Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has taken a swipe at opponents of President Bola Tinubu, questioning their chances of defeating the president in the 2027 general elections and urging voters in the state to support his re-election bid.
Soludo warned that voting against Tinubu could have consequences for Anambra’s development, particularly the state’s ability to secure Federal Government support for major road infrastructure and erosion control projects.
The governor made the remarks while addressing supporters in Igbo, arguing that Anambra needed a strong working relationship with the Federal Government to tackle challenges beyond the state’s financial capacity.
“If we fail to vote for President Tinubu, there will be consequences for failure,” Soludo warned.
He specifically pointed to the erosion menace in Anambra, insisting that the scale of the environmental crisis required federal intervention.
“The erosion happening in Anambra is beyond the state’s capacity. It requires federal intervention, and that is why we need to vote for Tinubu,” he said.
The governor also questioned the position of voters who intend to support opposition candidates despite believing that their preferred candidates may lose the election.
According to him, such an approach could undermine the state’s efforts to secure federal assistance for critical development projects.
“Some people are saying, ‘We know that we will fail but let’s vote and fail’. If we fail, there are consequences for failure,” Soludo said.
Soludo Mocks Opposition With ‘Strong Man’ Analogy
Taking a direct swipe at those seeking to defeat Tinubu, the governor used the analogy of a strong man and his cutlass to argue that challenging the president would be more difficult now that he occupies the presidency.
“Dike, ‘Tinubu’ whom you couldn’t take power away from when he was not yet president, how do you think he will look at you now that he is the president and you take power away from him?” he asked.
He further illustrated his argument by questioning how anyone who could not disarm a strong man lying on the ground could do so when the man was standing.
“You couldn’t snatch a cutlass from a strong man when he was on the ground, is it when he is standing up?” Soludo said.
The governor also addressed Igbo voters who, according to him, were advocating support for opposition candidates despite the possibility of electoral defeat.
“Igbos, a fool does not know when a plan was made. ‘Let’s fail, let’s fail’, we can’t fail with you because there are consequences if we fail,” he said.
Soludo maintained that electoral decisions should not be driven solely by emotions, arguing that the outcome of the presidential election could affect the state’s ability to pursue its infrastructure priorities.
“Failure has consequences. You will lose something. There is no prize for second or third positions. If you fail, you have failed,” he added.
Soludo Cites Proposed Federal Superhighway
To support his argument for backing Tinubu, Soludo highlighted proposed federal road projects that he said would improve connectivity across parts of Anambra and neighbouring communities.
One of the projects he mentioned was a proposed dual-carriageway superhighway linking Oba to Nnewi, passing through Nnewi South and Ugah before extending to Aro Ndizogu and Ibugbe Junction in Okigwe.
According to the governor, the project would be handled by the Federal Government because of its scale and cost.
“Look at the road from Oba to Nnewi, through Nnewi South to Ugah, then to Aro Ndizogu to Ibugbe Junction in Okigwe. It is going to be designed to be a dual carriage superhighway. It is the federal government that will do it. The state government cannot do it,” he said.
Soludo disclosed that the project was at the design stage, adding that another proposed road linking Anambra East to Abaji was also being designed and discussed.
“It is already in design now. The one that will connect from Anambra East to Abaji is being designed and there is discussion about it,” he said.
He attributed progress on the proposed projects to engagements with the Federal Government, adding that Tinubu had approved the initiative.
The governor warned that voters who rejected the president could later face difficulties seeking federal assistance for projects they wanted implemented in the state.
He argued that it would be contradictory for voters to oppose Tinubu at the polls and subsequently return to his administration to demand the completion of federal infrastructure projects.
Soludo Maintains Alliance With Tinubu
Soludo belongs to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), a party separate from Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the Anambra governor has publicly expressed support for Tinubu and maintained an alliance with the president despite their different party affiliations.
His latest remarks underscore his position that cooperation between the Anambra State Government and the Federal Government is necessary to address the state’s infrastructure and environmental challenges.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, Soludo has urged voters to consider the implications of their choices, particularly regarding federal intervention in erosion control and road construction.
The governor’s appeal places infrastructure development at the centre of his argument for supporting Tinubu’s re-election bid, while his comments about the opposition have added a sharper political dimension to the debate over the next presidential election.
