By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, alongside his Deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, has formally begun his second term in office, with declaration and reassurance that the ongoing transformation in the state will now move to a faster phase of “Gear-4,” while also declaring that the much-feared crackdown on criminal idolatry and insecurity, popularly called Ọsọ Soludo, has come to stay.
The second-term inauguration ceremony, which held on Tuesday at the refurbished Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, Anambra State capital, attracted arrays of personalities from different walks of life, including Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima; former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; Governor Alex Otti of Abia State; and former Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra.
Also present was Senator Emmanuel Nwachukwu of Anambra South; Prophet Ebuka Obi of the Zion Ministry, among other top government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders, captains of industry, lawmakers, security chiefs, youth and women groups, among other thousands of residents who thronged the venue to witness the event that also marked the 20 years of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) government in Anambra.
Speaking after taking oath of office, Governor Soludo used the occasion to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government, fellow governors, members of the National and State Assemblies, the judiciary, as well as Ndi Anambra at home and in the diaspora for their support, noting that his re-election with an overwhelming majority of votes was a clear endorsement of the development path his administration has taken since 2022.
Recalling how his first inauguration was done quietly at the old Government House with less than fifty persons in attendance, the governor said his administration deliberately chose work over celebration because the state was facing serious challenges at the time, including insecurity, decayed infrastructure, environmental crisis, weak public institutions and widespread urban slums. He noted that his first official visit after assuming office was to Okpoko, then regarded as the largest urban slum in the South-East, explaining that the action symbolised his resolve to start from the most difficult places.
According to him, the last four years have been devoted to restoring security, rebuilding public schools and hospitals, constructing and dualising hundreds of kilometres of roads, reviving water schemes, improving fiscal discipline, digitising government processes, empowering youths through digital and vocational programmes, and investing in leisure, tourism and urban renewal to make Anambra a preferred destination.
Governor Soludo said the achievements recorded so far were guided by a long-term development philosophy he conceived years ago, which seeks to transform Anambra into an African Dubai-Taiwan-Silicon Valley through strong investment in commerce, industry and technology. He explained that the vision, which is also embedded in the Anambra Vision 2070 development blueprint, recognises the state’s small land mass and high population density but turns them into opportunities by building a smart megacity driven by human capital, innovation, manufacturing and logistics.
He added that projects such as the new cities under development, the Solution Fun City, the International Convention Centre complex, the industrial free-trade zone, and ongoing urban regeneration in Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi and Ekwulobia were all part of the deliberate effort to lay the foundation for a prosperous homeland capable of supporting millions of people in the future.
Speaking on security and social re-orientation, the governor said the Homeland Security Law and the ongoing war against criminal idolatry, ritual killings and fake native doctors have forced many criminals to flee the state, stressing that the campaign popularly referred to as Ọsọ Soludo is real and will continue until Anambra is completely safe and free from such illegalities.
He also noted that the government has dismantled dozens of criminal camps, restored peace in previously troubled local government areas and ended the Monday sit-at-home disruptions, adding that the aim is to restore the culture of hard work, integrity and enterprise for which Anambra people are known, while also protecting young people from crime, drugs and cultism.
Governor Soludo further announced that his second term will focus on accelerating development at an unprecedented speed, saying the state is now shifting to what he described as Gear-4, meaning faster execution of major projects across all sectors. He disclosed that the government has begun securing land for future infrastructure because population projections show that the state will require more cities, transport systems and economic zones in the coming decades.
According to the Governor, plans are already underway for additional airports, new urban districts, a rail masterplan, gas and power projects, an innovation hub, and expansion of the Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City and Aerotropolis, while partnerships with private investors and the Federal Government will be strengthened to guarantee electricity, transportation and industrial growth.
“In a few years, the second airport and a thriving nascent city around it will be delivered, and we will secure space for the third airport—laying foundations for future generations. Securing the future is urgent,” he declared.
Soludo also called for greater cooperation among South-East states and stronger participation of Ndi Anambra in national politics and economic development, stressing that the region must focus on building prosperity at home instead of relying on political positions alone. He urged citizens, investors and members of the diaspora to take advantage of the opportunities being created in the state, assuring that his administration will continue to pursue transparency, prudent management of resources and long-term planning aimed at securing the future for generations yet unborn.
While declaring that his mission remains personal, the governor promised that he and his team will work round the clock in the next four years to build a livable, secure and prosperous Anambra where future generations will be proud to live, invest and retire, insisting that the foundation being laid today will ensure that the state emerges as one of the leading economic and innovation centres in Nigeria and Africa.
Speaking at the event, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration, praised the Anambra governor as a respected public intellectual whose ideas have continued to influence Nigeria’s political and economic direction. He said Soludo’s re-election by the people of Anambra State was a renewal of “a covenant with competence,” noting that the governor has consistently promoted constructive engagement, national unity and practical solutions to governance challenges.
Shettima added that Soludo’s leadership shows that politics can be driven by ideas, discipline and teamwork rather than division, stressing that his contributions to national discourse have earned him respect across party lines. He also described the joint re-election of Soludo and his deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, as proof of the value of cooperation in governance, saying the governor’s style demonstrates that firm leadership and intellectual depth can go hand in hand with stability, progress and inclusive development.
More photos from the event:
