By Our Correspondent
A subtle but telling strain in the relationship between the Anambra State Government and the media came to the fore on Tuesday as Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo delivered his second-term inauguration speech without any acknowledgment of the press—either in his formal protocol or among stakeholders he credited for his administration’s successes.
One defining feature of Soludo’s tenure has been his fraught relationship with journalists in the state, as his first term was marked by a noticeable lack of structured media engagements.
At one point, the chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Anambra publicly declared that “Soludo hates Anambra journalists,” a remark that highlighted the tension between the governor and the local press.
The omission, observed by journalists present at the ceremony in Awka, drew quiet disapproval, with several members of the press expressing concern in hushed tones over what they perceived as a deliberate slight.
In a lengthy address that catalogued individuals and institutions he described as “worthy partners in progress,” the governor reeled out an extensive list of dignitaries and groups but made no reference to the media.
“Many stakeholders too numerous to mention individually have proved to be worthy partners in progress over the past four years including: Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR and First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the Vice-President Senator Kashim Shettima GCON, the FGN; our distinguished elder statesmen and women; members of the Solution Team in our government; my colleague governors/friends at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum; members of the State and National Assemblies, the judiciary, INEC and security agencies; the church and clergy; traditional rulers and town union leaders; our businessmen and women, our women and youths, our friends all over the country/world; the international development community, etc.”
Notably absent from the enumeration was any mention of journalists or media organisations, despite their traditional role as key stakeholders in governance, public accountability, and information dissemination.
The governor went further to acknowledge personal and familial support systems, stating:
“I thank my lovely wife, Nonye, and children: Ozonna, Adaora, Chinua, Ekene, Oduko and Zikora for their love, sacrifices, and support.”
He also struck an emotional note regarding his late parents, adding:
“Unfortunately, my father who had prayed for this day died at his 92nd birthday in 2023, and together with my beloved late mother, Mgbafor, they must be smiling in their graves.”
While the speech touched on governance, partnerships, and personal reflections, the conspicuous silence on the media has been interpreted by some observers as emblematic of a growing distance between the state government and the press.
Journalists at the venue, though largely restrained in their reactions, described the omission as unusual for a major state function of such magnitude, where the press is typically acknowledged both in protocol and in expressions of gratitude.
The development may raise broader questions about the administration’s disposition toward media engagement as it embarks on its second term.
