Governor Charles Soludo was re(s)elected for a second term in Anambra State in November. His is a state plagued with chronic insecurity, although anecdotal evidence from those that visited the state during the Christmas break suggested there has been an improvement. Many have attributed this to the jailing of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu, whose Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), are alleged to have terrorised communities in the state.
But perhaps more worrying for the people of Anambra in terms of Soludo’s ability to govern and deliver on his promise to turn his state into Dubai, are claims about how insecure the governor is as a person. A close aide of the governor revealed to Naijiant.com that his character flaws include having an urge to assert his superiority over all officials around him.
According to the source, Soludo makes sure that he surrounds himself with people he considers inferior to him. He would regularly ask during cabinet meetings if any of those present had a “distinction” from school or university. While Soludo was an academically brilliant economics student that left University of Nigeria Nsukka with a First Class Honours first degree, Masters and a PhD and as best student each time, he came from very humble beginnings, growing up in the village of Isuofia where he was known as “Charlie Nwa Mgbafor”. His mother, Mgbafor, reportedly struggled to put food on the dinner table.
Now, as governor, and allegedly aiming for higher political office at the end of his current term, Soludo’s praise-singers call him “Oluatuegwu” (“one who isn’t afraid of work” in Igbo). It remains to be seen if work scares him as much as being afraid people more talented and accomplished than him. Such insecurity means surrounding himself with yes men and women, sycophants, court-jesters and people lacking in integrity.
In the midst of such mediocrity, there will be no room for sound advice and constructive criticism. As colleagues fall over each other to sing his praises, the fable about the “emperor who has no clothes” comes to mind in the court of Soludo, who is regularly decked out in handwoven akwete fabric.
