The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued in Awka and made available to newsmen on Saturday.

The statement reads in part: “The Anambra Police Command has intensified security measures across the state as preparations heighten for the second term inauguration of the state governor.

“The command, in collaboration with other security agencies, has also stepped up security advocacy and public sensitisation as well as operations across the state, to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free event.”

Ikenga explained that the 100 police personnel trained on arms and combat readiness at the Police College, Orji River would complement the efforts of the officers and men on ground.

According to him, the officers shall complement the strategically deployed personnel to critical locations, strengthen patrols, and enhance intelligence gathering to maintain law and order before, during, and after the inauguration ceremony.

The command urged residents, stakeholders, and visitors expected for the event to “remain law-abiding and cooperate with security personnel.”

It maintained that efforts had been made to guarantee the safety of all the dignitaries and members of the public.

The PPRO reiterated the command’s commitment to providing adequate security and ensuring that the inauguration would be conducted in a peaceful and secure atmosphere.

Soludo, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, was elected for second term in the November 8 2025 off circle governorship poll in the state.

Source: NAN

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The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, issued the warning while addressing the managements of Mount Olive Schools and Spring Field Academy GRA, Onitsha, in her office on Wednesday.

Chuma-Udeh said the directive followed instructions from Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

The schools were summoned to explain the alleged noncompliance with the government’s order on Monday school attendance.

She said: “This measure is in line with the State Government’s resolve to ensure full resumption of academic activities on Mondays across Anambra.

“I urge schools to comply with the directive,” the commissioner said.

While the management of Mount Olive Schools claimed attendance had improved, Spring Field Academy said parents were reluctant to bring their children to school on Mondays.

Both schools pledged to intensify efforts to ensure regular attendance by students.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education, through the Examination Development Centre, has conducted the 2026 Transition Placement Examination.

Chuma-Udeh said she monitored the exercise at the various centres, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Ifeoma Agbaizu.

The centres visited included UNIZIK Demonstration School, Igwebeze Primary School and Igwebuike Grammar School, all located in Awka.

Source: NAN

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The post Monday sit-at-home: Absentee students risk suspension in Anambra appeared first on Frontpageng.

In the last five years in the five South Eastern states of Anambra, Imo, Abia, Enugu, and Ebonyi, Mondays have been declared sit-at-home days, meaning a no-work day. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in 2021, ordered that Mondays be observed as a no-work-day in those states in solidarity with their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested in Kenya, and ferried back home to face prosecution over his agitation for the creation of Biafra Republic out of Nigeria.

The sit-at-home protests, enforced by IPOB and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network, since 2021, has transformed from a symbolic act of dissent into a protracted crisis, with devastating socio-economic and security consequences for the region. There are reports that more than 776 lives have been lost to the activities of unknown gunmen during these times. Imo and Anambra states hold the record for more than half of these deaths. Besides this, the region has suffered staggering losses, including N7.6 trillion in economic damages and systemic disruptions to education, governance, and livelihoods.

Initially rooted in legitimate grievances over marginalisation and the detention of Kanu, the movement has been hijacked by violence, criminality, and internal fragmentation, eroding public support and deepening instability. Small businesses, according to SBM Intelligence, lost about N4.6 trillion every year since its commencement, while transport companies lose between N10 billion and N13 billion every Monday when violent groups enforce the shutdown. These losses stem from widespread market closures, disrupted supply chains, and the inability of businesses, particularly SMEs, to operate effectively. The impact is evident in both urban and rural areas. Large commercial hubs like Onitsha Main Market, one of Africa’s largest, has been repeatedly forced to close, resulting in missed transactions and financial strain for traders and consumers.

Even with the absence of Nnamdi Kanu, Simon Ekpa, became the self-styled second in command, and from his base in Poland, continued to direct the enforcement of the sit-at-home order. His eventual arrest and prosecution outside the shores of the country did not bring an end to the sit-at-home, as many of the local enforcers had succeeded in instilling fear into the minds of the locals back home. Any trader that tries to open their stall on Mondays for business was dealt with. Some were killed, while others had their businesses destroyed. There seemed to be little or nothing many of the state governors in the region could do, as most of them were sympathetic to the cause of Kanu. But after more than two years and with the crisis still dragging, some state governors now feel that the time is ripe to nip the crisis in the bud. The economic toll it is having on their states’ economies is enormous and the idea is no longer sustainable.

