I Speak Because I’ve Experienced It

Soludo’s Manifesto can pass as his intellectual property. No consultant was contracted somewhere to piece up some flowery unattainables, as many political leaders are wont to. Putting together the Anambra Vision 2070 document with over 50 eminent Ndi Anambra and friends of Anambra, which was about 12 months in the works, was a rare opportunity for a Soludo to transverse the psychography of the people. Little wonder, the manifesto was christened “the people’s manifesto”.

Now, above is not the crux of this treaties. I am more about Soludo’s intentionality with regards to deepening the precepts of his manifesto. A document he calls his “pact with Ndi Anambra”. After the appointment of Commissioners, some Managing Directors and Special Advisers in 2022, there was a two-day retreat centered around intimating them with three documents; The People’s Manifesto, The Vision 2070 document and the Dr Oby Ezekwesili led Transition committee report.

Today, being a commissioner or government functionary has become as simple as keeping to the letters of these 3 documents. Governor Soludo himself is single-mindedly operating strictly within the precincts of these three documents. For him, his assignment in Anambra is a goal with a deadline. This is why he constantly leads his cabinet members into periodic introspection to evaluate “how far, so far”.

This past weekend was another of such period of self-evaluation for Soludo and his team. The Anambra State Executive Council has again shown us that “an unexamined life is not worth living”. Like a humane Teacher, Soludo would tell his Exco members that a chain is as strong as its weakest link urging them to leave no one behind in this journey of service to provide for Ndi Anambra a liveable and prosperous homeland. It is not surprising that such a team has wroughted magic in less than 2 years in office.

If you are a leader, be like Soludo. Don’t just lead from the front, lead with a guide.

— Mazi Ejimofor Opara.