2023 INDEPENDENCE DAY SPEECH BY PROF. CHUKWUMA CHARLES SOLUDO, CFR, GOVERNOR OF ANAMBRA STATE
0: PROTOCOL
1. About 109 years ago, this country Nigeria was stitched together by the United Kingdom under Lord Luggard. Some 63 years today, we gained independence. Since then, our journey to nationhood has been a chequered one. No country or nation is a perfect one. Every nation continues to struggle in its match to a more perfect union. A glowing tribute goes to our founding fathers who, despite their imperfections, were mostly nationalists who negotiated a competitive federalism as the structure to leapfrog the ladder of development. With a civil war, cycles of military coups, and fits and starts with democracy, we have muddled through the past 63 years with squandered opportunities and yet with the promise of potential greatness.
2. This year 2023 is remarkable. Again, the country has peacefully transferred power from one president to another and our democracy is certainly evolving strongly. Challenges abound but I see hope.
3. Yes, Nigeria is currently battling to reset the buttons of development. Over the past few years, macroeconomic management was on its head with the enduring legacies of a technically insolvent Federal Government (FGN) and pressures on exchange rate and inflation. The chicken has come home to roost, and the current administration has the unenviable task of cleaning the Augean stable by taking us through the long delayed but inevitable disruptive re-set. The path to stability, growth and sustainability will be challenging and there are no quick fixes. All of us must fasten our seat belts, and collectively think and work Nigeria out of the current challenges. We have no other country but Nigeria, and we must make it to work for everyone.
4. Here in Anambra, we are deliberately executing the five pillars of the Soludo Solution Manifesto (Security, law and Order; Infrastructure and Economic Transformation; Human Capital and Social Agenda; Governance and Value System; and An agenda for clean, green, planned and sustainable communities, markets and cities). We are firing from all cylinders in our haste to lay the foundations for a livable and prosperous homeland. In March 2024, we shall present our two-year comprehensive report card to Ndi Anambra.
5. Following the desired removal of petrol subsidy cum exchange rate adjustments, and the consequential socio-economic hardship on the citizens, we have rolled out the most ambitious response to the challenging times subject to the limits of our resources. As a government founded on the true progressive agenda, we are determined to leave no one behind. In addition to the 10% salary increase for public servants since January 2023, we have started paying each of the 59,000 public servants and pensioners a non-taxable cash augmentation of N12,000 each (September to December 2023). In two weeks we will be distributing bags of rice to over 300,000 households. We have banned the collection of taxes/levies from hawkers, barrow and truck pushers, vulcanizers, okada riders, and all businesses with capital less than N100,000. We have also reduced by 20% levies paid by all transport vehicles. Pregnant women now receive free antenatal and delivery services in all government hospitals. We have also began the ambitious programme of a true free primary to JSS3 education— free of all fees, levies and financial contributions of any type in all public schools. An additional 3,000 teachers are being recruited to add to the earlier recruitment of 5,000 teachers. About 5,000 youths trained under the one youth two skills scheme will soon be empowered with cash to commence their own businesses. So far, we have distributed 1,100,000 seedlings of palm and coconut to over 100,000 households and will distribute another one million next year. The list is long… Again, the goal is that we are all in this together and will swim out of the challenging times together.
6. I am a diehard optimist and believer in the potential greatness of Nigeria. I see a more glorious future, provided we all intentionally decide to make it happen. Let me at this moment specially commend all our patriotic and hard working men and women, members of the armed forces, our children and youths, the vulnerable population, captains of industry, traditional rulers and community leaders, etc. We pray for the President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR and his team at the FGN, members of the National and State Houses of Assembly, the Judiciary, and members of the international community. Together, we can make Nigeria great.
7. Today is a day of deep reflection on our journey so far and refine our gaze unto the future. But that future may indeed benefit immensely from the lessons from our heroes past— their patriotism, nationalism, selfless service, vision and actions to build a great nation. Today, I want to specially pay my tributes to all our heroes past. May their labour never be in vain! We will never forget, and will never celebrate them enough.