However, they are having a tough time convincing their people on the need to shelve the strikes and bring things back to normal. States like Enugu, Ebonyi, and Abia are doing all within their power to put a stop to the sit-at-home order. Peter Mbah, the Governor of Enugu state, imposed penalties for compliance with the sit-at-home order, which helped bring some normalcy back to Enugu. He ensured that civil servants that did not show up for work on Mondays went home with a pay cut at the end of the month; provided security for market men and women that are willing to work on Mondays, whilst also sealing shops that remained closed, all in a bid to resuscitate economic activities by showing that it was safe and mandatory to return to normal Monday routines.

The proponents of the order should realise by now that they have done more harm than good with the directive, and a great damage to the economy of the region.

In Abia State, Governor Alex Otti implemented a combination of strong security measures and public engagement to reduce the impact of the Monday sit-at-home order. He directed all security agencies to deploy at all flashpoints and conduct regular patrols to protect law-abiding citizens and deter any enforcer of the order. He also engaged directly with various stakeholders in the state including IPOB and community leaders on why the sit-at-home order should be discarded, emphasising that it has no legal backing and that it is economically destructive. Again, civil servants were lured back to work and those who failed to show had their salaries deducted.

In Ebonyi State, both the former Governor, Dave Umahi and the current Governor, Francis Nwifuru took the fight to militant groups by directing security agents to deal with miscreants fomenting trouble in the state. Umahi, now Minister of Works, established the Ebubeagu Security outfit to maintain daily patrols to prevent harassment of citizens by IPOB enforcers. This has led to improved security across the state as he charged the Nigerian Army to intensify efforts to end the order, whilst approving a reward system to boost the morale of security personnel.

To address the root causes of youth restiveness, his administration has launched vocational training and entrepreneurship support programmes to create sustainable jobs within the state.

On his part, the Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, in an attempt to kick-start the economy of the state, directed an end to the sit-at-home order few weeks ago. However, traders at the Onitsha Main Market felt otherwise. On Monday last week, majority of them stayed away from their stalls and a shocked Soludo ordered the closure of the market for one week. Prior, he ensured that he addressed the concerns of the traders by meeting Nnamdi Kanu in prison, who assured him that he did not order the sit-at-home. Again, he said that 150 security men were posted to the market to ensure that hoodlums did not attack any trader that chooses to open for business. In addition, Soludo noted that the Onitsha Main Market was opened throughout the Christmas and New Year festivities without any incident. He wondered what went wrong and why the traders started closing their stalls again after the New Year. ‘’If they are willing to listen to the proscribed IPOB not to work on Monday, I will add another six days to it to make it one week so that they could have adequate rest.’’ It was at this point that all hell broke loose. Rather than abide with the directives of the Governors, the traders took to the streets to protest what they termed forced closure of the market and dared Soludo to do his worst.

The following day, the traders again took their protest to the Onitsha Head bridge, where they blocked vehicular movements of those travelling in and out of the state. It took the intervention of the police led by the Anambra Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, to disperse the traders from the bridge.

Soludo has now threatened to shut down the market completely if the traders remain recalcitrant, saying that he could revoke the market title and convert the space to a public school.

If there is one person that should know more about the economic implication of the Monday’s market closure, it should be Soludo. A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Soludo has told whoever cared to listen that the economy of the state is bleeding and that drastic measures had to be taken to get the economy back on track.

Indeed, the extensive economic haemorrhage of the aforementioned states is multiplied by the fact that most people in the Southeast operate in the informal sector as traders, shop owners, artisans, craftsmen, transporters, industrialists, wholesalers, and retailers of motley merchandise. Shutting down the economic space and closing schools in the entire zone has become counterproductive to whatever point IPOB may be making. On several occasions, students have had to miss external examinations fixed for Mondays as nothing could be done to salvage the situation. Many students in the zone have lost countless schooling days. This has created significant educational disadvantage for an entire generation, jeopardising their future and long-term development of the region.

Access to healthcare and other essential services have also become perilous on the enforced lockdown day. Apart from that, the sit-at-home order is also indicative of a larger erosion of political authority and serial failure of the State to restore law, order, and security. If non-state actors can order the closure of markets throughout the region and state governors are having a tough time reversing such directives, it goes to show where authority actually lies.

