By Ikechukwu Emeka Onyia II
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State and APGA political party, has codedly insulted his predecessors, Gov. Willie Obiano, and his political party, APGA, as irrelevant, inconsequential and ineffective. He said that throughout the 8 years of Obiano (who built the Anambra State Airport and executed other projects), no project of note was executed in Anambra State to attract the president to come for the commissioning.
Hear Soludo:
“The last time a president visited for a commissioning was in 2012 for a brewery, but today, the president is here to commission roads spanning several kilometers, flyovers, a government house, and more.”
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But in a swift but strategic reply to the Governor, Ikechukuwu Onyia said as follows;
Soludo made a statement which some of us have to correct him during President Tinubu’s visit:
“The last time a president visited for a commissioning was in 2012 for a brewery”
– Gov. Chukwuma Soludo
The statement is viewed as an attempt to attack Obi who Governor Soludo has never shied away from attacking at every opportunity right from 2023 Presidential election campaign.
Now let me set the record straight as a citizen of the state who has been following events in our state for years.
In 2012, President Jonathan visited Anambra State and commissioned:
(1) Inaugurate Orient Petroleum Oil.
(2) SabMiller Brewery
(3) Orange Drugs Company
(4) Krisoral Company
(5) Onitsha Inland Port
(6) 8 lanes Onitsha Head Bridge Enugu Onitsha expressway to Umunya with new parts bridge Nkpor.
Among others
Above listed are some of the triggers to economic growth of the state. I therefore state that the very statement from Soludo was demarketing of the state.
In 2010, President Jonathan visited Anambra State and commissioned:
(1) Anambra State University Teaching Hospital.
(2) Anambra State Secretariat
(3) Kenneth Dike Library
(4) Anambra State Emergency Management Complex
(5) Parental Drugs Factory of Juhel Pharmaceutical Industries
(6) So many roads example : Zik’s Avenue Awka to Nkpor road and Bridges.
(7) the commissioning of the National Agency for Food, Drug, Administration and Control, NAFDAC’s upgraded ultra modern area quality control laboratory, at Agulu, Anambra State and many other projects.
(8) the commissioning of the assembly plant of the first indigenous Nigerian auto manufacturing company in Nigeria, Innoson Motor Manufacturing in Nnewi, Anambra State.
President Obasanjo had earlier visited during Peter Obi era in 2006/2007.
Projects Commissioned by President Olusegun Obasanjo are as follows:
(1) Onitsha Business Park: A strategic initiative aimed at boosting commerce and industry in the region.
(2) Revenue House in Awka: Established to improve the state’s revenue collection processes.
(3) Anambra State Fire Service Headquarters in Awka: Built to enhance emergency response capabilities.
(4) Flagging off of Awka-Nibo-Nise-Enugwu Ukwu ring road
