The Easy Things Soludo Refused To Do

MAZI EJIMOFOR OPARA 

It was easy for Soludo to operate from the ramshackle called the Anambra Government house and Governor’s lodge, do some renovation and pretend to be prudent. But, his big vision wouldn’t permit that. So, he built the Light House — A city within a City — befitting of a State like Anambra.

It was easy for Soludo to abandon public education. Pretend that the Churches are better managers than Government. Again, he said no and initiated a 360 turn-around of public education, building new ones and equipping existing ones.

It was easy for Soludo to continue with PTA Teachers, pretend that Anambra schools are ok. But, he said NO! Recruited 8,115 qualified teachers, arguing that schools are mere buildings without qualified teachers.

It was easy for Soludo to leave leisure at Abakaliki street alone where nothing but green bottles are consumed where families cannot have a decent time. But, he said no and built the Solution Fun City — The largest leisure and entertainment hub in West Africa.

It was easy for Soludo to run mere palliatives on Federal roads, keeping them as single lanes, just as they were. But, he said NO, and began an audacious construction and dualization of major federal roads in the state.

It was easy for Soludo to insist that education is not for the poor. But he said NO again. Declared totally free education in the State for all, covering Nursery to Senior Secondary school.

It was easy for Soludo to abandon Okpoko, donate a few millions in charity to them and “Save” the rest. Again, he said NO! Okpoko is today a sterling example of Urban regeneration with well paved roads, General hospital, public pipeborne water and streetlights. Now christened “New Haven”.

It was easy for Soludo to designate Awba-Ofemili as a rural community deserving of laterite graded roads, and isolated from the world. Again, he said NO. Constructed a 26.5km standard road connecting the ones obscure town to the State Capital in a matter of 20minutes.

It was easy for Soludo to negotiate with non-state Actors parading as freedom fighters and UGM, leaving 8 local governments to them with millions of Naira as appeasement. But, Soludo said NO! Declared total war against them, rescued every inch of Anambra space from them and dislodged them from the State.

It was easy for Soludo to pretend that the criminal “Monday Sit-at-home” had become a normal part of our lives, allow non-state Actors to exist as de-facto government. Loudly, he has said NO! And the people trust that the man who does not like doing the “easy things” will crack this nut and restore Law and Order in the State.

You can add any other “easy thing” Soludo has refused to do!