Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, political economist, and former governorship candidate in Anambra, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, discusses pressing issues in the state and assesses Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s performance during his tenure.
You seem to have been quiet for some time about political developments in the country and in Anambra state, particularly. What’s been going on?
I have not been quiet, actually, unless you talk about matters concerning Anambra State. In terms of life, I have had more than my share of being busy. I am not a full-time politician and do not believe that politics is a profession; it must be a vocation.
When you are involved in politics and willing to offer selfless service to people, if you find yourself in a political position, you dedicate your time to it. When the season is over, you should focus on your daily job and your source of income, as the case may be.
I have been very active in my business area, and I have also been very visible in the media, discussing the state of the nation. I have been active in the aviation sector and the social sphere.
But as far as Anambra is concerned, I haven’t been vocal. It was a deliberate choice. After the governorship campaign concluded and a new government was in place, I felt there was a need to give the government time to stabilize. The governor needed time to work to fulfill his promises.
I recall one of my interviews on television where I was asked to assess Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration. That was in his seventh month in office. I made it clear to the program anchor that it was probably too early to assess the governor. I stated that I would give him one year before making an assessment. That year has come and gone. However, looking back, I do not see anything that enables me to make a reasonable assessment. I have waited for two years, and the more I observe, the more I see that things are going from bad to worse, which is concerning.
The elite and critical stakeholders seem overwhelmed, leading to an unusual conspiracy of silence among the Anambra elite. This situation has made me feel as though we are all conspirators in this dangerous situation. This is why I feel that I can no longer remain silent. There wouldn’t be a better time to make my voice heard than now.
What’s your assessment of Anambra?
When I look around Anambra State, I see it becoming a ghost state due to the security situation. While there is a general security issue in the nation, the situation in Anambra has worsened since Soludo took over. His predecessor made genuine efforts to contain the security situation.
Looking at it now, things are not as they ought to be. The most unfortunate situation is that there seems to be no visible plan, strategy, or investment in the security architecture of Anambra State to improve matters. This makes me wonder if it is a deliberate design that suits Soludo, perhaps to keep people away from the state, thinking that is the cheapest way for him to secure a second term, which now appears to be his only agenda.
Soludo is an intellectual narcissist; he believes only in his own knowledge and does not think that other people know as much. Leaders with such characteristics often do not make good leaders, which is why Anambra is in a mess.