By Christian ABURIME
One of the most undisputable qualities of a good leader is being “Single-minded” in pursuit of his objectives and goals.
Objectives are the stepping stones which guide one to achieving his or her goals. Invariably, it means your objectives must therefore lead you logically towards your goal.
Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo, Anambra State Governor-elect easily epitomises what it means to be “Single-minded”.
As a leader, he has shown this unique trait both in utterances and action. During his electioneering campaign, Soludo made several public pronouncements of what he would do if elected governor.
Unlike the regular politician who keeps making promises and altering same at different fora and circumstances of events, Soludo stood-out as one who remained irrevocably committed to his words. His penetrating and calculative mind is ever alive and intently focused
At every given event, Soludo spoke with one voice in honour and sincerity and repeatedly made same pronouncements and utterances without altering them.
He has maintained and remained ‘Single-minded’, intensely focused and undistractable. He promised that he was going to popularise the locally hand-woven Akwaete cloth as its brand ambassador. And he has religiously kept to it.
He has become the quintessential debonair Akwaete fashion model who everybody now look up to for the latest designs.
This writer has received deluge of enquiries from friends and acquaintances in Nigeria and in the Diaspora asking for how to get the Akwaete fabrics. This is the consequences of Soludo’s promotion of the local fabric and the wide publicity it has generated.
Just imagine the economic benefits not only to the industrious women in Abia State who produce the fabrics but also the Eastern Region of the country.
And of course, the ultimate goal in Soludo’s mind is to gradually reinvent the comatose textile industry with the objective of popularising the fabrics, with the long term goal of revamping and bringing back to life the dead textile industry in Eastern Nigeria.
The textile industry if fully brought back to life has the capacity of providing thousands of job opportunities for the teeming unemployed in the region.
This is the mind of Soludo, a thinker and a doer!
Another of Soludo’s promises is to make Innoson Motors his official Vehicle as Governor of Anambra State. Soludo first made public this solemn promise during a visit to Chief Ibeto’s home in Nnewi.
Incidentally, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman of Innoson Motors was present at the occasion. The statement took everybody by storm. Within minutes it went viral on the net
Till date, Soludo has not only remained committed to this promise, but has consistently hammered on it at every given opportunity.
Again, the objective is to consistently promote the local vehicle manufacturing brand, leading by example with the promise of adopting it as his official vehicle when he assumes office in few weeks time as the Executive Governor of Anambra State. While the long term goal is to encourage other Nigerians (be it government at different levels, corporate organisations and individuals) to adopt same.
Nigerians both home and abroad including Ohanaeze Ndigbo have applauded Soludo’s visionary foresight and transformational leadership style. His commitment to home-grown and locally made products. His consistency, single-mindedness and sincerity of purpose
Indeed, a new dawn is here. The dawn of the Soludo revolution!!!