Chinua Achebe, in his famous novel- Things Fall Apart, captured the sentiments of millions of our people. Today, it appears that much has gone wrong across nearly every facet of our daily lives.
In our belief system, it is faith without hard work. In our education system, it is all about certificates rather than knowledge. In many households, crises abound, and our children are losing their sense of direction.
In governance, it has become a government of the elites, by the elites, and for the elites, while the masses are reduced to pawns in a political chess game. Our value system has deteriorated to the extent that known drug peddlers and internet fraudsters are celebrated as traditional rulers and title holders. Fake pastors and dubious dibias are glorified, though recent efforts have been made to address this. Public institutions have been commercialized to the point where access to services is dictated by market forces, often poorly regulated. Indeed, things have truly fallen apart.
With the emergence of the Solution Team on March 17, 2022, the people of Anambra State placed enormous expectations on Professor Charles Soludo. Many expected what could almost be described as magic. As a Professor of Economics, I personally anticipated that the Governor would deploy sound public policies to reward good behavior and sanction misconduct.
There were expectations of an effective wage system that would redistribute resources more equitably—boosting purchasing power, increasing savings and investment, and stimulating economic activities. I expected the recruitment of the best minds, both locally and globally, to drive institutional reforms and revolutionary policies capable of transforming the state within a short period.
I also expected the Governor to assume a broader leadership role for Ndigbo by championing true federalism and regional autonomy, similar to the 1963 structure or the devolved system practiced in the United Kingdom.
At the state level, I envisioned the? automation of public services, land transactions, and property verification systems to enhance transparency, tax efficiency, and access to credit.
Furthermore, I expected functional local government systems with clear rural and urban development plans accessible to ordinary citizens. A fair and growth-driven tax system, a reformed judiciary prioritizing law and order, and a motivated civil service supported by accessible credit facilities were also part of these expectations.
In addition, affordable housing for low-income earners, deliberate policies to boost food production and reduce costs, and the creation of quality jobs for unemployed youths were critical expectations. Leveraging technology for security and governance, while empowering youths with digital skills, was seen as essential for a modern Anambra State.
Undoubtedly, four years is too short to fully address what Achebe described as a society where “things have fallen apart.” However, there was a strong expectation that the Governor would lay a solid and enduring foundation for a prosperous Anambra State—the true “Light of the Nation.”
So, have these expectations been met?
To some extent, the Solution Team has recorded achievements, including the construction of the Governor’s Lodge, Fun City, demolition of illegal structures, expansion of road networks (including some dual carriageways), and the employment of teachers and medical personnel.
However, for the average citizen, these achievements appear insufficient. This disconnect explains why many people feel detached from governance—why vote-buying persists, why civic engagement is low, and why government events often fail to resonate with the masses.
Many citizens do not feel a direct positive impact on their lives in critical areas such as employment opportunities, reliable and affordable electricity, housing, access to credit, food supply chains, enforcement of laws, security of lives and property, and efficient public service delivery. Above all, there is a perceived gap in accessibility and human connection between leadership and the people.
Compounding these challenges are federal policies such as fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange liberalization, alongside global economic pressures, which have further strained the living conditions of citizens. Unfortunately, there is a perception that adequate complementary state-level policies to cushion these effects have not been sufficiently implemented.
It is therefore my conviction that the current administration risks being seen as elitist—prioritizing the interests of economic, political, religious, and traditional elites, while the masses remain on the receiving end. In many ways, it evokes the cautionary parallels of Animal Farm.
Ndubuisi Anaenugwu
Ambassador General, Good Governance Ministry (GGM)
Email: ggovernanceministry@gmail.com
