{"id":91578,"date":"2022-02-07T04:14:11","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T03:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=91578"},"modified":"2022-02-07T04:14:11","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T03:14:11","slug":"soludo-the-philosopher-king-sets-the-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/articles-opinions\/soludo-the-philosopher-king-sets-the-stage\/","title":{"rendered":"Soludo: the philosopher king sets the stage"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
By Tochukwu Ezukanma<\/div>\n
\n
\nThe ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, believed that statecraft should be
\nentrusted to the best and most enlightened men in society. He called
\nthem \u201cphilosopher-kings\u201d. To him, it is only leadership by these
\n\u201cextremely erudite, exceptionally intelligent, and brilliantly
\nimaginative\u201d that can bring about a better – just, moral, ethical,
\nprosperous and law abiding – society.<\/p>\n

The governor-elect in Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, is an archetype of
\nPlato\u2019s philosopher-king. From every indication, this \u201cextremely
\nerudite, exceptionally intelligent, and brilliantly imaginative\u201d man
\nis poised to transform Anambra State. Even before his inauguration into
\noffice, he is striking chords that are inspiring respect, trust and
\nadmiration among Nigerians.<\/p>\n

To reduce waste in governance, he rejected the fanfare and profligacy
\nthat are the hallmarks of swearing-in ceremonies in Nigeria. \u201cThere
\nwill be no fanfare, no ceremony, no event, no party, nothing\u201d, he
\nsaid. \u201cNot even 10kobo will be spent; no kobo would be taken from the
\nAnambra State purse for the ceremony\u201d. This is unparalleled in
\nNigeria. It is a novelty; it defies all conventions.<\/p>\n

Usually, an elaborate swearing-in ceremony provides the incoming
\ngovernor a forum to strut to the accolades of praise-singers and
\nvariegated sycophants, and cheers and applause of admirers. The
\nelaborately extravagant fanfare is studded with traditional rulers,
\npoliticians, political cronies, party goons, etc. and replete with
\nmusic, drinking, dining, dancing and other forms of merry-making. Sadly,
\nthese hedonistic, profligate flourishes do not, in any way, relieve the
\neconomic plight of the masses. Actually, the waste and misappropriation
\nof public funds that attend them feed on the economic misery of the
\npeople. Many Nigerians are profoundly impressed by Soludo\u2019s rejection
\nof the gratuitous and lavish hoopla that would have attended the
\ngubernatorial swearing-in ceremony in Anambra State.<\/p>\n

In another departure from tradition, the governor-elect insists that
\nimmediately after his swearing in, he will head to work. He said, \u201cI
\nwill show up for work, like every first work day. I am going to work for
\nover eight hours that day. It is going to be work, work, work, and that
\nis what we epitomize.\u201d Ordinarily, it is a day for lounging around,
\ningratiating, bantering, and back-slapping by the political class.
\nLeaving out all this and heading directly to work is a cachet of a
\nnonconformist; and a powerful testament to the governor-elect\u2019s
\nhard-nosed work ethic.<\/p>\n

The Igbo are resourceful, hardworking and innovative. Inherent in these
\ncultural skills are our ingenuity and creativity. Not surprisingly, the
\nIgbo are spearheading the Nigerian industrial revolution. Across the
\nSoutheast and all over Nigeria, we are at work, manufacturing shoes,
\nfabricating machines, etc. These products are functional, and meet
\nglobal standards in efficiency and finesse. The hub of these remarkable,
\ngigantic and marvelous endeavors is Nnewi, and its apogee is auto
\nmanufacturing. The automobile is one of the most important inventions in
\nhuman history, and one of the most important concomitants of modern
\nlife. The manufacturing, sales and purchase of automobiles are the
\nmainstay of the economies of many industrialized and wealthy countries
\nof the world.<\/p>\n

Soludo\u2019s choice of the Nnewi-manufactured Innoson automobiles as his
\nofficial vehicle conforms to his campaign promise to support
\nNigerian-made products and the manufacturing sector. As he recently
\nstated, \u201cIgbo land is one and we must protect it. We want to bring
\nback the zeal for patronizing our own.\u00a0 The official cars of the
\ngovernor of Anambara State will be Innoson motors\u201d. This is splendid;
\nit makes enormous economic sense. The hundreds of millions of naira
\nhitherto paid for the purchase of foreign vehicles, for state government
\nofficials, will henceforth be paid to our homegrown automobile industry.
\nIts economic significance and its spin-off and spillover effects will be
\nmomentous.<\/p>\n

In TV footage and pictures, Soludo sports Akwaete-material outfits.
\nThese outfits are not just reflective of his sartorial preference; they
\nare intended to make compelling economic statements.\u00a0 As he pointed out,
\n\u201cMy Akwete dress is not just a dress, it is a statement. I want to
\nmake a statement with it. In the entire South-East this is the only
\ntextile that is alive. It is handmade by women of Akwaete in Abia State.
\nWe must protect the things that are made in our place\u201d.<\/p>\n

Evidently, Anambra State, the Light of the Nation, is again blazing the
\ntrail. It elected an erudite, accomplished, and acclaimed public servant
\n– a philosopher king – as its governor. And true to Plato\u2019s postulate
\nthat the best and brightest minds make the best leaders, Soludo is
\nsetting the stage to transform Anambra State into a much more livable
\nand prosperous state. This, he has summed up as, \u201cSomething is about
\nto happen in Igbo land, and together we will get there.<\/p>\n

Tochukwu Ezukanma, an indigene of Ikenga Ogidi, writes from Lagos,
\nNigeria.<\/p>\n

maciln18@yahoo.com<\/a>
\n0803 529 2908<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Tochukwu Ezukanma The ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, believed that statecraft should be entrusted to the best and most enlightened men in society. He called them \u201cphilosopher-kings\u201d. 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