Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has recalled his experience during his early years in politics, saying that he had to beg his wife, Nonye Soludo, and children before they permitted him to begin a political career.
Speaking on Sunday during an interdenominational service to mark the successful end of his first term in office in Awka, the governor said he had to make a solemn promise to his family members not to abandon the qualities that defined him.
“My wife doesn’t like politics, the kind of things that all politicians do. To convince her to let me go (was hard),” he said.
“Before we came on this journey, whenever politicians came to the house, she would just give you whatever you needed, leave you quietly, and go away.
“Well, I pleaded with them and made a solemn promise to her and my children that I will remain authentic, I will remain who they’ve always known, instead of disappointing, I will be ready to resign.
“So far, I am happy that you guys believe and are convinced that I have not disappointed you. I want to promise today that I won’t disappoint you,” he said.
The governor appreciated the people of Anambra State for the confidence reposed in his administration, promising to deliver the dividends of democracy to them.
Soludo promised not to disappoint them, recalling how they secured over 70 per cent of the votes in the last governorship poll.
He also said Anambra people donated for his campaign, although he did not specify the exact amount of money donated.
“The assessment was just done a few months ago, barely three years in office. It was you, Ndi’ Anambra, who began to say that Anambra was on the rise.
“It is you who, at the last governorship election, did something that has never been done in the history of this country, where the people organized rallies by themselves, went everywhere campaigning for the candidates, and also donated money.
“I don’t want to tell you the billions the communities donated. When the election came, the people returned us with a near unanimous vote, 73 per cent,” he added.
Soludo was appointed governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He was in office between 2004 and 2009.
The professor later went on to win the November 6, 2021, governorship election.
