Professor Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, political economist, and former governorship candidate in Anambra, has raised concerns about the state of governance in Anambra under Governor Chukwuma Soludo. Okonkwo, who has largely remained out of state politics since the last election, has now decided to break his silence, expressing his dissatisfaction with Soludo’s administration.
Okonkwo stated that he had been busy with his personal endeavors, particularly in the business and aviation sectors. However, he decided to remain silent on Anambra State politics, allowing the new administration time to stabilize. He explained, “It was deliberate. The governor needed time to fulfill his promises. I initially gave him one year before making an assessment, but after two and a half years, it’s clear things are only getting worse.”
Professor Okonkwo painted a bleak picture of the current state of Anambra, describing it as becoming a “ghost state” due to deteriorating security conditions. He mentioned that under Soludo’s leadership, the security situation has worsened, which has negatively affected social and economic life in the state. According to him, no visible strategy or investment has been put into improving security, which has forced many residents to leave.
“People are living in fear,” Okonkwo noted, emphasizing how activities have ground to a halt by 5 p.m. each day, and Mondays have become additional weekends. He criticized the government’s apparent lack of engagement in tackling the insecurity, stating, “The government is not doing enough to restore normalcy or even engaging with the right stakeholders.”
Okonkwo took aim at Soludo’s leadership style, calling him an “intellectual narcissist” who believes only in his own knowledge. He suggested that this attitude has contributed to the challenges facing Anambra today. He questioned whether Soludo was genuinely interested in the well-being of the state or merely focused on securing a second term in office.
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Economic life in Anambra has also been severely affected. Okonkwo highlighted the negative impact of Soludo’s revenue generation policies, describing them as crude and dehumanizing. “Soludo is making life difficult with excessive taxes and promoting laws that do not necessarily align with the needs of the people,” Okonkwo argued, pointing out that many traditional ceremonies that once brought economic benefits to the state are now being held elsewhere due to these policies.
He added that the administration had failed to create an enabling environment for economic activities, especially for small businesses. “Without security and proper infrastructure, economic growth is impossible,” Okonkwo stressed.
On the recent local government elections, Okonkwo expressed his concerns about the fairness of the process. He noted that the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won all local governments, which he suggested could be a result of power misuse. He added that while Soludo may celebrate this victory, he should also be prepared for others to do the same when their turn comes.
Despite knowing Soludo for over three decades, Okonkwo stressed that his critique was not personal but a result of genuine concern for the people of Anambra. “As a friend, I am worried for him, but more importantly, I am worried for our people,” he said, adding that current policies are preventing him and others from fulfilling their responsibilities to their communities.
