*… urges him to declare for Anambra 2021 guber race
By Emma Ogbuehi
It was a moment of joy and reflection for former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Prof Chukwuma Soludo, who marked his 60th birthday on Tuesday, July 28, 2020. Though Soludo had opted for low-key outing in keeping with COVID-19 protocols, he was celebrated by groups and individuals across the world. One of the groups that celebrated the iconic banker in a schedule zoom meeting (session), was the Anambra Alliance, (AA), a social pressure group consisting of men and women from different fields of endeavours.
The session was moderated by Prof Collins Okafor who described the celebrant as a “gift to Nigeria, Ndi Anambra and the world”. He added that Soludo is a man who possesses some extra-ordinary qualities that clearly distinguish him as a unique personality.
In his opening prayer at the meeting, Ossy Onuko prayed for the good health and long life of the celebrant, asking God in His infinite mercies to continue to protect and guide him. He stressed that Nigeria and Ndi Anambra still need Soludo’s services and contributions to the growth of his fatherland and the uplift of mankind.
The chairman of the occasion, Simon Ukpaka described Soludo as an embodiment of ‘excellence and brilliance’, and a man of exceptional abilities, who the people of Anambra State urgently need now to continue from Governor Willie Obiano. He specifically called on Soludo to run for the Anambra 2021 gubernatorial election, assuring him of the support of Anambra Alliance and majority of Ndi Anambra.
Soludo who was online throughout the session expressed surprise at the outpouring of love, prayers and goodwill messages from the group. Obviously overwhelmed with the show of affection and love by the group, Soludo remarked that he never actually wanted to celebrate his birthday in view of the global situation of things, stressing that he was extremely grateful to the group for organising the zoom session to celebrate him globally.
Waxing philosophical and in a show of humility, the erudite Professor of economics, told his audience that he was not born with a ‘silver spoon’, adding that everything he has achieved or accomplished has been through dint of hard work, patience and perseverance
Soludo expressed deep gratitude to the group and all the well-wishers across the globe who hooked on to the zoom session, including those from the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Ethiopia, South Africa for their love, prayers and support, stressing that he remains eternally grateful to all
A stalwart of the Anambra Alliance group, Joe Anatune who gave the vote of thanks, appreciated all the well-wishers across the continents of the world for participating in the zoom session. He thanked Soludo for participating in the session despite his initial stance not to hold any celebration.
Anatune also wished the former CBN Governor a happy birthday celebration, re-echoing what the chairman of the occasion had earlier said, that he should run for the Anambra gubernatorial race come 2021.
Anatune further assured the celebrant that a vast majority of Ndi Anambra will give him all the necessary support in the race. Other prominent speakers in Nigeria and across the globe later took turns to wish Prof Soludo happy birthday celebration and more rewarding years ahead.
