BY LEKAN SOTE
Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, who was described by the Master of Ceremony at his swearing-in ceremony as a philosopher-king, just revived the spirit of Communist China’s Chairman Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution in Anambra State. He has started to walk his talk by ordering an SUV from Innoson Motors, an automaker based in Nnewi, Anambra State.
He assures citizens of Anambra that the cultural renaissance that he promises will “mainstream our values of hard work, integrity and sanctity of life,” but discourage get rich quick habits that lead to dangerous actions like trading in hard drugs, ritual killings and other such base enterprises.
He promised to wear the “akwete” fabric throughout his tenure as Governor. And he turned up for his swearing-in ceremony in a jumper made from “akwete” fabric and shoes made at Ogbunike, in Oyi Local Government of the State. He promised his guests, not a banquet of choice continental dishes, but servings of a variety of Igbo delicacies.
He announced to his audience: “Today the light refreshment to be served after this brief event is “abacha” from Umunze, “ukwa” from Isuofia, his hometown; Anambra rice with “ofe akwu;” “nkwu enu” from Awgbu; “ngwo,” or palm wine, from Awa and Oba; and malt and bottled water from Onitsha.
He didn’t say anything about “isi ewu,” “ngwo ngwo,” or even pepper soup that veteran merrymakers take with their beer and other drinks. Somebody says Governor Soludo is not an “onye oriri,” someone who loves to enjoy life.
Of course, there is no doubt that those event planners, caterers and logistics people, who had thought they would make a kill with the swearing-in ceremony, would have been sorely disappointed at the turn of events.
They’ll swear that this Soludo guy is about to spoil their business in Anambra State, especially if a critical mass of Anambra citizens buy into the Governor’s idea and may choose never to throw expensive parties in the style of the funeral bash that Obi Cubana threw in honour of his dear mother.
Governor Soludo declared: “As part of our Made-In-Anambra cultural renaissance and healthy living agenda, when you come to the Governor’s Lodge or attend any government function, be sure to be served only Made-In-Anambra.
“We want to go to where (Dr.) M.I. Okpara (Premier of former Eastern Nigeria) stopped with the palm wine revolution and planted millions of palm trees. In some (few) years, we will seek, not only to export palm produce, but also fresh palm wine from Anambra State.”
You may recall that the area around the southernmost part of River Niger –that leads to the Atlantic Ocean– was named Oil River because of the trade in oil palm with the Portuguese and other Europeans who followed the trails of the Hugh Clappertons, Mungo Parks and the Lander Brothers to the Bight of Biafra.
“If Governor Soludo is able to pull this off, the implication is that the economy of Anambra State should spiral to a great high. As you know, ideas indeed rule the world”
Contemporary Anambra State economy is rich in natural gas, petroleum, bauxite and arable land that yield oil palm, maize, rice, yams, and cassava. It is the home of Innoson Motors assembly plant and a robust auto spare parts fabrication works.
Anambra is the 16th ranked economy in Nigeria with Gross Domestic Product of $6,764 million, population of about 11.4 million and land area of 4,710 square kilometres. Onitsha, the biggest town in Anambra State is second in population only to Lagos metropolis.
The intellectual base of what Governor Soludo described as people-centered governance are three seminal documents compiled for the purpose: Anambra Vision–2070, a 50-year Development Plan; The Soludo Solution: A People’s Manifesto for a Greater Anambra; and The Transition (Combined) Report.
The intention of these documents is to transform Anambra State into a smart megacity that will achieve the technology-driven industrial and leisure/entertainment hub of the West African sub-region.
The five planks of the action plans are: law and order; economic transformation as Nigeria’s next axis of industrial development (in direct competition with Lagos State it seems), competitive and progressive social agenda; governance, rule of law and rebirth of values; and environmental matters.
Governor Soludo christens his political ideology as Pan African Market Progressivism that integrates social and democratic values with the principles of competitive market.
He adds that it is a fusion of the neo welfarism philosophy of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, first President of Nigeria, scientific socialism of Obafemi Awolowo, first Premier of Western Nigeria and democratic humanism of Aminu Kano, a radical, left leaning, politician of Nigeria’s First Republic.
Governor Soludo proposes “a new social and economic order that guarantees and defends economic freedom and revival of private enterprise.” He thinks “such a new order will, of necessity, entail a massive disruptive change and creative destruction, with short-term pain and long-term benefits.”
To demonstrate his seriousness about turning the fortunes of Anambra State around, Governor Soludo adds that his government will invest in homegrown (he didn’t exactly use that word) tech, entertainment, skills acquired and human capital development.
By the way, Bianca, widow of late Biafra warlord, Emeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu, celebrated the advent of Governor Soludo in the following tweet, “This is the Day the Lord has made… I thank the Almighty for keeping us all alive to witness this day… It’s Liberation Day, and today we sing the Redemption Song. Anambra (State) will be better.”
Unfortunately, she had earlier marred Soludo’s swearing-in ceremony, his hour of triumph and honour, with an unreasonable brawl with former Anambra State First Lady, Ebelechukwu Obiano. And justifiably the brawl has become fodder for the fertile imagination of social media comedians.
Perhaps the most elaborate cultural revolution the world has witnessed is that of China under Mao Zedong. It was a plan to accelerate industrialisation of China through mass mobilisation and production of assigned farm produce to some, and industrial manufactures to others.
Though the cultural revolution of China, formally known as “The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution” whose goal was to preserve China’s version of communism, failed, and was called-off by Chairman Mao in 1969, only three years after its debut in 1966, there is no doubt that it contributed greatly to China’s economic emancipation that has occurred within the last forty years.
If Governor Soludo is able to pull this off, the implication is that the economy of Anambra State should spiral to a great high. As you know, ideas indeed rule the world.
But more importantly is that more citizens of Anambra State may stay more at home to engage in agriculture and manufacturing whose outputs can be “exported” to other states and beyond.
Getting more talented and creative citizens of Anambra State to stay more at home should increase the use of its natural resources and accelerate the state’s rate of development.
It will also expand the tax base and enable the state government to do a lot more for the citizens. As you know, people who pay taxes usually tend to own their government and compel it to be more accountable and more performing.
Also, when the citizens stay more at home they will tend to participate more in the politics of the state and contribute to the political conversations that should birth progressive state building ideas.
If Governor Soludo successfully carries out his agenda, his success should influence other states on the path of positive competition, and certainly, the whole of Nigeria will be better for it.
