Chidiebele Obika | I-Witness News
Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has declared that despite the current challenges facing Nigeria, that he saw hope and prosperity for the nation.
This formed part of his address to ndi Anambra on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at Dr Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka to mark the sixty-fourth (64) independence anniversary celebration of Nigeria.
Professor Soludo noted that the labours of our founding fathers, like the Rt. Hon. Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Saduana of Sokoto, Amadu Bello, and all the leaders who flew the flag at Independence will never be in vain.
” Nigeria is destined as the largest black nation on earth in terms of population. Just a few years ago, we also ranked the largest economy in Africa. Yes! We’ve slipped, yes, we’ve challenges. But I see hope. I see prosperity”.
” Today, my own message to Nigeria and ndị Anambra is that despite our challenges, our tomorrow will be greater than today. Our tomorrow will be brighter.”
” On this occasion, we remember the victims of all the huge floods that just ravaged a few states. We are still waiting patiently and praying that it doesn’t come with the same kind of ravage on Anambra state, but we remember all the victims at this hour; all those who suffer all kinds of challenges- poverty, inequality, millions of children out of school, those suffering from malnutrition, even in the land of plenty. We remember all of you today and pray that those of us in public service and indeed all Nigerians will come together through collective action, to build upon the foundations already laid by our founding fathers – that Nigeria with peace and plenty, may be blessed.
” This is a land blessed with abundant human and material resources. As I see hope, I salute our youths. I see hope in these children. As I look in their faces, I can see that hope. Wherever we fail, our prayer is that these children will take up from our failings and make Nigeria great. That we must work very hard to make sure we give these children all the enablement that they require to be able to have a secured future because it is only when they have a secured future, that they can secure Nigeria.
” This is a moment that we recall all those dreams that these people had. Our prayer is that Nigeria will not only be the largest black nation on earth but will soon become one of the top five largest economies in the world. Nigeria can, if we all put our resources together, collectively aspire and work hard to make Nigeria greater than our founding fathers ever dreamt”, he said.
Turning to Anambra, Governor Soludo informed that his administration has an agenda with a deadline. He stated that he has been in office for 30 months and that his administration was still running to deliver on the five key pillars that his administration rest upon which according to him included: security, law and order, infrastructure and economic transformation, human capital agenda, a government that deliver service to the people and the environment.
He thanked ndi Anambra for their overwhelming support through votes cast for the party and candidates during the last Saturday’s Anambra 2024 Local Government election which saw APGA winning all the 21 chairmanship and 326 councillorship seats in the state and pledged to continue working to earn their trust.
Said he, ” For us at the All Progressives Grand Alliance, we took the election very very seriously because the election was almost like a referendum on the current administration in Anambra state and I am proud and happy to note that while we do not take the support of ndi Anambra for granted, we will continue to work every day to continue to earn your trust”.
Highlights of the event were inspection of parade, slow and quick march past by armed personnel and paramilitary organizations, march past by pupils, students of select primary and secondary schools in the state, announcement of march past winners among others.
Dignitaries like Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, SSG, Barr. Theodora Igwegbe, Head of Service, Chief Ernest Ezeajughi, Chief of Staff to the Governor and Chief Chinedu Nwoye Glamour, Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief of Protocol attended the event.
Others were Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor, former Speaker ANSHA, LG Council Chairmen, Barr Titus Akpudo, ASATU President, Anambra State Exco members, Ndi Igwe, PGs, Youth Leaders, permanent secretaries, pupils and students of various primary and secondary schools among others.
