It was Henry Ford, the legendary American industrialist and founder of the Ford Motor Company, who mused that “quality is doing what is right when nobody is looking.” The iconic entrepreneur had begun his historic automobile production journey at a time when Americans, especially the middle-class, had issues of automobile affordability, because of high cost of the product at that age. But Ford had one mission: “To create the first automobile that middle-class Americans could afford, by converting the automobile from an expensive luxury into an accessible conveyance that profoundly impacted the landscape of the 20th century.” It didn’t take long before the Michigan businessman revolutionized the North American cum global automobile market.
Henry Ford’s business vision, acuity, resilience and mastery of his own dreams paint a vivid picture of note. A fine lesson for leadership and management. More so in a unique political administration, where positive obstinacy must rule over pressure and headless sentiments. Pelted with criticisms, doubts and blackmail, Ford “stubbornly” insisted on what is right; on quality and the right vision. Suffice it to say that Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, operates — in more systematic and refined terms — on Ford’s management psychology: Fordism. Prior to his victory in the November 6, 2021 governorship poll in Anambra State, Professor Soludo represented the hopes of millions of ndi Anambra both at home and in the diaspora. Fair to say that his landmark exploits at the helm of Nigeria’s apex bank, CBN, did a favour to that massive faith. But Governor Soludo came at a time when a change in the concept of political governance, especially in Anambra State, was long overdue. He knew the hurdles before him, and he set out immediately to surmount them al
Count just nine months down the road, the governor has stealthily laid historical blocks and yet is making less noise about it: over two hundred fifty kilometres of roads awarded and work ongoing on the sites, the thorough ongoing revival of Okpoko, and upper Onitsha metropolis, five thousand teachers recruited to close the deficit in primary and secondary school classrooms, over three hundred health workers recruited to close the personnel gap in government and community hospitals, agric revolution with thousands of high yielding coconut and palm breeds handed out to farmers in the state, re-modernization of Awka, the capital city, speed up of work at the new site for Anambra Government House and Governor’s Lodge, five thousand Anambra youths undergoing training in different skills in the one youth, two skills programme, automatic restructuring of the state’s security, traffic and revenue architecture, smart budgeting and financial prudence, gradual clearance of gratuities owed retirees in the state from 2018 and activating immediate payment of gratuity to any public servant who retires in the course of his administration, ten percent salary increase for all civil servants in the state, signing of MoU for the installation of over three thousand kilometre long fiber optics cable in Anambra State to enable highspeed internet connectivity, breakthroughs in checkmating domestic crimes and social injustices, and the kick off of free cervical cancer screening and treatment for five thousand women and girls. Those are just as human memory can recall. Like the great Henry Ford, Governor Soludo is practically doing what is ingenious when no one is looking. A cool masterpiece and matchless excellenc
It is important to state that Governor Soludo has been able to pull off those wonders with manageable resources. It goes again to zoom in on Mr Governor’s economic meticulousness. Having gotten approval from the Anambra State House of Assembly, few months ago, to borrow one hundred billion naira to support the state’s financial muscle, the governor has yet to borrow a dime to execute any of the mentioned landmark projects. In a country where borrowing to execute recurrent expenditures thrives, Professor Soludo is showing brilliant economic arithmetics. No economic profligacy. Each penny must be accounted fo
Prior to the last Christmas and new year celebrations, there were tiny doubts about how secure the state would be during the festivities. With ndi Anambra being people that value homecoming as an important aspect of communalism, social solidarity and tradition, visiting during festivities is always special. But how safe are they? Governor Soludo was resolute in his promise: Anambra is now safe for everyone! Ndi Anambra from world over journeyed home, had peaceful and comfortable Christmas and new year celebrations, went about different ceremonies, and slept with both eyes comfortably closed. And for the first time in recent history, traditional traffic problems that greeted the Christmas season on major Anambra roads, were solved courtesy of joint efforts by different enforcement teams set up by the state government to tackle the worrisome traffic nightmares in the state. Led by the reformed Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency, ARTMA, the team has been able to sanitize traffic management in the state. Elections for town union leaderships have almost been concluded for towns that previously didn’t have approved governing bodies, ultimately ending long stay of face-offs in so many Anambra communities. Peace has returned. The people are rejoicing, because the righteous is on the thron
As the chief security officer of the state and a man who treasures the peace of mind of his people, Professor Soludo is always tireless in every effort to reform the state. A tough job? Yes. Yet uneasy lies the head that wears the crown! More reason ndi Anambra must continue to show support to this historical administration. Too early a prophecy, but Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo is bound to be the best in the political leadership history of Anambra State
Written by DANIEL EZEIGWE
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