The Oxford dictionary defines gratitude as ” the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”. Gratitude is one virtue the Igbo people do not joke with because it is believed that a favour done to one is a debt to be repaid in the future. This is why I believe that ndị Anambra will show gratitude to Soludo with their votes on November 6 because he secured their monies in the banks and gave them a future.
Ndigbo, especially ndị Anambra, have suffered a lot of as a people as a result of the failed bank syndrome that bedevilled our country years ago. There is no doubt that ndị Igbo are the commercial back bone of Nigeria. They control major commercial activities in all the States of the federation and operate accounts in almost all the major commercial banks.
Truly, there is no trading, business transaction or commercial activity in general that will take place without the banks playing one role or the other. It was therefore a problem for business people when banks suddenly fold up and cease operations.
Ndị Igbo are left to count their losses each time a bank folds up, taking down with it, billions of naira in local and foreign currencies of businessmen who spent years to build their financial capacities. In most cases some people go from wealth to instant poverty, some who are not strong enough to bear the shock pay the ultimate prize due to high blood pressure etc.
The situation seemed like a helpless one until the 29th of May 2004 when then President Olusegun Obasanjo named Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo as the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Instantly, Soludo rolled up his sleeves and went to work, knowing that the financial fate of Nigerians and ndi Igbo in particular have been placed, to a large extent, on his shoulders.
He vowed that ndi Igbo must stop losing their money in commercial banks and began to reform the banking system. His reforms, focused on “strengthening the financial systems through banking sector consolidation, foreign exchange market, interest rates restructuring and the pursuit of stabilization as against structural adjustment policies for monetary and inflationary controls”.
These reforms made weak banks to merge and become stronger. Now the Nigerian commercial banks have become bigger and financially stronger. They have gone on to grow beyond the shores of Nigeria to other African countries, Europe and America.
Ndị Anambra, Ndị Igbo and indeed all Nigerians can now keep their money in the banks and do other financial transactions with assurance and rest of mind. A grateful country and people have shown their gratitude to Soludo by honouring him with many titles and accolades including the third highest national honour, the Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR.
Ndị Anambra especially, will not forget him for saving their businesses and opening new frontiers and opportunities for them. It was at his time as CBN governor that majority of our people obtained licences to own and operate Bureau De Change, BDC, facilities.
Indeed ndị Anambra cannot forget the good deeds of Soludo because we are not an ungrateful people. It is only right to think that if we could trust him with repositioning the nation’s capital and financial sector, then we can trust him with Anambra State’s economy.
Traders, Artisans, market men and women, transporters, entrepreneurs and investors will show gratitude to Soludo by voting him and his running mate to serve Ndi-Anambra as Governor on the 6th of November 2021.
Ndị Anambra na ndị Nnewi-South LGA will be ready to show appreciation to Chukwuma Charles Soludo. They will thank him with their votes on Nov 6 maka na ego ha anaghi efuzi na Bank.
