By Victor Agusiobo
March 17, every four years, marks a symbolic “rainbow moment” in Anambra State. Owing to its off-cycle election calendar, the state inaugurates a new governor on that date. Thus, on Wednesday, March 17, 2026, at the now significantly upgraded Ekwueme Square in Awka, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo was sworn in for a second term as governor. By 2030, he will have constitutionally exhausted his tenure.
The governor has since moved swiftly, appointing key officials to kick-start his new administration.
His inaugural address—spanning 36 paragraphs—was both intellectually rich and rhetorically compelling. It highlighted past achievements while outlining an ambitious roadmap for the future. The speech carried emotional weight and philosophical depth, ultimately projecting a vision of sustainable, generational development for the state.
One stylistic feature stood out: the governor’s consistent use of the royal “we,” which reinforced a sense of collective responsibility in governance.
Early in the speech, Soludo advanced a notable hypothesis—that the election outcome validated a politics of transformation and development over transactional politics. While this claim may appear plausible, some analysts remain unconvinced that the reported 73% electoral support for APGA was solely a product of performance-based governance.
This raises a critical question: would the party have secured such a margin without engaging in the same voter inducement practices widely attributed to other political actors? If the answer is negative, then the governor’s hypothesis requires refinement. A more encompassing sociological understanding of voter behavior and governance realities in the state may be necessary.
Critics also argue that the dichotomy between transactional and transformative politics is often situational. For instance, a governor confident in his record would arguably have little need to seek endorsement from leaders of rival political parties during an election in which those parties fielded candidates. Such actions could themselves be interpreted as transactional.
This suggests that the governor may need to reassess both the mechanics and expectations of politics in Anambra State—why it functions the way it does, and how it might be improved.
That said, his gesture of extending a hand of fellowship to his opponents was dignified and statesmanlike.
The speech’s expansive development vision—particularly its 70-year outlook—appears ambitious, perhaps excessively so, given the state’s current challenges. The aspiration to transform Anambra into an “African Dubai–Taiwan–Silicon Valley” may strike some as more bookish than realistic.
Similarly, projections of care for a population of 50 million by the year 2100 raise questions about present-day realities. Housing in Awka and across the state is already prohibitively expensive, driven in part by an informal and often opaque economy. It is troubling that even a top civil servant, such as a permanent secretary, might struggle to afford decent accommodation without incurring debt.
In another instance, the governor’s reference to Onitsha as hosting the “so-called largest market in West Africa” invites interpretative scrutiny. Such phrasing could be seen as either cautious skepticism or an unintended diminishment of a historically significant commercial hub.
While the administration deserves commendation for dismantling 62 criminal camps and restoring relative peace in previously troubled local government areas, questions remain about the sustainability of these gains. Were they achieved through overwhelming force, strategic incentives, or other methods? Understanding this is crucial to preventing a resurgence of criminality.
The governor’s reorientation agenda—particularly efforts to curb practices such as Okeite—should also extend to state institutions where heavy corruption is widely suspected.
There is also concern about the persistence of informal and sometimes coercive revenue practices, such as those associated with Ndi Aka Odo, which appear inconsistent with the state’s modernization ambitions.
In paragraph 26, the governor proposes building an airport to serve an anticipated population of 40 million in the next 50 years. This evokes John Kenneth Galbraith’s concept of “symbolic modernization”—projects that are impressive in form but questionable in utility. Given the existence of the Anambra International Cargo Airport in Umueri, concerns about its underutilization and slow development raise legitimate questions about the necessity of additional infrastructure of this kind.
Despite these concerns, Soludo remains intellectually confident and assertive in his vision.
In the later part of his speech, he urged Anambra citizens to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he described in glowing terms. While some may share this view, others strongly disagree, citing concerns about governance style and perceived nepotism.
This endorsement, therefore, demands further explanation.
From this observer’s standpoint, Soludo has, within a single tenure, arguably achieved more than many of his predecessors did in comparable periods. Yet, his popularity does not appear to fully reflect these accomplishments. This gap itself presents an important subject for analysis.
History shows that second terms often introduce distractions, particularly around succession politics. The choice of a successor is critical—not only for continuity but also for the legacy and post-tenure influence of the incumbent.
Some outgoing governors genuinely seek capable successors to sustain their achievements. Others, however, may prefer weaker candidates to preserve their own historical standing. Still, others prioritize personal access to state resources after leaving office, making loyalty a key consideration.
In Anambra, however, one overriding factor shapes succession politics: zoning. There is a widely held belief that it is now the turn of Anambra Central to produce the next governor. This principle, rooted in equity and balance, has contributed to political stability in the state.
Within this framework, attention is increasingly turning to Awka zone. Political actors, including the governor and party leaders, would do well to guide this process thoughtfully, ensuring fairness within the zone itself.
As Anambra moves forward on its ambitious developmental path, the question remains: how much of the rainbow will endure through the remainder of Soludo’s administration?
