“Whether they are voluntarily or involuntarily resigning or being sacked, there is something fundamentally wrong.” —Ebuka Onyekwelu
For at least the fourth time in three years, another Commissioner in Governor Soludo’s cabinet has taken a walk from the services of the Anambra State Government. Appointed at the inception of Soludo’s administration, Mr. Chikodiri Anara, who served as Special Adviser to former Governor, Willie Obiano, resigned or was dismissed from his appointment as Commissioner for Homeland Security. The Ministry of Homeland Security is new as it was introduced by Governor Soludo, upon assumption of office in 2022 and Chief Anara was appointed the pioneer commissioner of the ministry, where he served till his resignation this week.
Interestingly, before the assumption of office, Governor Soludo called for applicants and asked that those who wished to serve in his government should apply. He equally informed intending applicants that they would be tested and interviewed accordingly. Three years down the line, there are questions as to whether those employed were truly taken through the “rigorous processes” the governor had earlier assured they would be taken through by himself. More so, each of the former cabinet members of Governor Soludo’s government had left the government under some overt or covert controversy, amidst unanswered questions.
The first Commissioner to leave the services of the Anambra State Government under Governor Soludo was Dr. Obinna Ngonadi. Dr. Ngonadi who commenced his services to the government of Anambra State as Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, resigned from the cabinet only as Commissioner for Industry. There were controversies regarding interference from the governor’s relatives in some of the activities of the ministry. The heat from this alleged interference also coincided with a faceoff between Chief Cletus Ibeto, a former close ally of the governor, and the governor. Dr. Ngonadi is Chief Ibeto’s protégé and his appointment was influenced by Ibeto. At first, the Governor divided the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, and Industry into two. The Trade and Commerce components were moved to the Office of the Governor. Thereby striped the ministry of all trade and commerce functionalities and then appointed a Special Adviser from his Isuofia community, to oversee trade and commerce across the state. Just before Ngonadi’s exit, the Governor’s Press Secretary issued a statement announcing that the governor has nominated Mr. Christian Udechukwu also from Nnewi, as the new Commissioner for Industry. The statement did not say anything about Dr. Ngonadi.
The next Commissioner to walk away from Soludo’s cabinet was Mr. Ifeatu Onejeme. Mr. Onejeme is a seasoned banker and served in Willie Obiano’s cabinet for 8 years before he joined Governor Soludo’s cabinet. The controversy surrounding Onejeme’s resignation was so intense that the Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, who has now left, had to interview him to extract the fact that he willingly left the government. Ifeatu Onejeme is from Awka South LGA. When he left the government, the governor appointed Mr. Izuchukwu Okafor, from Isuofia his community, as the new Commissioner for Finance. Before then, he was an SSA to the governor.
Yet, the next on the list is Sir Paul Nwosu from Ogbaru LGA. Sir Paul Nwosu served as a Special Adviser to Governor Obiano. He was appointed as Commissioner for Information by Soludo from the beginning of his tenure. The most shocking thing about this particular case is that in the morning, while the news of his sack or resignation was still filtering in, the governor sent another nominee, Dr. Law Mefor, from Idemili North LGA, to the House of Assembly for confirmation. While it was still being rumored that Sir Paul Nwosu might have left or that he might have been sacked, he was already replaced! Dr. Mefor and the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Ifeanyi Okoma, are from the same LGA.
The fourth is the Commissioner for Homeland who has just left the services of the Anambra State Government and as usual, under controversial or perhaps suspicious circumstances.
Beyond these four, at least two top members of Soludo’s cabinet had left or been dismissed. The Chairman of Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Richard Madiebo, a senior and sort-after banker, left under unclear circumstances that are controversial. In his place, the governor appointed Dr. Greg Ezeilo, from his LGA of Aguata. Mr. Richard is from Awka, in Awka South LGA. Similarly, Chido Obidiegwu, the former MD of Anambra Broadcasting Service – ABS, also left the government services under controversial circumstances. The government announced that he was sacked in a statement by Christian Aburime, Soludo’s press secretary, and this, the government chose to do on his birthday of all days!
Whether they are resigning willingly or sacked by the governor, or asked to resign or be sacked, there is something fundamentally flawed with this Soludo’s model, especially when the governor had promised to interview and ascertain the suitability of all his appointees personally. Moreover, it is disturbing that the governor would take an appointment to his village or LGA in some of these instances, despite the controversies. This then looks like a carefully planned exit to make room for his preferred appointee from his place. When Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa left as Soludo’s Commissioner for Special Duties to become National Chairman of APGA, he was replaced by Hon. Beverly Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche from Onitsha South LGA. Although, Sly is from Aguata LGA which is Governor Soludo’s LGA, but politically, he represents Onitsha South LGA. Therefore, this concern counts. In the end, whether they were sacked or they resigned is immaterial given the controversy surrounding their exit.
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