Professor Soludo: The Governor-elect’s Long Trek To ‘Agu Awka’

HISTORY was made on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, as people of Anambra State elected, for the first time, a Professor in the person of Charles Chukwuma Soludo as Governor.

Professor Soludo won the election landslide in a keenly-contested exercise, to defeat Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Senator Ifeanyi Patrick Uba of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), amongst other minor political parties.

A Professor of Economics and politician, Soludo, was Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) between May 2004 and May 2009. Prior to becoming CBN governor, he was Chief Economic Adviser to former President Obasanjo and chief executive of the National Planning Commission of Nigeria.

Born on 28th July 1960, he hails from Isuofia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. He graduated with First class honours degree in economics in 1984, a Master’s degree in economics 1987, and a PhD in 1989, also in Economics; all from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), winning prizes as the best student in both degrees. He became a Professor of economics at UNN in 1998 and a visiting Professor at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, USA the following year.

READ ALSO: Economics Pofessor, Soludo, Makes History, Emerges Governor-elect In Anambra

Apart from academics, Soludo has also worked as a consultant for a number of international organisations, including the World Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

He is also a member of the British Department for International Development’s International Advisory Group. He was In September 2019 also appointed member of an Economic Advisory Council (EAC) formed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

He also spearheaded reform of the banking industry in Nigeria which led to consolidation of banking system, drawing foreign investment into the sector in the country.

Prior to winning the 2021 governorship election, Soludo had contested for the same position in 2009 under the platform of PDP and lost to then Governor Peter Obi. To give the governorship race a second shot, Soludo resigned from PDP and joined APGA 2013, but was disqualified by the party screening committee.
Today he has finally made it, and would be taking over from the incumbent Governor Chief Wilie Obiano in March 2022.

From February 2021 when he picked APGA governorship nomination form, till the election was won, it has been a turbulent political odyssey as he just like some candidates in other political parties, was faced with series of court battles by contenders who were discontented by outcome of the party primaries that led to emergence of Soludo as Governorship candidate of APGA. But all is now history as what lies ahead of him now is how to take over the mantle of leadership after his predecessor, Obiano leaves office and reorganize the state to make significant progress that the citizens both home and abroad would be proud of.