‘Why Anambra is underdeveloped’

Political economist and chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, discussed the accomplishments of Governor Charles Soludo and the reasons the state is falling behind in terms of political and socioeconomic progress. Take-outs:

Regarding political developments in the nation and specifically in the state of Anambra, you appear to have been silent for a while. What’s been going on?

Actually, I haven't been silent—that is, unless you bring up issues pertaining to Anambra State. However, I lead a hectic life, far more than I should. As you may be aware, I do not consider politics to be a vocation and I am not a full-time politician. It needs to be a career. If you have a political bent and are prepared to serve others without expecting anything in return, then, you come and play. If you find yourself in a political position, you dedicate your time to it and when the season is over you should be facing your daily job; your source of income, as the case may be.
I have so been quite busy in my line of work. I have consistently made myself rather public in the media, where I have discussed the status of the country. Additionally, I've made an appearance in the aviation industry, which is one of my areas of expertise. In the social arena, I have also been quite involved. However, I haven't done anything with Anambra politics, to be clear. It was planned. Deliberate in the sense that when the gubernatorial race was over and a new administration was enacted, there was a sense of necessity to allow the new administration some time to settle in. To keep his word, the governor needed time to work.

I recall a television interview I did where I was asked to assess the Gov. Chukwuma Soludo administration. That was in his seventh month in office. I made it very clear to the programme anchor that it was probably too early to assess the governor. I said that I would give him one year before making an assessment. The one year has come and gone. But looking back, I do not see anything that would enable me to make a very reasonable assessment. I have waited for two years. The two years are gone and the more I look at things, and see that things are going from bad to worse, the more I get worried.
It appears that the important stakeholders and the elite have also been overtaken. Additionally, there seems to be an odd Anambra elite conspiracy of silence, which led me to believe that we might all be complicit in this extremely risky scenario.

I feel as though I can no longer remain silent for this reason. I have to say something now. Furthermore, now would be the ideal time for me to speak up.

How would you rank Anambra?

I notice that Anambra State is turning into a ghost state as I glance around. The security situation is the reason for this. We are aware that there is a general state of security throughout the country, primarily in certain areas of Nigeria. But we are aware of what the security situation in Anambra got worse when Soludo took over. We know the genuine efforts that his predecessor made to contain the security situation. Looking at it now, things are not as they ought to be. If there is anything better than worse, I will apply it. And the most unfortunate situation is that there seems not to be anything going on, in terms of a visible plan or strategy, or even investment in the security architecture in Anambra State to make things better. That makes me wonder if it is the design that suits Soludo; a design that will keep people away from the state and he thinks that is the cheapest and easy way for him to have a second term, which now seems to be the only agenda on his table.

Soludo is a narcissistic thinker. He is the kind of person who just has faith in his own expertise and doesn't think other people are as knowledgeable as he is. His kind has never produced an effective leader. Anambra is a disaster as a result.

It appears that you have disregarded the Soludo government's role in overseeing security in Anambra State based on the information provided above. However, if you travel across Anambra, you can't help but hear that Soludo is the answer, and there appears to be a surge of support behind it. Additionally, some claim that he is providing some remedies to Anambra State's issues.

That being said, Soludo is not to be written off. He is able to accomplish certain things. Definitely, he is a fantastic dude. Additionally, he has achieved success for himself personally. He has presumably performed well based on his evaluation and the opinions of those around him. But, I am viewing Anambra through the lens of the self-promised things that he made. Do you still recall the assurances he gave you? The promises made in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Dubai That is the viewpoint from which I evaluate his administration.

We all knew the implications of those pledges for the state of Anambra. However, what we are witnessing on the ground is improbable. However, you also witness the government acting and exhibiting certain habits that could be of concern to him, but for me, they are not necessarily addressing the problems of the people even in the interim. I can only say that he gets high on his dose. That’s what I can see going on. It’s about ego.

This is because when you come to a state where there is no security, where there is no social and economic life, where Mondays have become unconventional, additional weekends, where there is no life beyond five o’clock, where people are going on the street with their hearts in their hands, where the elites are deserting; and nothing tangible is seen to be happening towards addressing these issues, especially where there are daily occurrences of kidnapping and robbery and in very brutal ways, then there is a problem. And the government does not even seem to take action? The government does not also engage with people that matter in the process of finding lasting solutions.

Many people who have options have left the state. The people that are left behind are probably there because they don’t have options. And the sad reality is that those who are there now are not only faced with insecurity but also, pummeled by all sorts of taxes and the shenanigans of raising revenue in a most crude way that is known to mankind, in a very dehumanizing manner.

Living in Anambra State now, from the way I look at it, is quite terrorizing and traumatizing. For me, therefore, with all these things going on in the state, I cannot just say that I believe in that solution philosophy. Rather, I will say emphatically, without any doubt, that Soludo is the problem and not the solution.

The state security apparatus is not really under the governors' control. Do you not believe that your criticism of the governor is overly harsh?

Why are there various levels of government? Every level, from the federal to the state to the municipal and even the community, has its own set of responsibilities, and this has not changed. The federal government is still in charge of certain security risks. Furthermore, why does a governor have the position of chief security officer of the state? We say in my state that the traditional leaders are the towns' chief security officers, thus everyone is accountable and every person is the environment's chief security officer. Thus, I believe that this is about not having what it takes.

Why would somebody like Soludo take home about N2 billion monthly in what is called a security vote and from every information available, does not spend more than N50 million on security? I agree that the state has security apparatchik, from the Police, DSS, military and paramilitary service, which are federal agencies, but they work in the state to sustain the security and peace of the state; and they report to you as governor. You do not need to be told as a governor that no matter the vision or dream you have for a state if you don’t have an enabling environment, security-wise, you cannot actualise anything.

The greatest asset that Anambra has is its human capital. When these human resources are not able to come around to transact their business, whether they are social or economic, and are not comfortable visiting and enjoying the community of their kith and kin at home, then you are depriving the state of the fabric that propels its growth. It is like depriving someone of oxygen. This is exactly what has happened to Anambra State under the leadership of Soludo. As you know, Anambra is known to have created a social industry where people come home for huge chieftaincy title taking, marriage or funeral ceremonies etc., which have gradually become part of the people’s way of life. But today you see more of our people doing these things outside the territories of Anambra. These ceremonies have helped to develop and grow ancillary businesses in the state through which people make income and pay their taxes to the state. However, these businesses are now suffering and dying gradually as a consequence of insecurity.

To exacerbate the situation, Soludo is actively supporting absurd regulations from the State Assembly to discourage people from having expensive funerals as part of his purposeful plan to impede the state's expansion for his own gain. Really, I don't understand why the government should care about a person's choice of where to bury their departed parents or other family members. Consider it in this manner! Did you forget that people are still living and paying taxes to the state, and that people are still in the printing business, if you are going about telling people not to print posters, banners, or brochures for funerals? These jobs also bring in mone