A former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Anambra State, Valentine Ozigbo, has criticised Governor Charles Soludo following President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the state to commission several projects.
In a strongly worded statement posted via his X handle, Ozigbo dismissed the commissioned projects as superficial, arguing that the governor’s performance in the past three years has been marked by inaction and political theatrics rather than meaningful governance.
“Governance is not a film trick. Governance is not about cutting ribbons on facades while the foundation rots,” he stated.
Ozigbo claimed that Soludo has not achieved any significant milestones since assuming office, pointing to the absence of public housing projects, meaningful economic investment, and structural reforms. He also accused the governor of failing to address core issues such as rising living costs, housing challenges in Awka, deteriorating infrastructure in local governments, and escalating insecurity.
“In over three years in office, Governor Soludo has delivered zero public housing, zero real investment inflow, and zero structural transformation of our economy,” Ozigbo wrote. “Instead of addressing the escalating cost of living, the housing crisis in Awka, the crumbling infrastructure across LGAs, or the deepening insecurity that has made daily life a gamble, the Governor has chosen to showcase an amusement park. This facility should rightly have been left to private investors in a healthy economic climate.”
He noted that the newly launched amusement park, one of the projects commissioned during Tinubu’s visit, fails to meet the urgent needs of the people.
“Just to be clear, most civil servants in Awka — the same people whose taxes fund this carnival — cannot afford to live in the city. A two-bedroom flat goes for ₦1.3 million a year. Transportation is unreliable. Social services are patchy. And public trust in the APGA-led government is rapidly eroding.”
Ozigbo further alleged that Governor Soludo exhibited “political cowardice” by reportedly instructing members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance to avoid wearing party-branded clothing during the President’s visit, purportedly out of fear that it might tarnish the party’s image.
“If Governor Soludo had taken insecurity seriously from the start of his tenure, if he had matched his rhetoric with decisive action, there would be no need for state-funded distractions like a ‘funpark’ to ease public frustration.”
He added, “We don’t need distractions — we need direction. What critical social problem does this park solve? Hunger? Unemployment? Fear?”
“And now, in an act of political cowardice, he has reportedly ordered APGA members not to wear party-branded clothing to today’s event, fearing it may stain the party’s image before the President and the public. What a betrayal. If your policies are strong and your house is in order, why hide your colours?”
Closing his statement, Ozigbo declared: “Dear Gov. Soludo, let me say this, directly and without apology: Bringing the President to commission a handful of overhyped projects does not mask your failure. It doesn’t put food on the table. It doesn’t create jobs. And it certainly doesn’t fool Ndi Anambra.”
