By Dr Justin Ogoo Nwankwo ( Unshackle Clinic)
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely – British Philosopher, Thomas Hobbes.
The unfolding events in Anambra state this election season is getting the average observer worried that the current Governor of Anambra state Charles Chukwuma Soludo has activated panic mode button in his desperation to win second term in office.
As I write, the Governor has issued a direct threat and ultimatum to all traditional rulers and presidents-general who were invited to the burial ceremony of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu’s Step mother today in Orsumenyi to desist from attending the occasion thereby breaching their fundamental rights of movement of association. This is unheard of in the history of this state and her rich heritage known for respect of traditional institutions and reverence for the dead. Is this all about November 8th 2025 or is there a deep seated animosity rooted in this memo from the Governor’s desk through his robotic commissioner for Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs – Tony Collins Nwabunwanne?
But this is not a one-off action because a greater number of these assault, insult and desperation on traditional institutions have been recorded in the past two years since Soludo declared to contest for a second tenure. Across so many communities where Town Union elections were conducted in the last year or so; the imperial and panic stricken Governor alongside his coterie of power mongers mandated, intimidated and bamboozled town unions into electing only their protégé as Presidents General. All aspirants to such position must bend low and enter APGA and specifically become a member of Soludo Apostles to be given clearance to win. In many communities, elections were cancelled, postponed or declared inconclusive based on state might and executive rascality of Soludo and his Commissioner for Chieftaincy, LGA and Community Affairs Tony Collins Nwabunne.
We all witnessed before our eyes how Governor Charles Soludo initially fought Igwe Alfred Achebe (Obi of Onitsha) from behind the scenes until the revered monarch struck with an open letter distancing himself from the totalitarian and rascally approach to governance by the governor. That open letter warranted his removal as the chairman of traditional rulers in Anambra State which all past governors before Soludo respected immensely. Charles Soludo understood what he was doing by stripping the position of chairman of traditional rulers council from Obi of Onitsha and was clearly aware that he was setting up the ancient city of Onitsha to a open market opprobrium.
It’s not surprising that the recent bye-elections in Onitsha was decided by the highest historical record of vote buying east of the Niger and indeed in Nigeria – N50,000 per vote in a state constituency bye election! Soludo was aware of his rejection by Ndi Onitsha and the only answer to that was to buy them all – Indigenes and non – indigenes alike!
Rewind back to last year, when Sen Ifeanyi Ubah CON (Ebubechukwu Uzo) was still alive. The Senator was invited by multiple traditional rulers for awards and chieftaincy titles for his good works and boom; the State Government of Prof Soludo issued a 48 hrs ultimatum to these traditional rulers to cancel those chieftaincy titles conferred on Sen Ifeanyi Ubah or loose their ancient traditional stool to the State might!
The traditional ruler of Aguluezechukwu, HRH Igwe P Anaebelundu was immediately threatened with “your throne or your loyalty,” if he dared give any award or chietfancy title to any opposition politician.
In January , 2024, Igwe Ojoto and Igwe Neni were all subjected to various threats and suspension by Soludo in a despotic manner just because of politics and second tenure desperation for no offence apart from giving Chieftaincy title to a deserving son of Anambra, Late Sen Ifeanyi Ubah CON.
Ndi Anambra na kwanu echeki ooo! How the State Government of APGA is using State Might to intimidate town unions leaders and traditional rulers without any regard for our Constitution. It is very important to draw the attention of Ndi Anambra both home and abroad of these desperate moves by a so-called performing Governor in stifling and cutting down any dissenting opinion or voice in the “Federal Republic of ANAMBRA State” under “General” Charles Soludo.
Let the Governor be advised to focus as he has barely one year in office by March 17, 2026. Why is he emasculating community leaders and traditional rulers from free movement and association? Why the panic mode? Why the threats? Why the executive rascality outside the limits of the grand norm-Constitution.
Our people say, and I conclude with that; those who live in glass houses should not throw stones! Governor Soludo and Government of APGA should stop throwing stones to community leaders and traditional rulers. The election is not a do or die affair and Anambra State is not an Animal Farm or in a hobessian state of nature where life is short, nasty and brutish.
Drop the Panic Mode His Excellency Sir! It’s Broken! Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Iyom Uche Ekwunife will start mending it this 2025.
Dr Justin Ogoo Nwankwo is a known writer and author of Unshackle Clinic. He is also a lecturer and a political strategist.
