By Tochukwu Ezukanma<\/p>\n
A onetime White House counsel, Richard Goodman, once characterized a
\ngreat American, Robert Kennedy, as \u201ca constellation of
\ncontradictions\u201d. And the famed author, Harry Barnes, described the
\ngreatest of the patristic fathers, St Augustine, as a complex
\ncombination of opposites. Like most great men, Chukwuma Soludo, the
\ngubernatorial candidate for the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) is
\na paradoxical blend of contrasting and opposing qualities.<\/p>\n
He was a village boy that rose from rural deprivation and drudgery to
\nthe corridors of power; hobnobbing with presidents and prime ministers.
\nHe is erudite, urbane, cosmopolitan and deftly discerning, but remains
\ninextricably bind to the customs, traditions and mores of his town
\npeople. From the pedestal of fame and attainments, he remains \u201ca true
\nhome boy, deeply rooted among his age grade, village and town\u201d. He is
\na reformer; his transformation of the Nigerian economy bordered on a
\nrevolution. He is essentially a revolutionary that operated within
\nconventional limits. He is a consummate insider, but, in many ways,
\nremains an irascible outsider; with his impulse towards the defiance of
\nthe status quo evident. This is evinced by his humility, genuine concern
\nfor the disadvantaged, something of a disdain for elitism, and moral
\nproclivity for equal opportunity for all.<\/p>\n
Consequently, from his early days, he devoted his time, resources and
\nlabor to provide educational and economic opportunities for the
\nindigent, downtrodden, and forgotten. So many people, especially, from
\nhis hometown have benefited from his philanthropy. It was in gratitude
\nfor what he has done for them that the people of Isuofia led by their
\nking honored Chukwuma Soludo. Therefore, on August 14, 2021, Isuofia,
\nliterally, came to a standstill, a celebratory standstill, as the king,
\nHis Royal Highness, Igwe Moghalu of Isuofia, a retired colonel in the
\nNigerian Army, conferred a chieftaincy title, Dike-Udo Isuofia, on
\nSoludo. The title, which means the Mighty Man of Peace of Isuofia, was
\nconferred on him in recognition and appreciation of his service to his
\npeople and community and enormous contribution to their wellbeing and
\nprogress.<\/p>\n
He has successfully lifted so many out of ignorance and poverty. He
\nabhors mere hand-outs because hand-outs have a tendency to breed
\nbeggars. His approach is to establish individuals by giving them
\neducation, and financial independence. It is an approach underpinned by
\nthe proverbial: teach a man how to fish, and he is empowered to feed
\nhimself for life. According to Christian Aburime, \u201cI have watched him
\nspend enormous amount of his time offering advice to parents and their
\nchildren on how to grapple with, and overcome, the challenges of life,
\noften using himself as a case study\u201d.<\/p>\n
In his belief that the surest way to success is education, he has
\nsponsored hundreds of students to various levels of academic
\nattainments. After all, the building of a great society and country is
\ncontingent on first building great men and women through education. In
\n2000, he instituted a scholarship scheme for his Umunna (kindred), so
\nthat financial constraints cannot stop anyone from obtaining a
\nuniversity education. In 2001, he became the pioneer chairman of his
\nvillage Education Trust Fund. He was the highest donor to the Trust
\nFund, which grants scholarships and bursary to indigent students in his
\nhometown. Hundreds of graduates have benefitted from this scholarship
\nand bursary programs.<\/p>\n
Twelve years ago, Soludo “adopted” a primary school in his village,
\nAmoji Primary School. At his personal expense, he provides all the 900
\npupils in the school with free and qualitative education. He furnishes
\nthem with uniforms, footwear, game wears, textbooks, and writing
\nmaterials. He employed about ten additional graduate teachers to augment
\nthe teaching staff in the school. He furnished the classrooms, and
\nequipped the computer lab with 40 computers. Thus, he turned this once
\nramshackle public primary into a state-of-the-art model primary school.
\nIn addition, he assists in the running of five other primary schools in
\nIsuofia. He pays the salaries of about twenty five Parent Teachers\u2019
\nAssociation (PTA) teachers in the five schools. Every year, he pays the
\nfees for Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Senior School
\nCertificate Examination (SSCE) for hundreds of secondary school
\nstudents, including all the students of the Holy Child Secondary School,
\nIsuofia.<\/p>\n
He has been assisting widows, and the other vulnerable and helpless in
\nhis hometown, with his interest free micro credits, to set up their own
\nbusinesses. For over fourteen years, he has operated a revolving
\ninterest-free micro financing for Umuada, and the women organizations in
\nIsuofia church parishes, amounting to tens of millions of naira. He has
\nalso built houses for the poor and elderly. Fascinatingly, he has
\npainstakingly shielded his philanthropy from the limelight. To him, they
\nare his own way of being grateful to God for His blessings, for which he
\nexpects no thanks and no praise.<\/p>\n
So, underpinning the pomp and pageantry, and glitz and glitter of, and
\nthe rich, powerful and famous that graced, his conferment with the tile
\nDike-UdoIsuofia, was its import. The king and the people were bestowing
\nan accolade to their illustrious son that has made them very proud with
\nhis achievements and renown, and labored diligently and unremittingly in
\nthe service his community and uplift of his people. In the words of the
\nking, Igwe of Isuofia, \u201cLove Soludo or hate him, you cannot but
\nacknowledge his gigantic footprints in uplifting others\u201d.<\/p>\n
As we cast our vote for a new governor on November 6th 2021, we must
\nrecognize that power is morally neutral. Depending on who wields it,
\ngubernatorial power in Anambra State can be deployed as a ruthless enemy
\nof the people or employed as a selfless servant of the people. We must
\ntherefore meticulously scrutinize the gubernatorial candidates: pore
\nthrough their education, credibility, commitment to the collective good
\nand demonstrated capacity and capability in prior public service. We
\nmust reject the ignorant, charlatans, and con artists. We must also
\nreject those out to mortgage truth, principles and social justice to
\nselfish and cliquish interests.<\/p>\n
We should vote for ChukwumaSoludo. He is a man seasoned to high purpose
\nand noble temperament by education, training and experience. He is a
\nproven, distinguished public servant. He is a quintessential leader:
\nhonorable, visionary, and courageous.<\/p>\n
Tochukwu Ezukanma, an indigene of Ikenga, Ogidi, Anambra State, writes
\nfrom Lagos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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