Foreign investors are no longer willing to operate in the South east region due to the spate of insecurity occasioned by the mindless killings of innocent Nigerians. Now, Soludo has vowed to make sure that economic activities return to the state on Mondays. “We are determined in the fight. We are prepared, enough is enough. I am concerned because the people have given me permission to be their chief servant, it is for the sake of our children, the poor people who depend on the market for daily survival. This fight is to secure Anambra and reassure our investors that Anambra is not a four-day work week; there is a full working week in this state. People; civil servants, and traders must come out on Mondays. For us, this is a moment of reckoning. The calculated economic sabotage to bring down Onitsha must be tackled and on behalf of the Anambra people, we will tackle it head-on. We have exercised enough restraint. Anybody saying he didn’t open for business because of insecurity is just delusional. Insecurity allows you to go to the stadium to play, it allows you to do workouts on the streets, but it doesn’t allow you to open your shop.”

The proponents of the order should realise by now that they have done more harm than good with the directive, and a great damage to the economy of the region. It is quite clear that the sit-at-home order won’t force the federal government to release Kanu. It is the local economy that has taken a hit and now is the time to bring the whole charade to a stop. Those canvassing for the release of Kanu should come up with another strategy, as the sit-at-home has actually set back the economy of the region by several years. In the part of the country where I came from, it is said that you do not cut your nose to spite your face. The south east region must be allowed to grow. The people are hardworking and their progress should not be limited or curtailed by the mindless sit-at-home order that further impoverishes the people. Governor Soludo should be supported by all right-thinking individuals in the state to get the economy of the state back on track. Ending the Monday’s retrogressive sit-at-home order is a step in the right direction.

See you next week.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Sunday declared Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, winner.

With his victory, Soludo has secured a second term as the governor of the state.

Announcing his victory, the Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, at the INEC headquarters in Awka, said Soludo recorded 422,664 votes to emerge the winner.

In a statement he personally signed, President Tinubu said Soludo’s re-election was a testament to his visionary leadership and the significant progress the state had made under his guidance.

Tinubu’s statement reads in full:

“I congratulate Professor Chukwuma Soludo on his re-election as the governor of Anambra State.

“The overwhelming victory he recorded in Saturday’s poll has now made him the third governor in the state’s political history to win a second term.

“I must also congratulate the people of Anambra State, the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the peaceful and successful conduct of the governorship election.

“Professor Soludo’s re-election is a testament to his visionary leadership and the significant progress the state has made under his guidance.

“Governor Soludo, the Solution, has demonstrated that indeed knowledge is power and that academic principles can be applied in serving the people, undergirding accountability, transparency and prudent management of people and resources.

“I visited Anambra State in May this year, where I inaugurated some projects executed by the Soludo administration. I highlighted the good thinking behind the landmark projects being embarked upon by Mr Solution. That experience is indeed remarkable and will remain indelible in my mind.

“I commend Governor Soludo for bringing discipline, grace, brilliance, and a fresh perspective to governance in Anambra.  Under him, Anambra is living up to its motto as the Light of the Nation.

“I urge Governor Soludo to be magnanimous in victory and to seek the cooperation of his opponents in the just-concluded elections.

“I assure Governor Soludo of my unwavering support, and I look forward to continued collaboration between Anambra and the Federal Government.

“The victory of the opposition All Grand Progressives Alliance in the election again demonstrates the vitality of our political system and the fact that victory for any progressive and hardworking leader can hardly be encumbered or denied.

“I must also thank the new INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, and his team for conducting what observers have described as a credible election, based on the reports I have received thus far.

“I charge the commission with maintaining the standards and further improving its performance, so we can continue to strengthen and deepen our electoral system.”

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He recorded 422,664 votes.

The announcement was made on Sunday by the Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, at the INEC headquarters in Awka.

He said Soludo polled 422,664 votes to defeat his closest rival, Chief Nichols Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who polled 99,445 votes.

The candidate of the Young Progressives Party, YPP, Mr Paul Chukwuma, recorded 37,753 votes while the candidate of the Labour Party, George Moghalu, scored 10,576 votes.

John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, polled 8,208 votes.

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He won in 19 local governments before the suspension of the collation of results by the Independent National Electoral Commissioner, INEC, in the early hours of Sunday.

Upon resumption of collation later Sunday morning, he was declared winner of the remaining two local government areas in the state.

