By Christian ABURIME
If charity, as they say, begins at home, then accountability as a governance virtue must also be shown first at home before being trumpeted to the world.
Since last month, when his administration clocked three years, the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has been regaling Ndi Anambra with reports of his scintillating performance.
From Awka to Lagos and Abuja, the tireless governor has been reporting and giving transparent accounts to the good people of Anambra State, whom he has always respectfully referred to as his employers
In a continuation of his transparent, accountable governance, Governor Soludo has now taken his administration’s progress report directly to Anambra citizens abroad. The Easter Monday town hall meeting in London marks the culmination of a strategic Diaspora engagement tour that has already impressed audiences in Lagos and Abuja.
What makes this approach remarkable is not just the governor’s willingness to face his constituents directly but his emphasis on fiscal responsibility. Just as he told the London audience, at a time when many Nigerian states are drowning in debt, Governor Soludo proudly highlighted his administration’s achievements without resorting to potentially crippling World Bank loans. This prudent financial stewardship deserves attention, especially as some governments struggle with mounting repayment obligations.
The London gathering also represents more than a mere political exercise. It was spontaneously interactive. Critical questions were asked, and satisfactory answers were given. By actively courting Diaspora participation, Governor Soludo taps into a powerful resource: the intellectual and financial capital of Anambra citizens abroad. These professionals and business leaders possess networks, expertise, and investment capacity that could accelerate development back home, and the governor beckoned them to think home.
By and large, the governor’s methodical outreaches, from state capital Awka to economic hub Lagos to political centre Abuja and now to international Diaspora, demonstrates strategic thinking about stakeholder engagement. By framing development as collective ownership rather than government largesse, Governor Soludo challenges the traditional patron-client relationship that has hindered sustainable progress in many Nigerian states.
As Governor Soludo continues pursuing his Anambra smart megacity ambitions, this Diaspora dialogue and more such productive engagements may prove the critical difference between lofty plans and concrete achievements, going forward into his anticipated second term. For now, his model of accountability, fiscal discipline, and Diaspora partnership keeps Anambra rising on the wings of One State, One People, One Agenda.
