Anambra State is engaged in a progressive gear of change. The astute governance of Prof Chukwuma Soludo reflects this ideological character on all fronts. Under his administration, who we are as Ndi-Anambra and what we stand for have been properly situated within the ambit of a vibrant progressivism.
According to the wordbook, “Progressivism as a political movement seeks to advance the human condition through social reforms based on advancement in science, technology and social organization.” A progressive is, therefore, a reformist who makes bold and sometimes unpleasant changes for the betterment of the society.
This fits into Soludo’s style of governance which he declared, from the onset, would be disruptive in nature. So, he holds aloft the light among the progressives of Nigerian politics in tandem with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s immortal statement: “Show the light and the people will find the way.”
Among the founding fathers of Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the Premier of Western Region championed the cause of the progressives through his welfare policies of free education and free health, etc. Later, self-acclaimed progressives who attempted to step into the sage’s shoes ended up paying lip service to the ideology. Among contemporary politicians, Governor Soludo is the only one that has come to terms with the sacred calling of being a progressive.
As a progressive, Soludo remains a quintessential model as exemplified in his welfarist policies on free education, free antenatal and delivery services for pregnant -women, massive healthcare, youths’ empowerment and provision of grants for them to take off, training in digital know-how to keep pace with trends in technology, and many others. He functions more as a statesman interested in changing the society for good by implanting modern ideas and structures rather than as the ordinary politicians who dole out handouts in the hustling bid to win run-of-the-mill elections.
The ideological front of Soludo’s government is crucially anchored on the philosophy of his political party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) that posits the maxim: “Onye aghana nwanneya (No one must be left behind). The key words underpinning the APGA character of familial bonding are “compassion” and “empathy”.
It is so endearing that Governor Soludo, like politicians in advanced democracies of the world, has brought to bear on his style of governance the ideological philosophy of his party. This is quite exemplary in a country where other political parties lack any ideology to crow about, talk less of allowing their policies in government to be dictated by it. Soludo is thus teaching the rest of his compatriots the essence of party ideology in governance. That government should be the medium for practical implementation of party’s ideology which must have been thought through ab initio. Where we have politically conscious populace, any departure from the party’s ideology often stirs dissent and public anger.
One can then understand why Soludo started work as governor in the Okpoko slum, near Onitsha, in Anambra North even though he hails from Anambra South. The typical Nigerian governor would rather start work from his home zone and enclave rather than far-flung oppressed localities.
Governor Soludo’s major focus points are areas that have been left behind by previous governors, for example, Nzam that had no access road to the local government headquarters, Oba-Ofemili that had never seen a tarred road before, and Olumbanasa that no governor had ever visited etc. These erstwhile neglected places have become topmost governmental priorities, courtesy of Governor Soludo.
Governor Soludo stresses that progressivism cannot thrive without adherence to law and order, and the citizens’ discharging their civic responsibilities such as the payment of taxes and levies.
Soludo’s progressivism follows the pattern of the first Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew who “magically” transformed his country and wrote about it in his autobiography From Third World to First. Dr. Mahathir who performed a similar magic in Malaysia is also in the league of progressives inspiring Mr. Governor.
World class all-encompassing progressivism – that is the Soludo way.
Written by SIR PAUL NWOSU
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