Below are the results:

Ihiala LGA

APC: 4,425

APGA: 23,557

LP: 135

Anambra West LGA

APC: 16,595

APGA: 71,365

YPP: 2,871

ADC: 152

Dunukofia LGA

APGA: 14,892

APC: 3,284

LP: 71

ADC: 232

PDP: 16

Njikoka LGA

APGA: 22,213

APC: 5,687

ADC: 236

LP: 311

PDP: 47

YPP: 1,661

Awka North LGA

APGA: 15,895

APC: 3,661

LP: 299

ADC: 815

YPP: 308

Aguata LGA

APGA: 35,559

APC: 4,125

LP: 124

YPP: 2,746

ADC: 36

Orumba South LGA

APGA: 19,818

APC: 2,828

LP: 16

YPP: 877

ADC: 361

Orumba North LGA

APGA: 24,664

APC: 2,615

LP: 131

YPP: 1,519

ADC: 115

Oyi LGA

APGA: 18,882

APC: 5,118

LP: 3,641

YPP: 2,093

ADC: 167

Anambra East LGA

APGA: 14,665

APC: 3,108

LP: 304

YPP: 6,153

PDP: 207

Anyamelum LGA

APGA: 13,340

APC: 7,478

LP: 117

YPP: 2,500

ADC: 470

Nnewi North LGA

APGA: 20,320

APC: 541

LP: 1,140

YPP: 1,100

ADC: 553

Nnewi South LGA

APGA: 17,286

APC: 9,281

LP: 73

YPP: 562

ADC: 127

Ogbaru LGA

APGA: 22,803

APC: 3,768

LP: 347

YPP: 2,268

ADC: 465

Onitsha North LGA

APGA: 24,225

APC: 4,677

LP: 500

YPP: 2,419

ADC: 514

Onitsha South LGA

APGA: 15,742

APC: 4,156

LP: 615

YPP: 638

ADC: 231

Anaocha LGA

APGA: 20,118

APC: 5,956

LP: 483

YPP: 1,223

ADC: 255

Idemili North LGA

APGA: 25,498

APC: 638

LP: 1,275

YPP: 613

ADC: 722

Idemili South LGA

APGA: 7,224

APC: 6,015

LP: 276

YPP: 476

ADC: 213

Ekwusigo LGA

APGA: 18,749

APC: 2,973

LP: 194

YPP: 915

ADC: 261

Awka South LGA

APGA: 27,896

APC: 5,038

LP: 520

YPP: 1,201

ADC: 1,726.

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Soludo made the condemnation after he voted at Polling Unit 002, Ofiyi Square, Umueze, Isuofia Ward 13, Aguata Local Government Area, at exactly 1:20 p.m on Saturday.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after voting, the governor commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for conducting a peaceful and orderly election process.

“I have been getting numerous calls from across the state. I think it has been relatively peaceful and going smoothly.

“Though there are some glitches at polling units in Olumbanasa in Anambra West, where the BVAS reportedly did not work as expected, on the average, the election is going well,” he said.

Soludo, however, expressed concern over reports of massive vote buying in Nnewi South.

“The only concern we have received is in one or two places in Nnewi South where we understand that there has been massive vote buying. Some voters are being paid as much as N15,000,” he said.

He expressed confidence in his party’s chances, saying the election would be won on the basis of ‘one man, one vote’.

On the large turnout of voters, Soludo noted that anyone on the queue before the official closing time of 2:30 p.m. would be allowed to vote.

He also alleged that a political party was planning to manipulate results during collation.

“The only concern and we hope it does not happen is that one political party’s strategy is to swap results during collation.

“They even told their polling agents not to write results properly or upload them on IReV to create room for manipulation.

“But we have confidence in the system. Our people are vigilant, organised and united.

“We will follow the process from the polling units to the wards, LGAs and the state.

“If the system works as designed, we have no doubt that we will win all 21 local government areas,” Soludo said.

He commended INEC for the early commencement of voting and lauded residents for their peaceful conduct during the exercise.

Source: NAN

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Although politics has been variously described as a dirty game, no self-respecting individual should be proud of the brand of politics coming out of Anambra State at the moment. It all began when the Governor of the State and the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, (APGA), Professor Charles Soludo, questioned the authenticity of Uche Ekwunife’s academic qualifications. Ekwunife is the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

In a viral video from the campaign trail, Soludo launched a scathing critique of Nicholas Ukachukwu, the APC governorship candidate, branding him a “land grabber”, who, if defeated at the polls, would have to “return to sand mining” to make a living.

