*to use locally produced official vehicle
By; PAMELA EBOH, Awka
Anambra State Governor-elect, Prof Charles Soludo has expressed wishes that no kobo of Anambra people’s money will be spent on his swearing in ceremony slated for March 17, 2022.
He said there was no need for fanfare, noting that it was simply his first day at work, even though it is going to be a weekend.
Soludo said, “It is a wish, and I mean it. What are we spending money on? Just few people coming to the inauguration and witnessing it, then I will open office and get down to work immediately.
“I do not wish any event, dancers or players and all that. I just want to show up for work, like every first work day. Though it is going to be a Friday, which is weekend, but I’m going to work for over eight hours that day.
“No ceremony, no event, no party, nothing. Not even 10 Kobo will be spent. So the people who are saying N20million has been budgeted should go and tell us where they will get that money. It is going to be work, work, work, and that is what we epitomize.”
The former Central Bank Governor who made the statement when he visited members of the inauguration committee said that as a strategy to promote local brands, his official vehicle as the state governor will be a locally manufactured car by Innoson Vehicle Motors (IVM).
He said that his wearing of a loxal fabric known akwete was not coincident, but rather intentional to support local brands.
“My akwete dress is not just dress, it’s a statement. I want to make a statement with it. You know, in the entire South East, this is the only textile thing alive, and it’s handmade, by the women of akwaete in Abia State.
“Igbo land is one and we must protect it. We want to bring back the zeal of patronizing our own. I have said it even during campaigns, and I meant it, that if I win, the official car of the governor of Anambra State will be innoson vehicle.
“The dresses I will wear are those made in our place here. We must protect the things that are made in our place. Something is about to happen in Igboland, and together we will get there”, Soludo added.
On his swearing in, Mr Governor said there will be no ceremony to mark his swearing in, stressing that no Kobo would be spent on it.
He added, “The day is simply my first day at work, and even though it is a weekend, I will spend eight hours of the day working.”
