest. Lagos State has the largest number of Anambra people outside Igbo land so here in Lagos, we are organizing Anambra people for him. Right now, we have ward and local government coordinators in the 20 local government and 37 local council development areas as well as state executives. We In Soludo Solution Movement have people from all the wards in Anambra State as members, so we are mobilizing our people both in Lagos and at home for him. Another thing is that Soludo Solution Movement is a national organization. As we are mobilizing for him here in Lagos, our members in the other states of the federation are doing the same thing for him.

Who is funding Soludo Solidarity Movement?

That is a very good question. Soludo Solution Movement is a congregation or assemblage of people who believe in Chukwuma Soldo`s capacity to lead Anambra State to greater glory. He did not beg us to believe in him. So, we are funding the movement from our own widow’s mite. We believe that it is investment that is worth making. If Anambra State becomes Dubai or Singapore, it is for our own benefit and that of generations yet unborn. In the United States, there is what is known as crowd funding, which is a situation whereby some people donate to the candidates that they believe that if he is elected, he would turn their lives around. So, we are mobilizing for Soludo because we know that if he becomes the next governor of Anambra State, we all would be the better for it.

What advice do you have for Anambra people?

The advice that we in SSM have for Anambra people is that we should come together and make Prof.Chukwuma Soludo the next governor of Anambra State. He has demonstrated competence as well as capacity. He already has the general approval of the electorates but we should not relent. Power is taken and not given. We all should come together to mobilize and also campaign for him to win.

But right now, there are so many Soludo movements, why is it so?

Well, that shows his level of acceptability.  An Igbo adage has it that good market sells itself. The different Soludo groups that you spoke about are all working towards one objective and that is enthroning Soludo as the next governor. We all have the same objective even though the method could be different.