Anambra stakeholders slam Soludo for claiming Obiano’s legacy projects

Concerned stakeholders in Anambra State, alongside supporters of former Governor Willie Obiano, have come down hard on the incumbent Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, accusing him of taking undue credit for landmark projects executed during Obiano’s administration.

In a strongly worded statement issued by Nkemjika Ezioku on behalf of the stakeholders, they criticized Governor Soludo and his supporters for claiming ownership of key projects that were already completed and commissioned before his assumption of office.

According to them, the minor maintenance works carried out by Soludo on these projects do not warrant a rebranding of their original ownership.

The statement pointedly referenced the recent commissioning ceremonies conducted by Soludo, which have sparked widespread outrage across the state.

“Concerned stakeholders are wondering how projects that were already commissioned by a previous administration could be re-commissioned by a successor. It is, therefore, important to set the record straight for posterity,” the statement read.

Among the most contentious issues raised is the Anambra Cargo and Passengers Airport Road, which Governor Soludo has publicly claimed credit for.

The stakeholders clarified that the 11.4-kilometre dual carriageway, complete with two bridges across the Oyi River, four box culverts, a fully completed median adorned with flowers, stainless steel street lights, and three functional generators, was fully completed and officially commissioned on February 24, 2022, under Obiano’s leadership.

They highlighted that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had marked every stretch of the road according to national standards and constructed three security huts to support law enforcement activities along the route.

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Drawing parallels to national landmarks, the stakeholders argued that performing maintenance does not confer ownership of a project.

They cited the Niger Bridge, built under Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa in 1965, and the Third Mainland Bridge constructed during General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime, both of which have undergone extensive repairs without any dispute about their original builders.

“The claim that the Airport Road was only 99 per cent completed is just a ploy to deny Obiano the credit he deserves,” the statement emphasized. “As far as we are concerned, the road was 100 per cent completed.

“We are disturbed that this same tactic could be used in denying Obiano credit for initiating and completing the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport.”

They also dismissed allegations of substandard construction, affirming that the projects were executed by a top-tier construction company under the strict supervision of COREN-certified engineers.

Furthermore, the statement decried the misattribution of the Otuocha, Umueri, and Umuoba Anam water schemes to the Soludo administration. The stakeholders pointed out that these vital infrastructure projects were fully operational at the time of their commissioning under Obiano, attracting international partnerships that boosted the Otuocha Regional Water Scheme and the Obizi-Uga Regional Water Scheme.

They alleged that these water facilities were later locked up following the change in government.

Despite their criticisms, the stakeholders commended Governor Soludo for his decision to name the Airport Road ‘Willie Obiano Boulevard,’ describing it as a statesmanlike move. They also urged him to extend similar honors to the Anambra International Convention Centre in Awka.

The stakeholders concluded by reiterating that the projects in question were fully completed and commissioned before Obiano’s exit from office in 2022, thus invalidating any attempts at re-commissioning or rebranding them under the current administration.