I grew up in a modest Anambra community where almost every child shared the same yearning: that our surroundings would one day be transformed for good. We imagined roads without potholes, classrooms with chairs and books, electricity that stayed on at night, and a police force that treated traders with respect rather than harassment. In our school and church gatherings, our elders constantly reminded us that we were “leaders of tomorrow.” They told us that real education was not simply the ability to read and write but also the cultivation of good manners, self-discipline and the duty to represent our towns with dignity wherever we went.
Those simple, realistic expectations shaped our sense of responsibility. They made us believe that if we were entrusted with power, we would use it to serve rather than exploit our people. Yet, as we grew into adulthood, that dream was repeatedly blocked by a tollgate of poor and transactional leadership. Roads deteriorated, markets became dens of extortion, schools decayed, and resignation settled over once-vibrant communities. Many began to think Anambra’s problems were simply too deep to solve.
It was against this bleak backdrop that the emergence of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo as governor in 2021 became a genuine turning point. Unlike many who merely spoke of vision, Soludo brought to state administration his impeccable credentials as an economist, a reformer at the Central Bank of Nigeria and a globally respected technocrat. His much-talked-about “Taiwan–Dubai” blueprint is not a catchy slogan but a long-term development plan rooted in global best practice yet adapted to local realities. Its bold aim is to reposition Anambra as an African hub of production and innovation while restoring order and dignity to its cities and villages.
Delivery Beyond Rhetoric
What marks Soludo’s leadership out is not only the breadth of his plan but the pace and visibility of its execution. In less than four years, the state has witnessed an impressive slate of projects that touch roads, security, education, the environment and institutional reforms. These initiatives show that the “Solution” agenda is not merely rhetoric but measurable delivery.
1. Road Construction & Urban Renewal
Linking rural communities: The 10.3-kilometre Isuaniocha–Urum–Amanuke–Achalla Road in Awka North LGA now connects ten previously isolated communities to their local government headquarters in Achalla.
Modernising the capital: Dualisation of Okpuno Road in Awka with drainage on both sides and solar-powered streetlights has transformed a once congested artery into a model urban corridor.
Opening up markets: The 3.2-kilometre Nri–Agbanabo–Nimo Road in Njikoka/Anaocha LGA was flagged off to expand rural access and market connectivity.
Onitsha network upgrade: St Stephen’s Road network, including the Emmanuel Church Road junction, now serves densely populated districts in Onitsha.
Statewide impact: Over 170 kilometres of federal roads have been dualised to boost inter-LGA mobility, while numerous rural road projects are unlocking village commerce.
2. Security and Law and Order
A secure environment is a precondition for development. Recognising this, Soludo sponsored the Anambra State Homeland Security Law (2025), giving legal teeth to a new security architecture. He launched Operation Udo Ga-Achi (“Peace Shall Reign”), which has complemented existing law-enforcement agencies, leading to raids on criminal hideouts in places such as Ozubulu, Isiagu, Oba and Nnewi. The creation of Agunechemba, a state security outfit working alongside community-based networks, has strengthened intelligence gathering, patrols and early-warning systems.
3. Education and Human Capital
Soludo’s administration sees education not just as a social service but as the bedrock of future prosperity. Under the Smart Schools Initiative, Uga Boys High School was upgraded to “smart school” status, and 22 pilot model schools—one in each of the 21 LGAs plus an extra—have been rolled out with modern infrastructure, technology and teaching resources. Free education policies have driven up public school enrolment, while improved school security ensures that parents feel safe sending their children back to classrooms.
4. Environmental and Institutional Reforms
In Onitsha, the administration’s interventions go beyond roads: massive environmental clean-ups, desilting of drainage channels, removal of illegal structures and slums, and the upgrading of major intersections and roundabouts such as Ochanja Junction have all combined to reduce flooding and improve liveability. In Orumba South alone, about 40.6 kilometres of roads built across multiple communities are enhancing mobility, market access and service delivery.
Why These Achievements Matter
These projects are not isolated gestures but part of a deliberate pattern.
Transparency and accountability: Projects are publicly flagged off with locations, contractors and timelines clearly announced. This openness has increased public trust and enabled citizens to hold government accountable.
Linking infrastructure to social outcomes: Better roads mean easier market access for farmers and traders; safer schools and communities reduce out-migration; and cleaner urban centres reduce disease and attract investment.
Legal and institutional grounding: By passing the Homeland Security Law and formalising operations like Udo Ga-Achi, the administration has moved from ad hoc executive actions to structured governance that can outlast any one leader.
Moving Past Empty Rhetoric
Despite these measurable results, some opposition figures are still being marketed as “political heavyweights.” Names such as Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the APC and Sir Paul Chukwuma of the YPP frequently surface in popular discourse. Yet when their public statements are placed side by side with Soludo’s actual delivery, they look more like theoretical options than transformative leaders.
Democracy thrives on debate, but Ndi Anambra must insist on proof: credible road maps, realistic funding strategies, timelines, infrastructure and measurable outcomes—not just rally speeches or symbolic gestures dressed up as cultural identity or regional solidarity.
The 2025 Decision: Consolidate, Don’t Restart
Democracy was meant to translate our youthful aspirations into collective progress. Under Soludo, that possibility is reappearing—not through compromise with the status quo but by disrupting it. The governor has deliberately infused governance with discipline, accountability and service above self, echoing the home-training values we were raised with.
As the November 2025 governorship election approaches, Ndi Anambra faces a stark choice. Will we allow media noise, clan politics or cash inducements to derail a serious, people-centred administration? Or will we consolidate the gains already made by renewing Soludo’s mandate to complete the reforms he has begun?
The answer should be clear. We must reject personality cults, manufactured grievances and aspirants who cannot demonstrate financial, moral or managerial credibility. The “Solution” agenda is not just a catchphrase; it is already steering Anambra toward sustainable growth and humane governance. It has broken the cycle of hopelessness and shown that our childhood dreams under the mango tree are achievable within our lifetime.
The Power of Our Vote
Our vote remains the most potent non-violent weapon for continuity and progress. This November, Ndi Anambra should speak with one voice and reaffirm the mandate of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo—a leader who has proven, against entrenched interests and cynicism, that a disciplined, transparent and people-centred government can still flourish in Nigeria.
Soludo’s first term is evidence that government can work when competence meets integrity. Extending that mandate will not only cement ongoing projects but also signal to future leaders that performance—not noise—is what earns the people’s trust.
From Childhood Dreams to Solution-Oriented Leadership in Anambra State By Barrister Joseph Obinna
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