8. Yes, we need to celebrate our heroes past. I am particularly happy that the FGN as well as various state governments tried to immortalize many of our heroes past and present by naming streets, roads, stadia, airports, buildings, university hostels/buildings, universities, libraries, and institutions after them, including: Rt Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe; Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello; Dr. Michael Okpara; Aminu Kano; K.O. Mbadiwe, Moshood Abiola; Murtala Mohammed; Akwaeke Nwafor Orizu; Mary Slessor, Akanu Ibiam; Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Sam Mbakwe; Alex Ekwueme; Dora Akunyili; Iwene Tansi; Jerome Udoji; etc. In the recent past, former Gov Peter Obi renamed the Anambra State University started by late former Gov Mbadinuju after Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Former Gov Obiano renamed the Women Development Centre, also built by Dr Mbadinuju after late Dora Akunyili. More recently, the Federal University in Ebonyi state has been renamed Alex Ekwueme Federal University while the new airport built by the government of the immediate past governor of Ebonyi State, Engr Dave Umahi has been renamed Wilberforce Chuba Okadigbo Airport, Ebonyi. We appreciate these gestures aimed at keeping our memory of the heroic efforts of these men and women alive.
9. However, it is evident that almost all those honoured are persons involved in public service. They are all deserving. However, at this historic moment when we are trying to re-set our values, it is important that we also beam the light on those beacons that we wish to celebrate as icons. A society ultimately mirrors what it celebrates. Here in Anambra, we are going back to basics and have identified human capital as Anambra’s greatest resource. We are not just a land of politicians and distinguished public servants, but even more so a land of acclaimed academics, entrepreneurs, professionals, and the clergy. We are a land where intellect and enterprise are celebrated. We are determined to reclaim the soul of our society and celebrate those values that made us who we were. We must signal that you don’t have to hold political position to contribute to the advancement of our civilization. Henceforth, we shall be deliberate in fishing out and celebrating our largely unsung heroes, as motivation to our children and youths in terms of what matters, including distinguished teachers, medical and other professionals, persons of honesty and integrity, philanthropists with known sources of wealth, entrepreneurs/job creators, community leaders/developers, clergy with great devotion, etc. During the first Anambra Investment Summit last month, I already indicated our intention to honour also my predecessors.
10. An example of Africa’s unsung hero is late Professor Albert Chinualumogu Achebe (Chinua Achebe). Wikipedia describes Achebe as
“a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic, regarded as a central figure of modern African literature. His first novel and ‘magnum opus’, Things Fall Apart (1958), occupies a pivotal place in African literature and remains the most widely studied, translated, and read African novel. Along with “Things Fall Apart”, his “No Longer at Ease” (1960) and “Arrow of God” (1964) complete the “African Trilogy”.
At an auspicious time, I will be able to say a lot more about Achebe’s place in history. Unfortunately some people wrongly think of legacies in terms of brick and mortar. Legacy is about impact on human life and human civilization. That is why those who have been celebrated for centuries are not those who built artefacts but those who changed the course of history. Achebe was not a President or Governor or Minister. He did not build bridges or roads or airports. But he will outlive most presidents, governors or ministers. Achebe gave the African literature an identity and a voice. In a way, he rightly reconstructed and redefined who we are and we will never forget. Indeed, he was not an Anambra hero, nor a Nigerian hero. He was an African and global hero, and yet largely unsung at home.
11. Achebe rejected Nigeria’s National Honours twice in protest against what he perceived as injustice to his home state, Anambra. Today, Anambra will finally honour Chinua Achebe. After wide consultations, there is a broad consensus that no one is more deserving to be named after the first airport in Anambra State than Anambra’s all-time greatest literary gift to the world, Chinua Achebe (With its escalating population, Anambra will probably need two more airports in the future). Consequently, we will rename the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri, to CHINUA ACHEBE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, UMUERI. Yes, it has to be an international airport, and we hope to work with the Federal Government to give full effect to its international status.
May it continue to be well with Nigeria!
God bless Anambra State!
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!