Governance, Rule of Law and Value System

While roads and bridges are the “hardware,” this pillar deals with the mindset, laws, and institutions required to make the state function efficiently.

The overarching vision is to transition Anambra from a society of “big men” and impunity to a society of institutions and order.

1. Governance: “Disruptive Change”

Soludo’s governance style is characterized by a “business-unusual” approach, prioritizing data, meritocracy, and fiscal prudence over political patronage.

• Merit-Based Civil Service:

  • The administration broke the age-old “quota system” and “political appointment” culture in the civil service.

  • Reform: Recruitment of teachers and health workers is done strictly via Computer-Based Tests (CBT).

  • Leadership: Permanent Secretaries are now appointed through rigorous written and oral interviews, a move that saw even non-indigenes appointed based on competence.

• Cutting the Cost of Governance:

  • Soludo is famous for running a lean government to free up funds for capital projects.

  • Action: Drastic reduction in the number of political aides compared to previous eras and a refusal to borrow for consumption/salaries.

• Data-Driven Government:

  • The state is actively digitizing its operations, from land registry to tax collection, to reduce loopholes and corruption. The “digital-first” approach aims to make government services accessible without the need to “know someone.”

2. Rule of Law: “Order from Chaos”

This section focuses on re-establishing the authority of the state and ensuring that the law, not “connections,” dictates outcomes.

• Institutional Frameworks:

  • Anambra State Homeland Security Law: This law provides the legal teeth for the security architecture, regulating vigilante groups and clearly defining the consequences for aiding criminals (e.g., seizing properties used for kidnapping).

  • Local Government Administration Law: A new legal framework designed to institutionalize the partnership between the State and Local Governments, ensuring transparency in joint projects and funding.

• Justice Sector Reform:

  • 30-Day Justice Target: A key goal of the agenda is to ensure that commercial disputes can be resolved within 30 days. This is critical for the “ease of doing business,” assuring investors that their contracts are enforceable.

  • Digitization of Justice: The Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary are undergoing automation (e-filing, case management systems) to decongest courts and speed up trial times.

• Ending Impunity:

  • The administration has taken a hard stance against “touts” (Agberos) and illegal revenue collectors, enforcing the rule that only authorized government channels can collect revenue.

3. Value System: “The Social Re-Orientation”

Perhaps the most ambitious part of the agenda is the attempt to change the psychology of the people. Soludo argues that a “livable homeland” requires livable behavior.

• Philosophy: Onye Aghana Nwanne Ya (Be your brother’s and sister’s keeper). This APGA motto is operationalized as a call for collective responsibility—the rich helping the poor, and communities protecting their own infrastructure.

• The Burial Law:

  • The administration is enforcing the Anambra Burial Law to curb the “extravagant funeral culture.”

  • Goal: To stop the pressure on the poor to borrow money for funerals and to redirect that wealth toward the living (education, health, and business).

• Combating “Get Rich Quick” Syndrome:

  • The Governor frequently speaks against the “idol worship of money” and the “unknown gunmen” culture that celebrates sudden, unexplained wealth.

  • Strategy: Promoting the “dignity of labor” through the 1 Youth 2 Skills program, showing that legitimate hard work pays better and is safer than crime or ritualism (oke-ite).