Anambra 2021: Former CBN gov, Soludo declares governorship ambition

The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Chukwuma Soludo, has declared his intention to run for the governorship of Anambra State in the November 6 poll.

Mr Soludo would be running on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Declaring his ambition on Thursday in Awka, Mr Soludo said he has been a party man since 2013 and would be a better party man if APGA offered him the governorship ticket.

He promised to achieve victory for the party, hoping to leverage his international connections to transform the state.

He said having served the global community, he was now poised to serve and develop Anambra.

The former CBN governor assessed the performance of Governor Willie Obiano’s administration in Anambra and described the governor as one of the best in the country.

He rated the governor high on infrastructure development and regular payment of workers’ salaries in the face of dwindling finances.

He said Anambra has experienced steady prosperity under APGA.

“I granted an interview where they asked if I still stand by what I said in 2017 that ‘if Anambra is not broken, why mend it’ and I told them that Anambra is more sound now.

“In 2010, the Federal Bureau of Statistics conducted a survey and said the poverty rate in Anambra was 53 per cent.

“In 2020, it conducted another survey and said the poverty rate had gone down to 14.7 per cent, what else can you use to measure good governance?

“Anambra is doing well under Obiano, and my mission is to continue and complete all the legacy projects of the governor,” Mr Soludo said.

Chinedu Obidigwe, a federal lawmaker representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency, thanked Mr Soludo for accepting the call to join the governorship race and promised to support him.

Mr Obidigwe said Mr Soludo has paid his dues as a party man and a technocrat, and called on APGA to allow him to fly its flag as a sure way to victory.

The event was attended by APGA chieftains in the state, including the state chairman of the party, Nobert Obi.