WRITTEN BY RAYMOND OZOJI
I was on transit to Enugu one evening after work and people began to argue vehemently in that public transport about the candidates who contested in the Anambra state governorship election. It was an interesting conversation as people took ample time to scrutinize all the candidates. Some of the arguers were of the opinion that if Professor Soludo had lost the governorship election, then Anambra state would have been doomed because some of the candidates they believe were only pretending but desperately in dire need of governmental powers to completely destroy the state. They said Ndigbo and Anambra indigenes in Lagos state had planned to carryout a protest if there was a foul play in the November 6 and 9 election because they know Soludo will win and it is Soludo they need to succeed the incumbent governor. Apart from Lagos State, they said Ndigbo all over the world were delighted that Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo declared interest to govern Anambra state and they were equally grateful to God that his gubernatorial ambition saw the light of the day. The implication of the foregoing therefore is that God’s time remains the most appropriate time.
In spite of all attempts to discredit and disqualify him from contesting in the just concluded gubernatorial election, Soludo always assured Ndi-Anambra that he will contest and win the election. This however came to pass when 19 out of the 21 local government areas unanimously passed a vote of confidence on him and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him winner of the Anambra State 2021 Governorship Election; meaning that when destiny beckons, no one can stop it. Although Professor Soludo dedicated his electoral conquest to the memories of the slain security men who took bullets for his sake at Isuofia, his late mother too will be happy because she has always wished her son to be like Ugoji the village teacher. She would be happy because her son not only surpassed Ugoji the village teacher but he is now the Governor of Anambra state. May her gentle soul rest in peace. Amen.
Soludo could be described as the last man standing because he weathered the storms brought upon him by his antagonists. Series of sponsored allegations as well as social media tantrums were all malignant instruments deployed by detractors to distract him but he remained resolute, steadfast, intrepid and always kept his eyes on the ball. Soludo has clearly shown that the firewoods of this world are for only those who can take heart. Opposition elements travelled to Jigawa, Imo and other states in Nigeria to seek obnoxious court orders to put asunder in what God has joined together but man proposes and God disposes ! They masterminded the removal of Soludo’s name from INEC list of candidates for the governorship election but before long Soludo’s name was reinstated as the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Opposition elements also sponsored sporadic shootings and killings across Anambra state to create an atmosphere of insecurity and to deprive Ndi-Anambra of their rights to elect their chosen candidate. All these were grand designs to disrupt the elections but Soludo remained undaunted. They also tried to prevail on the federal government through the Attorney-General of the federation to cancel the governorship election and declare a state of emergency in Anambra but these were efforts in futility as President Mohammadu Buhari like the proverbial Pontius Pilate washed his hands off the elections and gave an express order that the governorship election must be conducted for the people to decide who they need. As if all their machinations were not enough, they fingered insignificant errors in the filling of Soludo’s form, saying that the errors were reasonable grounds for his disqualification even after winning the election resoundingly. This was the last straw that broke the Camel’s back because a Federal High Court in Abuja declared such stance as frivolous and an affront to judicial proceedings. Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo is indeed the last man standing after all said and done !!!
