Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Kashim Shettima, among others dignitaries, on Tuesday, attended the second term inauguration of Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State. 

Vice President  Shettima applauded  Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State for his contributions to nation building. The Vice President  said Soludo has helped in fostering unity, and strengthening Nigeria's political, economic, and social institutions with his practical commentaries on the state of the nation.

He described Soludo as a man of ideas and honour who, despite coming into office at a time many politicians had started mortgaging integrity for relevance, and sowing seeds of discord, has remained committed to national growth and development.

Shettima, stated this on Tuesday while representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration and swearing-in of Governor Soludo and his deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, for a second term in Awka, noted that the President's policies have benefited immensely from Soludo's constructive advice.

Observing that Prof. Soludo's convictions transcends seminar halls, Shettima said the Anambra Governor is "a reminder that leadership can unify without shouting, persuade without humiliating, and stand firm without surrendering its soul," especially in a season of needless divisions. 


The Vice President identified some of the lessons learnt from Prof. Soludo,  including "that differences in political parties need not be invitations to hostility" but opportunities for collaboration. 

On the Governor's "practical commentaries on the state of the nation," VP Shettima noted that whether on the economy or political matters, they "have become such permanent tenants in the media space that, once the Professor clears his throat, half the country reaches for a pen and the other half braces for impact."

He pointed out that Prof. Soludo's maturity of purpose has nurtured a "cordial and productive relationship between Anambra State and the Federal Government." 

He said the outcome had been a stability of engagement that has allowed the Governor "to demonstrate that he came not to be consumed by the old habits of power, but to prove that genuine change is possible in a land where many others only gamed the language of change."

In his inauguration speech, Governor Soludo expressed determination to serve the state with all seriousness, promising that his team will build on the achievements made in his first tenure, with transformation and development as the main agenda. 

He said Anambra State has witnessed a lot of progress in the health, education, financial, agricultural and many other sectors under his leadership, just as he thanked the people of the state for their overwhelming support during the gubernatorial election last year. 

The Governor thanked President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima as well as their wives for their support.

Dignitaries who attended the inauguration include former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan; former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chris Ngige; Deputy Governors of Delta, Kaduna, Enugu and Abia States, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, among others.