Hear the former CBN Governor: “I have gotten a job for him (Ukachukwu). I know that the land grabbing he is into, he will still be getting something from there. Otherwise, he will meet the people doing sand mining and he will take one tipper to drive because of all the roads I have been building. Tippers are now running smoothly.” Turning his fire on Ukachukwu’s running mate, Soludo accused Ekwunife of parading a fake doctorate degree obtained from a dubious American institution. “INEC has a column, where, if you are filling your form, you will swear in court that everything you filled is the truth and nothing but the truth, so this person wrote that she has senior secondary school certificate, then she also said that she has a PhD. But how can you have a secondary school certificate without a diploma, a degree, or a master’s, but suddenly a PhD?”

Soludo claimed an investigation revealed that the certificate was obtained from a “degree mill” that sold certificates for as little as $60, without any accreditation in the United States or recognition by Nigeria’s National Universities Commission (NUC). “It is a PhD certificate from a fake institution. Even as a vulcanizer, you can pay money and they will give you the certificate. That is what you’re parading. It is better for you to just write senior secondary school certificate because that is what you have, and it is enough.’’

The governor vowed to make fake certificates a campaign issue after the November 8 election. ‘’When we finish dealing with Okeite (ritualists). We will go after those with the fake certificates because they are confusing our children,’’ he warned.

While Ukachukwu is yet to respond to the tirade against him, Ekwunife would not allow the insult to go unchallenged as she has responded in kind, hitting Soludo below the belt. As enunciated by William Congreve, an English playwright in his 1697 play a line which reads ‘’Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell, a fury like a woman scorned,’’ Ekwunife, in another viral video, went for the solar plexus of the governor. She not only dismissed the allegations about her PhD, but mocked Soludo’s own professorship and went personal, branding him “a smelling professor”.

“The fake professor that says he is governing a state, please leave me alone,” she shot back. “Soludo, you contested for governor twice and failed before Obiano supported you. For the past three years that you have been governor, it is only suffering and deaths that the state is passing through.”

Citing the deaths of two State Assembly members under what she described as “questionable circumstances”, she accused Soludo of failing to investigate or provide leadership.

“You are calling my names; you are saying that my certificate is fake, then go to court. Why are you waiting until November 8? You should have gone to court, now. You also said that I don’t have a master’s, UNIZIK is close to you; why not go to UNIZIK and ask them?”

Ekwunife went further, challenging the legitimacy of Soludo’s academic laurels. “It appears that your own professorship is different. I now understand what people have been saying; that your professor title is an award and you did not earn it. If you earned it, show us where and how you earned it. It is just an award that your department gave you, and you are making noise.”

She then descended into personal insults, alleging that the governor suffered from poor hygiene. “Soludo, has anybody told you that your mouth smells? You are the dirtiest governor in the whole of Africa. Go and tell your wife to buy deodorant for you. When you open your mouth to speak, the odour that comes out is so stinking and embarrassing for a governor.”

Ekwunife did not stop there as she also alleged that the governor’s wife, Nonye Soludo, had an affair with the former governor of Anambra State, Chinwoke Mbadinugu.

Now, Nonye Soludo has also been dragged into the mess as she has given Ekwunife 72 hours to tender unreserved apology or should be ready to meet her in court for defamation. In a strongly worded letter to Ekwunife, she said that she met her husband as a virgin and has remained truthful in her marriage.

‘’In my 55 years on planet earth, I have known only one man, Chukwuma Soludo. I married him as a virgin and my fidelity to him in 33 years of marriage and for life is ironclad. This may be difficult for an Uche Ekwunife to comprehend. Since Uche Ekwunife claims to be a converted Catholic, I challenge her for both of us to swear an oath of fidelity and chastity at any Cathedral in front of the Blessed Sacrament. You mentioned screenshooting someone’s name and putting in your Bible. So, you must know the efficacy of the Holy Book. We should also add the Bible with the Sacrament. I will swear (with my children) that in my 55 years on earth, I have known only one man—Chukwuma Soludo. On your part, you should also swear (with your children or your political ambitions) that since you got married, you have never cheated on your husband. Let us do this between now and mid October 2025.

