Anambra 2025: Why voting for Soludo is the best option - Anambra residents

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By Madu Obi

A cross section of Anambra residents has given reasons why they have decided to vote for the incumbent governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo during the November 8 gubernatorial election. Essentially, they are saying that should Soludo not win, all the ongoing road construction in many parts of the state and other development projects will become abandoned projects.

Almost all communities in the three senatorial zones of the state have become construction sites and even as the election is about ten days away, work is still ongoing on most of the roads.

For instance, construction work on the 1.6kilometer Adili-Park road expected to boost activities at the building materials market in Nnewi is seriously progressing. Governor Chukwuma Soludo flagged off the construction ceremony, with a promise that it would be completed within the agreed contract time. By the governor's calculation, the road construction would be completed in three-months time.

Similarly, the Saint Stephen’s Road project in Inland Town, Onitsha, which the governor flagged off some months ago is also progressing. During the ceremony, the governor said his administration is also focusing on environmental cleanup, citing the desalting works, clearing of refuse dumps, and rehabilitation of slum areas as efforts to have a liveable Anambra State.

“What I say I do; I am not a politician who speaks with four sides of the mouth; there is no room for abandoned projects. When I came, I met several roads that were flagged off all over the place and I went ahead to complete them", he said.

Some people who spoke about the forthcoming election, said that the governor has done so well and therefore deserves to be reelected. Mr. Anselm Okemuo, who is from Umuhu village, Okija in Ihiala local government area, said that as far as the people of the area are concerned, Soludo is their choice.

He said: "In the past, coming to our village was so difficult that everyone avoided coming home until the end of the rainy season because the road leading to Umuhu from Nkwo Okija was too bad. Commercial motorcycle operators who could risk it were charging us so much, such that people avoided coming home.

People's homes were also flooded and life was hellish for everybody. Then came the administration of Governor Soludo who sent contractors that earlier abandoned the work, back to sight. Today, driving to Umuhu and Ubahuezike villages are delightful. Even with the heavy rains, residents are no longer afraid that flood might submerge their homes, as the drainage was excellently done.

For rescuing us and solving that problem of bad road for us, we have decided to vote for Soludo on November 8 and we do not need any inducement to do that."

Mr Okechukwu Nnaka from Ekwulobia said before now, he never believed that Ekwulobia town would be one of the best urban towns in Anambra State. The ultramodern market, the Ekwulobia flyover, the dual carriage way and erosion control have brought the area at par with other cities and, for that reason, the people have decided to vote for Soludo.

Nnaka recalled the traffic gridlock that was usually experienced at Ekwulobia during festive periods, adding that Soludo had brought that hardship to an end with his urban renewal project.

"We are happy with the APGA government and we want Soludo to continue. If the people expect the Amawbia- Agulu- Ekwulobia - Uga dual carriage way under construction to be completed in a record time, then Soludo has to remain the governor for the next four years", Nnaka said.

An Awka indigene and lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Professor Austin Nonyelu said there is no need to change a performing governor, adding that his people in Awka are united in the decision to return Soludo on November 8.

He said: "We thank Governor Soludo for giving Awka South the post of deputy governor. Our people know where we're going to. Solution is here. What we're only talking about is the margin of our victory.

In the past, voter aparthy was so much and our expectation is that the November 8 election will be different as we expect every voter to participate effectively.

Soludo has transformed the once glorified capital to a real capital city, such that all parts of Awka have become a modern city, with good road network."