Governor Soludo, despite his intellectual depth and strong academic background, appears disconnected from the everyday realities of ordinary people.
With his training in economics, one would have expected policies that stimulate production, expand economic opportunities, and ultimately create quality jobs. Unfortunately, this has not translated into tangible economic prosperity for the people.
More troubling is the failure to build trust—without which public respect and genuine loyalty cannot be earned.
Governments ordinarily deploy public policies to win public confidence and affection. Sadly, Governor Soludo has not demonstrated sufficient empathy or love for the ordinary people of Anambra State. This vacuum partly explains why many still see Nnamdi Kanu as a prophetic figure of the times. Can we entirely blame the people for this perception? It is largely the political and economic elite who endorse Governor Soludo’s approach, including the controversial closure of Onitsha Main Market.
I have never supported the weekly sit-at-home policy; it is unproductive and strategically flawed. At the same time, I cannot endorse Governor Soludo’s increasingly autocratic approach. The Governor has missed a critical opportunity over the past 46 months to genuinely endear himself to the people just like Gov Alex Otti of Abia State.
With the tools of 21st-century good governance, he could have demonstrated what true public service looks like.
Key questions remain unanswered:
Is Governor Soludo genuinely interested in improving electricity supply in Anambra State, especially when the state has regulatory powers over power generation, transmission, and distribution? Why the silence while the state monopolist, EEDC, continues to exploit the people? What of the businessmen mining our crude oil and natural gas ? What about the enforcement of the open grazing law? Food security? Modernization of existing markets and construction of new ones? Low-cost housing? Public pipe-borne water? Industrial and agricultural villages? Where are the economic opportunities? What concrete steps have been taken to reduce the widening income inequalities in the state?
The people are angry—deeply so—and Nnamdi Kanu increasingly appears to them as the last hope. I expected Governor Soludo to consult more widely and engage more inclusively. It is not enough to brand those who obey sit-at-home orders as criminals or terrorist sympathizers.
Politics is driven as much by emotion as by rational thought. Governor Soludo appears uninterested in this emotional dimension, which explains why his speeches fail to resonate with ordinary people.
That said, the people must also share in the blame. Many failed to strike a balance between emotional outrage and rational civic engagement. They had the opportunity to vote Governor Soludo out, yet widespread political apathy prevailed. Some of those who voted sold their votes.
Under such circumstances, how seriously can any government take the people? Too often, our people follow leaders sheepishly and blindly, without critical thinking or accountability.
In truth, we have failed ourselves and must confront the consequences of our collective irrationality.
After God comes the government. We must recognize that we willingly transferred our power to Governor Soludo for four years. It is now our responsibility to organize, engage, and demand accountability—especially in the area of security and economic opportunities.
What we seek is a just, equitable, and fair society where human dignity and mutual respect are guaranteed. Sadly, Nigeria in its current form struggles to deliver this.
Therefore, the call for a new Nation or Nnamdi Kanu release from prison cannot be achieved through sit-at-home protests, but through political processes and active political participation.
Ndubuisi Anaenugwu is the Ambassador General of Good Governance Ministry ( GGM)
