It was a gathering of Anambra key players at the Sports Club in Enugu with sprinklings of stakeholders from other South East states on Sunday, October 17, 2021. The audience was excited and jubilant of the next Anambra that will be livable and prosperous and resolved to make this happen by supporting the Governorship bid of Cee Cee Soludo. From Architect Henry Arize to Ogochukwu Ekwueme and a host of others, the firm resolve to join their folks back home to work for Soludo’s victory was palpable. And why not?
The coming election is consequential as the past and future of Ndi Anambra and Ndigbo are hanging on the cliff. The future of the All Progressives Grand Alliance which is handed to us by the Great Zik of Africa and iconic Ikemba is at stake. Many may not know that the cock was the symbol of Zik’s NCNC and that APGA is the embodiment of that indomitable Igbo spirit that is positioned to champion the place of Ndigbo in Nigeria. Closely related is that since attempts to drive development in Nigeria from the centre have been less spectacular, there is crying need to recruit capable men and women to galvanize progress from the states. The foregoing underpins the consequential imperatives of the election and the driving forces behind Soludo’s “A People’s Manifesto for a Greater Anambra.”
In a nutshell, that is what the clamour for Soludo has been all about in the past two years and more. Yes, it’s the clamour to preserve Igbo identity in a plural society and to drive massive development from the state.
True, Soludo’s manifesto which is a beauty on four wings, namely economic Transformation, Social Agenda, Rule of Law and Environment, seeks to make Anambra a place to live happily, learn happily, work happily, invest happily and enjoy happily. The current distortion of demographics will be reversed by wealth creation and gainful employment generation such that children born in Anambra will have no attraction to seek greener pastures elsewhere. The ‘Made in Anambra for global consumption’ philosophy will drive economic transformation under which Soludo himself will lead the marketing force as Chief Marketing Officer.
For Soludo who is a Life Member of the Sports Club and who was accompanied by a crack team comprising Distinguished Senator Victor Umeh; Amiable former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Emeka Sibeudu; Indomitable Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe, Ebullient Campaign DG, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu; Energetic Chief of Staff, Chief Primus Odili; Dependable Honourable Commissioner, Engr. Emeka Ezenwanne and Indefatigable Chinedu Nwoye, the interactive town hall meeting was indeed, a home coming. It was an evening well spent with brothers, sisters and friends for a greater Anambra.
On a lighter note, all enjoyed happily on account of the happy hour generous free drinks by Chief Umeh.
Be of good cheer!
Joe C. Anatune
Writes from Awa
