Anambra guber poll: Will APGA’s romance with bankers gel?

All eyes are now on Anambra State for the governorship election holding on November 6. By the pattern of selection process already established since the beginning of the tenure of the last two successive administrations, the state has gone a notch higher than others in terms of quality of its leadership.

Either by deliberate design or accident, governorship seat in Anambra State is technically becoming an exclusive preserve of financial juggernauts. It is the only state that has elected two successive bankers as governors in a roll. Political observers are watching if the same feat would be repeated in this coming election with the candidature of Prof. Charles Soludo as the flag bearer of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The trend began in the state when Peter Obi was elected the governor on the platform of APGA. Obi was a major shareholder of Fidelity Bank Plc. before he took a plunge into politics emerging as the governor. The prolonged litigation battle that trailed his election is already a familiar story. In the final analysis, the Supreme Court on June 14, 2007 finally affirmed his victory. He was subsequently re-elected for his second term on February 7, 2010 and handed over to Willie Obiano on March 17, 2014.

In his eight-year tenure, he laid a new standard of governance through his prudent management of the state’s resources. Yet, he left an indelible mark in terms of infrastructure and human capital developments. Perhaps, in a bid to consolidate on his achievements, Obi propped up Obiano as his successor.

Before joining the governorship race, Obiano, like his predecessor, had had a successful banking career culminating in his appointment as the Executive Director, Fidelity Bank Plc. Having won the governorship ticket of APGA, Obi vigorously campaigned for Obiano and saw to it that he ultimately emerged the winner in the November 16, 2013 governorship poll.

However, following the ensuing crisis of confidence between him and his successor, Obi dumped the APGA for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he contested as the running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 presidential elections.

Soludo is now cynosure of all eyes, as many are looking forward to him as the successor of Obiano. After much ado, he emerged as the winner of the governorship primaries of APGA. As already known, Soludo had served as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) between May 29, 2004 and May 29, 2009.

Among other intimidating credentials, he had also been a visiting scholar at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Consultant for international organizations like World Bank, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and United Nations Development Programme. He was also one-time Chief Economic Adviser to former President Obasanjo and Chief Executive of the National Planning Commission of Nigeria and member of the Economic Advisory Council (EAC).

In pursuit of his political career following his exit from the CBN, Soludo had contested for the 2010 governorship poll on the platform of the PDP but lost to the then incumbent Governor Obi. He later dumped the PDP in 2013 to pitch tent with APGA and since then he has remained a notable figure in Anambra politics.

He is expected to face Senator Andy Uba of APC, Valentine Ozigbo of PDP and other candidates in the November 6 poll.

If the forthcoming poll goes in favour of APGA, Soludo will definitely join the league of ex-bankers steering the ship of Anambra State. But will the romance gel this time around? That is one big question on the lips of many political watchers.