Our political space is so toxic that no self-respecting professional would be willing to dabble into it, and the outcome is that we have left the governance field to touts and vagabonds

“I challenge you, Uche Ekwunife, for us to subject our children to paternity tests. Science has made life easy, and there are things you cannot lie about nowadays. To avoid any stories in Nigerian hospitals, let us do it in three reputable hospitals in London. You and your family are often in London. But I will pay the expenses. I watched part of your hilarious emotional outburst and infantile invectives on my husband. Laughable indeed! You know, and we know the source of your frustrations. But let me assure you that the globally celebrated professor is too clean, too decent, and too sophisticated to waste his time on low lives. Nwoke bu nwoke! Enough said for now”.

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The scenario in the political landscape in Anambra State has once again thrown into the spotlight, the type of people that govern us in Nigeria. What should be a debate about governance and ideas has transformed into a personal slugfest over credentials, integrity, and even hygiene.

Rather than focusing on issues such as infrastructure, security, economic revival, and improving the lot of its citizens, Anambra’s political heavyweights are engaging in an unprecedented public show of shame with each trying to out-do the other in dishing out insults.

Soludo and Ekwunife are leaders in Nigeria’s society. Soludo, before he became Governor, was a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Ekwunife was a former Senator. They are parents and role models to others, yet they bat no eyelid in descending into the gutter on the altar of politics. Indeed, politics in Nigeria is not for the faint-hearted. It is a venture where you should be ready to kill or be killed. It is in the same Nigeria that former Senator Dino Melaye threatened to rape and assault another female Senator, Oluremi Tinubu, for allegedly calling him a thug. That was nine years ago. Today, Remi Tinubu is the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. If Melaye decamped to the APC tomorrow, Mrs. Tinubu would probably be amongst those that will welcome him to the party.

Six years ago, while delivering the third Faculty of Engineering Alumni Lecture at the University of Lagos, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, alluded to the fact that politics in Nigeria is not for the faint-hearted and invited professionals to join the fray. The topic of his lecture, ‘’Professionals in Politics: Panacea for Sustainable National Development” established a convergence between politics and technocracy, noting that there may not be a significant development in Nigeria if career professionals shy away from participating in political activities. But he failed to provide answers to how professionals and technocrats would survive the dog-eat-dog mantra that is the hallmark of Nigeria’s politics. It is a field where trading of personal insults, treachery, and name-calling are rife. It is a battlefield where alliances are fleeting, betrayals are commonplace, and survival is the only ideology that matters. If power were a chessboard, then the pieces are constantly being reshuffled, not according to any coherent strategy, but by an instinct for self-preservation.

Our political space is so toxic that no self-respecting professional would be willing to dabble into it, and the outcome is that we have left the governance field to touts and vagabonds. So, despite what God has given to us as a nation, we are still far behind when it comes to national development. All the indices point to the fact that Nigeria is still an under-developed country, where life is brutish and short because we have our third-eleven ruling over the rest of us.

At an event put together by the Saint Finbarr’s College Old Boys Association last year, former President Olusegun Obasanjo spoke on the topic: ‘’The Imperative of Moral Rectitude in Governance.’’

According to him, the foundation of good politics is moral rectitude, appreciation of right and wrong, and choosing to do what is right, and being righteous. He said: “It is not politics that is bad, but the politicians themselves. If we have men and women of no character in politics, you will have bad politics and bad governance. If you look clinically at the people in government today at both executive and legislative levels, some of them should be permanently behind bars for their past misdemeanours and criminal misconduct. You cannot expect thieves to give good judgment in favour of the owner of the property.’’

And it goes without saying that with people like Soludo and Ekwunife in governance, Nigeria should not expect anything good from the system. We have abandoned politics to those who should not be there and we should not complain whether they perform or not while in government.

Soludo should base his campaign on what he has done for the people of Anambra State in the last three years and what he intends to do going forward. Ukachukwu and his deputy, Ekwunife, should also tell the people what they intend to do to make life better for the people and stop the ugly spectacles presently ongoing in the state.

See you next week.

The post The ugly debacle from Anambra State, By Kazeem Akintunde appeared first on Frontpageng.

Peter Gregory Obi, former two-term Governor of Anambra State, who dazzled the country in the 2023 presidential election on the banner of the Labour Party, is on the march again!

Obi, who has a foot in the Labour Party and the other in the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has promised to serve only for one term if he is elected as the president in 2027.

Not a few political watchers are convinced that Obi is dangling this carrot as a ploy to get the presidential ticket of the ADC.

