By Olayinka Owolabi
The camp of African Democratic Congress (ADC) flagbearer for the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State, John Chuma Nwosu, has berated Governor Chukwuma Soludo over what it described as “reckless and desperate name-calling.”
Speaking at a rally on Saturday in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area, organised by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Soludo had declared that “street urchins” would not be allowed to govern a state that produced the likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Akwueke Nwafor Orizu, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and Prof. Chinua Achebe, among others.
Reacting in a statement, the Nwosu Media Centre accused Soludo of panicking in the face of rising opposition, after mocking his political challengers, branding them “street urchins” and suggesting they needed psychiatric evaluation.
“Pass six is not passing sense,” the ADC team retorted, insisting the governor’s remarks showed he was “rattled by the reality that his time in office may be limited to a single term due to a disappointing performance.”
“Instead of insulting those offering Ndi Anambra a better alternative, the governor should explain why his campaign promises remain unfulfilled.”
Similarly, the Chairman of Action Alliance (AA) in the state, Sir Nobert Okoli, told our correspondent in Onitsha that the party’s candidate, Ozo Jeff Nweke, remained “the candidate to beat” in the coming poll. He described Soludo’s comments as a sign of fear over the opposition’s growing momentum.
“We see the empty boasts of the governor as a distraction. Ndi Anambra deserve the best, not derogatory comments from Soludo,” Okoli said.
He urged the governor to focus on pressing issues such as security and the economy.
“Soludo should tackle insecurity in Anambra and address the burden of multiple taxation. He has been imposing market leaders on traders. People are ready for a change in the coming election, so making such comments is just a distraction.”
For his part, Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate George Moghalu, in a statement issued on Sunday by his campaign organisation, condemned Soludo’s remarks and his suggestion that any candidate pledging to serve a single term “needs psychiatric examination.”
“Rather than address the real challenges facing Ndi Anambra, Governor Soludo has chosen to insult the sensibilities of the electorate in an apparent show of desperation,” Moghalu said.
He added that the governor’s tone betrayed panic and fear of accountability.
“A second term is earned through performance, not demanded as an entitlement.”
