David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, yesterday, at the celebration of his second year in office, assured the Anambra people that he was set to transform the state.
The event, which held at the International Convention Center, Awka, Anambra State capital was attended by several dignitaries, including former governor of the state, captains of industries, clergy men and others, most of who hailed the governor for his achievements in the state.
Soludo, while addressing the people, said: “Today, we have come to report some aspects of what we have been able to do within these two years. Anambra people are our employers, you elected I and my deputy, and we took office exactly two years ago as your chief servants.
“Today, I tell you that Anambra is strong and getting stronger. We are intentional about doing more with less because we are facing an extraordinary times in Nigeria, but tough time is for tough leaders who are innovative.
“Banks have been offering to lend to us, but we decided that these two years, we will show that we can do more with less and we choose deliberately not to borrow.
“Having been governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and managing the finances of the entire country, I needed to demonstrate that some things are possible. Today, we are managing the finances of Anambra and we need to show what we can do. From henceforth, we are changing gear.
“Anambra has not seen anything yet. Every kobo of Anambra’s resources entrusted in our hands, we will show you where we put it. When we borrow, and of course you can borrow when you have good reason to, and when we do, we will show you what the money was used for, and we will borrow to invest in things that can pay back the investment. But you will never see the kind of borrowing we saw before.”
The governor, who spoke about his achievements in office, however, decried the dwindling resources in the country.
“The resources available to the state today is a fraction of what it used to be. If you go by the purchasing power of money then, you will know that we have far less to spend. What we are doing is that we are managing what we have very well,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anambra people have commended the governor on his achievements within two years on the saddle.
Former Secretary-general of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who spoke at the event said: “I’m not surprised at what Soludo is doing in Anambra.
“Is it security, human capital development, social agenda or recognizing and reordering governance value system? What is most impressive about Soludo is that these things are not in the realm of hearsay, but projects we can see. I congratulate Soludo on his excellent performance in the last two years.”
Also, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Rt Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, who officiated the thanks giving mass said, “He is a man who is well known.
“The last two years have seen extraordinary achievements in some areas, and acceleration in other areas, especially in the socio economic and infrastructural transformation in Anambra State.”