Obi’s kinsman, Professor Charles Soludo, couldn’t believe his ears that anyone would have the audacity to say he would only serve for a term of four years when he is entitled to eight years.

Soludo who has managed the country’s finances as the Governor of the Central Bank seized the opportunity of his campaign for a second term to fire a harsh riposte at Obi.

Hear him:  “How can anybody with a brain… You think you are talking to fools… Any politician who says that must be sent to a psychiatric home because the person must have some mental problem.”

Indeed, the general consensus among Nigerians seems to be that you trust a politician at your peril.

Peter Obi may be a good man, but how do you trust him with the company he now keeps in the ADC, a party, some uncharitable critics have described as an Alliance of Disgruntled Candidates.

Political watchers easily recall that Obi did promise that it was only death that could do him part with the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

But analysts say hardly had Odumegwu Ojukwu’s third memorial been held when Obi dumped APGA and joined the PDP.

He dumped the PDP in 2023 for the Labour Party, when he couldn’t secure the Presidential ticket of the party.

Now, he is flirting with the ADC!

So, naturally, the question comes to mind: Can he be trusted to keep his word.

Doesn’t this sound like a desperation to be president?

Who was it that said when trust is betrayed, sorry, means nothing!

Obi has answered his critics by citing examples of the great Nelson Mandela of South Africa, America’s Abraham Lincoln and JFK Kennedy who were Presidents who shaped the destinies of their countries, despite the fact that, they didn’t serve for two terms.

For the record, Lincoln, the 16th President of America was elected for two terms. He was assassinated in his second term.

JFK’s first term was cut short by the assassin’s bullet.

Nelson Mandela on his part was 76 years old when he became the President of South Africa. The only assignment the old man gave himself was to unite a divided country. Besides, Mandela was a different human being. You could take his word to the bank.

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Critics have pointed out that comparing Obi to either Mandela or Lincoln is like comparing Saul to Paul!

Coming back home, it seems we have travelled this road before.

Goodluck Jonathan as president, promised his party the PDP in 2011 that he would only serve for a term of four years.

Based on these scenarios, Obi would then tell his party that he has heard from God, and God has told him to go for a second term.

The rest, as they say, is history!

When the day came to honour the pledge, the man who said he had no shoes but was then in a position to establish 10 shoe factories all over the country told the PDP chiefs to go and bring the agreement where he signed that he would only do one term!

Talk of the aroma of power.

Besides, even a compound fool knows that it’s near impossible to solve the problems of a country like Nigeria in four years.

Even the ascetic Muhammadu Buhari, who had given up after three unsuccessful attempts at being president,  couldn’t resist the allure of a second term in office.

By general account, out of a term of four years, political office holders, technically speaking, only have two years to govern.

Those who should know say, the first year is used for settling down, paying political IOUs and understudying the problems and people of the country. The last year of the four year tenure is used for the campaign for re-election.

When a gaunt Olusegun Obasanjo was released from prison in 1998, and the rumour mill was rife that he was being pencilled down for the Presidency, the former chicken-farmer vigorously denied that he was interested in the Presidency.

In fact, he asked rhetorically:  “How many presidents do you want to make of me?”

An obvious reference to the fact that he had been a former Head of State.

Again, the rest, as they say, is history.

By general consensus-although the man denies it – he tried unsuccessfully to amend the Constitution to get a third term.

Why would Peter Obi be different?

My opinion about the matter is this: it is difficult, if not impossible, for a  Nigerian of today to spend only one term of four years in office when he is entitled to two terms of eight years.

He will be persuaded, even if against his will, to have a rethink.

The reasons are not far-fetched.

Ethnic groups, religious groups, not to forget old boys network, all lay claim to the occupant of a public office.

If for the sake of argument, Peter Obi, a good man by all accounts, intends to keep his promise, his ethnic group, the Igbo, which have been longing for one of their own to occupy the post, would ask him if he had gone out of his mind!

The position they would remind him is not meant for him but for the race.

Of a fact, only the Igbo nation have not had their son or daughter in the executive position of the country’s driving seat since independence!

They would remind him that the other two major ethnic groups: the Hausa-Fulani and the Yoruba have had bites at the cherry. Why would he want to deny his race their rightful entitlement?

If he is not careful, they would drag him before the gods to purge him of the foolish idea.

Obi, I am told, is a strong Catholic.

