Uche Amunike
Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Professor Chukwuma Charles soludo, has emerged winner of the Anambra primaries held in awka, Wednesday, having won in all the 21 local government of Anambra state in the election.
Charles Soludo contested alongside four other aspirants, Hon ThankGod Ibe, Hon Okwudili Nwankwo and Barrister Damian Okolo.
Of the total 792 votes cast in the election, Okwudili Ezenwankwo got 41votes. ThankGod Ibe got 10 votes, Damian Okolo got 7 votes, while Professor Soludo went home with a resounding 740 votes.
The election was conducted by the Victor Oye faction of APGA which has the support of the governor, Chief Willie Obiano.
The result of the election was announced by the Chief Returning Officer, Mr Olalere who officially declared Prof Chukwuma Soludo, the duly elected candidate of APGA for the November 6th governorship election.
The governor, Chief Willie Obiano assured all present that APGA will win again in November tremendously as he did in 2017.
Said he: ‘I want to commend the National Working Committee and the State Working Committee for the peaceful conduct. It is exceptional. Just know that the job has just started and we are going to win 21/21 Local Government Areas again as we did in 2017’.
In acceptance, Soludo expressed his joy, thanking the APGA faithful while also accepting to be the candidate of the party, promising to unveil his manifesto for the election by August.
Part of his acceptance speech read: ‘Of course, the road to Anambra becoming a middle to upper income, livable and prosperous homeland will remain a work-in-progress for a while’.
‘The government, over the next four years will have to lay the foundation for the Anambra Vision 2070. Ours is a land of infinite possibilities and opportunities. We need continuity, consolidation, and transformation to build on the existing foundation and maximize our potentials’.
‘We need to unite and mobilize the creative energies and capital of our people all over the world as well as other investors to live out the essence of our motto: “Light of the Nation”.
‘We shall unveil our manifesto at the launch of the campaign in August’
‘To our beloved people of Anambra, here I come! I am a poor boy whom God has lifted and gifted to serve. To the glory of God, I reached the peak of my professional career in my 30’s; had the privilege of living in Ethiopia, U.K, USA, and travelled to 45 other countries as itinerant scholar and consultant to 20 international development and financial institutions before I was called to serve the FGN in 2003. Until 2009, I served as Chief Economic Adviser to President Obasanjo; CEO of National Planning Commission; Governor of Central Bank; Chairman of Nigerian Mint; founding Chairman of AFC; and chair or member of over 25 committees’.
‘To the glory of God, I have also been decorated with over 200 national/international awards including variously, Nigeria’s Man of the Year, Nigeria’s third highest national honour (CFR), global and African best governor of Central bank, one of most influential Africans; etc’.
‘Currently, I serve as a member of Presidential Economic Advisory Council. At this stage, I believe it is time to serve my people. As a poor village boy who has been especially blessed by God (Charlie nwa Mgbafor), I desire to give back to society through selfless public service. If you employ me as your Chief Servant come November, I hope to deploy all the global and national experiences and networks as well as local knowledge/experience as a village boy to make you proud.
This is even more so at this peculiar moment in our history as Nigeria grapples with transition to post oil and post covid world as well as insecurity, and ethno-religious agitations.
I am a Pan-Africanist, and hope to work with leaders in the South East and Nigeria to create that next Nigeria that will be the pride of the black race’.
