By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday led eminent personalities across the length and breadth of the country to felicitate with the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) led government as they mark one year in office in the state.
Among the dignitaries at the colorful event held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) include Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu (Ahaejiagamba of Igboland), former Governor Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Presidential candidate of the Labour Party Mr. Peter Obi, Donald Duke ex-Governor of Cross Rover state and several others.
Obasanjo in his speech warned against the dangers of any conspiracy against Ndigbo in the South East geo-political zone of Nigeria.
He said Igbo Phobia would not mean well for the unity and development of the country.
Obasanjo maintained that of all the appointments that he made while in office as President that of Soludo as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor and that of Mrs. Okonjo Iwuala as the Minister for Finance were his best choice ever
According to him, “When I appointed Prof Charles Soludo as my economic adviser I worked with him very well and I was highly impressed with him so I chose to appoint him the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN and he was one governor of CBN that was not from the commercial bank and he performed wonderfully well”
“I appointed Soludo and Okonjo Iwuala and I think probably that of all the appointments that I made while in the office these two appointments were the best ”
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“But on one occasion, somebody came to me and said you completely ruined the economy of this country by appointing an Igbo person Minister for Finance and another Igbo person Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. That is what I call Igbo Phobia it remains, it persists and I like what Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu said and I believe him whole,” he stated
The former President said, “I believe that on the 13th of January 1970, Biafra died and was buried in the house of my friend Simon Okeke at Amichi and I believe we have to go back to the scripture that we must conquer evil with good and wherever you find yourself and people are afraid of you try to be friendly with them and be good to them and that is the only way to conquer evil with good”
While congratulating Soludo for his achievements within one year in office, he noted that Soludo’s position as Anambra state governor is more of an appetizer and that the higher position is still awaiting him after being governor.
“I commend you for what you are doing in Anambra state and if in one year you can do so much with your learn resources and carry out massive road construction of 261 km of roads then you will do a lot in the three years”
Also, an elder statesman Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu frowned at the recent attack on the Igbo in Lagos during the February 25th Presidential /National Assembly elections, warning that such anactionedd never happen again.
He said, “We had a meeting of our people and we resolved that never again would our people be attacked in Lagos again because the socioeconomic development of Lagos state was largely contributed by Ndigho and nobody can wish that away and we have made great investments in Lagos state”
“We have no problems with the Yorubas at all but those carrying out those attacks are political rascals and not the people you are calling Yorubas and we shall be interfacing with the government and people of Lagos state to put a stop to this nonsense,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, Governor Soludo said that with the four pillars of his administration which have been put to use within one year the state would be coasting to great infrastructural development.
The Governor pointed out that his first year in office saw the employment of 5,000 teachers and 400 medical personnel as well as the constitution of 261 km of roads.
He said that all revenue leakages have been checkmated as well as the reconstruction of the public properties destroyed by the gunmen.
He further announced that the fight against insecurity has received appreciable success adding that his administration is poised towards ensuring that its campaign promises are kept for the good of the state.