His bishop would summon him and ask him why he wants to go against the Will of God. He will be reminded that it’s God that chooses leaders. Why then is he trying to go against the wish of God?

Based on these scenarios, Obi would then tell his party that he has heard from God, and God has told him to go for a second term.

As they say, if God is with us, who can be against us!

The post The Peter Obi vow, By Gbemiga Ogunleye appeared first on Frontpageng.

In an address delivered on June 12 at The Platform Nigeria, hosted by Pastor Poju Oyemade and The Covenant Nation, Governor Soludo praised President Tinubu’s economic reforms.

He called for a nationwide ethical and ideological rebirth to drive sustainable national development.

Speaking on the theme “Rebuilding Our Nation,” Soludo urged political parties across the country to unite along ideological lines as a first step toward a new, issue-based political culture.

“The audacious structural reforms embarked upon by the current administration of HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu have rescued the economy from the tipping point.

“The endorsements by the World Bank, IMF, London Financial Times, rating agencies—Fitch, Moody’s, are well deserved.

“Many people know that I made a living criticising the World Bank and the IMF. As Governor of Anambra, I have even rejected a World Bank loan because of the terms. On the trajectory of the current economic reforms, the World Bank, etc, are largely right. Funny enough, when these institutions criticise the government, some people use them to validate their criticisms, but when the same institutions give a positive report, they are derided as “neoliberal, out-of-touch institutions”.

“In 2023, I had described the state of the economy when this government assumed office as akin to a standing dead horse, and public finance was about to tip from solvency, with potentially catastrophic consequences, including possible mass retrenchment of workers and/or arrears of salaries and pensions. Public finance is back on a solvency path, and macro fundamentals are recovering positively,” Soludo said.

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Acknowledging the broad spectrum of expert opinions on Nigeria’s economic outlook, Soludo urged public commentators to adopt a more rigorous, evidence-based approach to economic critique.

“Many analysts have interesting ‘opinions’, but I urge them to go deeper: conduct rigorous counterfactual analysis and provide credible alternatives! As a friend said recently, the task is always easy, especially if you are not the one doing it,” he said.

While recognising that the list of proposed national reforms, from constitutional restructuring and security to infrastructure and anti-corruption, is extensive, the former CBN Governor emphasised that the critical issue is how to implement such reforms effectively within a resource-constrained and unequal society.

Beyond the economy, the Anambra governor, who is also the leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, stressed that Nigeria’s future rests on the character and values of its citizens, not just leadership.

He called for a nationwide ethical renewal and strategic investment in the Nigerian people to inspire patriotism and selfless service.

“We must deliberately create a critical mass of ‘new Nigerians’—who believe in her and are ready, if necessary, to die for her.

“The struggle for liberation from colonialism would not have been possible without the nationalists of the time, and the current struggle to liberate her from underdevelopment cannot be sustainable with ‘neo-nationalists’ of today.

“No nation has prospered sustainably without a critical mass of patriotic, vigilant and actively participatory citizenry,” he said.

The governor lamented the erosion of Nigeria’s traditional values of hard work, integrity, and enterprise, warning against a growing national culture that glorifies unearned wealth and shortcuts to success:

“The ‘culture’ that celebrates and expects something for nothing or wealth without work must give way to a culture that rewards and celebrates hard work, enterprise and integrity. In a society where no one asks/cares about sources of livelihood or where most people expect and celebrate unearned/free money, transactional governance will always trump transformational leadership.”

Soludo pointed to recent federal and Anambra state governments initiatives as foundational investments that could foster a new generation of patriotic citizens.

These include the federal government’s NELFUND student loan scheme, Anambra’s One Youth, Two Skills program, and increased spending on free education and healthcare.

“The shortest answer is to give the citizens stakes in the society by investing in their future… These programmes excite the youths/students and could hopefully create ‘stakeholders’ in future projects,” he said.

He called for a national effort to combat widespread beliefs in magical wealth, saying the mindset must be legislated against, tackled through education, and countered through cultural influence, particularly in the media.

“It is my thesis that a society where no one asks/cares about sources of livelihood or where most people expect and celebrate unearned/free money is one where transactional governance will always trump transformational leadership.”

Emphasising the need for unity around progressive values and the ideological realignment of Nigeria’s political order, the governor said:

“We must break this vicious ‘culture’ and intentionally promote ethical-value rebirth. This is a national emergency requiring urgent national conversation.”

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