Vice President Kashim Shettima has commended Chukwuma Soludo for his contributions to national development, stating that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has continued to benefit from the Anambra governor’s intellectual depth, policy insight, and patriotic counsel.
Shettima made the remarks on Tuesday in Awka during the swearing-in ceremony of Governor Soludo and his deputy, Onyeka Ibezim, for a second term in office.
Describing Soludo as a distinguished economist, an energetic thinker, and a public intellectual of uncommon influence, the Vice President said the Federal Government values his frank contributions to national conversations, both publicly and behind closed doors.
“The policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have benefited from the candor, specialist insights, and patriotic counsel of this distinguished economist—this restless thinker, this public intellectual of uncommon range, both in open forums and in private conversation,” Shettima said.
He added that true nation-building requires leaders to rise above party divisions and place national interest above political differences.
“Nigeria is too precious a vessel to be abandoned to the storm simply because the rowers wear different colours,” he stated.
Call for Greater Responsibility in Second Term
The Vice President urged Soludo, who governs under the banner of All Progressives Grand Alliance, to view his second term as an opportunity to deepen reforms and accelerate development across Anambra State.
According to Shettima, Soludo’s re-election reflects the confidence of the people, but also places greater responsibility on his shoulders to deliver more impactful governance.
“This ceremony is not only about continuity; it is about responsibility. The higher the trust, the heavier the burden,” he said.
He noted that while the celebrations would eventually end, the enduring duty of leadership remains service to the people—protecting the vulnerable, expanding opportunity, sustaining peace, and building a more just society.
FG Pledges Continued Partnership with States
Shettima also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to working closely with state governments to improve citizens’ welfare and strengthen national development.
Expressing confidence in Soludo’s second tenure, he described it as an opportunity not to begin afresh, but to consolidate on tested foundations.
“This second coming is not a return to reputation, but a return to consolidation—not a call to begin again, but an invitation to build higher on foundations already tested,” he said.
Dignitaries at the Ceremony
The inauguration ceremony attracted several prominent national figures, including former presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo, alongside other top political leaders and dignitaries from across the country.
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