Anambra 2021: Ubah Replies Soludo Over WAEC certificates

Ifeanyi Ubah,The Senator representing Anambra South in the National Assembly, has critized the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof Charles Soludo, over a comment made recently.

Information gathered has it that Soludo, during a rally in the state recently, stated that a WAEC certificate holder cannot govern the South-Eastern state of Anambra.

Ubah described the statement made by Soludo as slanderous, unruly, and uncalled for.

The governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the forthcoming governorship Anambra election stated that the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) lacks the moral right to make derogatory comments about other candidates.

Ubah said that anybody that wants to govern Anambra has the right to contest and should not be tongue-lashed because of a basic requirement by INEC.

The oil magnate revealed that he recently bagged a law degree from Baze University, Abuja, adding that it is unnecessary to flaunt his University Degree as it is not a prerequisite to contest for governorship.

According to the YPP governorship candidate, businessmen such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, have achieved major feats even without a degree certificate.

Ubah, however, challenged Soludo to present his manifesto within 14 days as well as a public debate seven days after the presentation.

The statement reads in parts: “In our quest to deepen our democracy which thrives on issue-based and constructive deliberations, I have watched with keen interest, the mudslinging and needlessly disruptive comment made by Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of the All-Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the effect that a WAEC Certificate holder cannot govern Anambra State.

To the glory of God, having recently graduated with a 2.2 LL.B Hons from the Prestigious Baze University, Abuja by dint of hard work, I do not consider it necessary or feel the obsessive compulsion to flaunt my University Degree as it is not a prerequisite to contest for governorship.

“Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, etc all rose to the apex of success without degrees. It is also worthy of note to let Soludo know that those money bags he is anticipating to bankroll his campaign in Anambra are also not degree holders.

“In the same vein, those that gave him employment both in the past and present are also not degree holders. I am speaking the mind of other aspirants because I believe that anybody that wants to govern Anambra has the right to contest and should not be tongue-lashed because of a basic requirement by INEC.

“The truth is that politics has evolved beyond uncouth aspersions and mudslinging. Having taken my time to carefully observe, study and analyze this statement, I have come to the conclusion that there is no justification in his statement as I personally believe that my formidable track record of achievements and wealth of experience as a private investor have earned me tremendous knowledge, skills and capacity to understand the multiple expectations of Anambrarians.

“Prof. Soludo’s statement is a game of misdirection which seeks to distract us from focusing on robust policy arguments and constructive debates that will resolve the palpable crises of governance in Anambra State.

” With the infrastructural decadence and what is happening in Anambra today, it is clear and evident that the state is in pain and in dire need of a leader that has a pragmatic and layman’s understanding of what governance is all about to redirect us to the path of sustainable and viable economic growth.

“I sincerely retain the belief that the era of “textbook grammatical grandstanding” and theoretical politics is over in Anambra. Our people now want a leader with practicable ideas and dynamism to move the state forward. Ideas that will proffer sustainable solutions to the socio-economic problems beclouding the state due to bad governance brought to the fore by the present government.

“In this regard, I am challenging Prof. Soludo to an open public manifesto debate with me. Let us put our manifestos out before the court of public opinion and adjudication so as to let the people decide their preferred candidate whose agenda resonates with the layman and electorate.”