As he challenges an intimidating array of aspirants for the Anambra governorship ticket, the former Central Bank Governor, Mr Charles Chukwuma Soludo has surrounded himself with thieves, Looters and Locusts that have arrogated to themselves the task of determining Anambra future. That to me is profound mistake.
While the likes of Chris Ngige, Ikechukwu Obiorah and Peter Obi are going on ward rounds, building grassroots structures, engaging in voter enlightenment programmes in preparation for the looming battle for Anambra future; Soludo like Andy Ubah- who claims to have the Obasanjo joker – relies on Abuja politicians like Chief Anthony Anenih, Senator Jonathan Zwingina,, Turai Yar’adua and the notorious smuggler and Yar’adua associate, Alhaji Mangal to deliver to him the Anambra holdings on a platter of gold, that to me betrays a corrupt persona.
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Interesting! All these folks are interested in Anambra State? When will they let the people of Anambra State elect their governor?
In his support for Charles Soludo, Chief Anthony Anenih, the Obasanjo's kitchen cabinet member that squandered N300billion meant for road construction all over the federation as Obasanjo’s minister of works and housing and former PDP national BOT chairman told Soludo to go ahead and contest the governorship election saying: "My fervent wish is that you contest the governorship election in Anambra state. I am from Edo state. My name is Anenih, but if for the sake of this election, I will claim Anambra state and my name is now Anene."
Someone please tell this thief that he is from Uromi. His record includes stealing nearly 5 Billion Naira he collected to rehabilitate or build Lagos/Benin/ Onitcha Road. Today, not even the road in front of his hotel in Uromi is rehabilitated.
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Why is Anenih- arguably Nigeria’s most unprincipled politician supporting Soludo? It is certainly not for a newfound love for Anambra people. Anenih, a former chair of the PDP’s board of trustees, is still miffed by the way former President Obasanjo hounded him out of the party post. His support for Soludo is seen as a way to pay back Obasanjo for the political humiliation- Obasanjo is supporting Andy Ubah.
Another shadowy friend of Soludo and one of the sponsors of his high-brow party at Transcorp Hotel last Wednesday in Abuja is Ahaji Mangall, Yar’adua’s closest friend- a shadowy businessman and Nigeria’s biggest cross-border smuggler.
These merchants will eventually seek to collect their IOU, ala Chris Ubah and Emeka Offor. We should therefore ask; what consideration and/or promises has Soludo offered these mercenaries for their support? Why is Dr Soludo of CBN backed by PDP renegades and mechanics and plumbers that fix voting machines led by Anenih and the anti-Obasanjo group that are not happy that Obasanjo is still the BOT chairman?
Why does Soludo want to be governor soon after leaving the Central bank? Could someone point to any comments critical or otherwise about the state of Anambra by Soludo? Did he not visit Anambra during his bank time with nose high up in the sky?
Yes, Soludo like everyone has the right to contest, that is why in Anambra now, every dick, and tom and Harry want to be governor.
The former Governor of the Central Bank Professor is being sold the red herring that the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] will adopt him as the consensus candidate for its crisis-wracked Anambra State chapter in governorship elections already scheduled for February.
Presumably he was told that the PDP bosses have been concerned for some time that unless they find a way to end the internecine rift in the Anambra party chapter and find an acceptable candidate who can unite the party, it could very well lose next year’s election.
Bollocks! No one freely hands over power. The false information had only galvanised hitherto dormant power bases in Anambra PDP and their supporters.
Soludo to beware of the said consensus offer, he should first try to clear his name from the present mess in the banking industry, for which every stakeholder is pointing accusing fingers at him.
If Soludo insists on running, he will be wasting his time. Professor Soludo should spend some time in Anambra State and look around before jumping into the hot waters of politics. He should not taint his name now.
Anambrarians view the purported adoption and imposition of Soludo as an insult to Anambra people; an insult to the sensibilities of Nigerians. Rather than seek for the governorship seat, Soludo should have the moral duty now to help his successor, Lamido Sanusi clean up the house he polluted, the CBN.
Soludo should be very careful with those pushing him along. This might be a big set up to trash him!
If Soludo is not careful, his candidature will lead to unravelling his tenure as CBN governor. Already stories are flying that as Nigeria's Central Bank Governor, Soludo was chiefly responsible for creating and deepening the now endemic and prolonged rot in the banking sector.
Saharareporters recently detailed his shenanigans at the helm of CBN. The reporters accuse him of creating a bogey fund known as Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) through which he engaged in questionable practices, including printing monies that he then shared between major banks, among them Oceanic Bank and the United Bank for Africa.
It was said that on coming to power, Umaru Yar’Adua set up a panel to look into Soludo's activities at the AFC after which Soludo was marked for prosecution, but that he staved off his indictment and trial by bribing several political players, including Yar’Adua’s wife, Turai, and Attorney General Michael Aondoakaa.
Saharareporters said Soludo handed $2 million to the Aondoakaa who was given the responsibility of issuing a white paper on the investigation of AFC. He also funnelled $4 million to Hajia Turai Yar’Adua, a woman who has established a reputation as the most corrupt “First Lady” in history.
In addition, Soludo was said to have secured the support of the Saraki family when he restored the banking license of Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria (SGBN). He pried open an illicit discount window to help former Governor James Ibori's front companies – Notore Chemicals and Wilbros/ Ascot – to keep defaulting on toxic loans in both Oceanic and Intercontinental banks.
Soludo should beware. He should keep in mind what happened when PDP decided to kill Atiku Abubakar’s ambition? They sent him a ruthless General to 'negotiate' a peace deal with his former boss, Obasanjo. There was so hype much about it and that ended whatever ambition Atiku might be nursing. Today, he is not worth a penny within PDP and less than half of that within AC.
What about Alex Ekwueme. In 2003 Ekwueme was convinced to come out and challenge Obasanjo for the second time. The hawks used a high-profiled birthday party to convince him that the entire northern establishment is behind him. In the end, Ekwueme was left to suffer the biggest humiliation of his life and eroded whatever political capital he had.
Soludo would be raised to high heavens and then dropped without a safety net in place. Mark my words! Mangal, Anenih and Ekwueme would abandon Soludo once the campaign heats up.
The happenings at his opulent Abuja party which did not witness any PDP elected Senator, governor; Just one Representative and no serving PDP official in attendance is a bad omen!
The dinner was attended by former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, who was the chairman of the occasion. The rest in attendance were “former this” and former that”, including former national chairman of PDP, Chief Solomon Lar, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, etc, etc. all men of yesterday! Enough warning!
Soludo now being touted by mercenaries certainly has no need to govern a state. Is he not a professor? Someone promised to help lobby for a job for him at Harvard University, so he may still keep his nose really high up.
Daniel Elombah Publishes www.elombah.com
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