You are in competition with yourself, not others, Bishop Kukah tells Soludo

MADUAKO IGBOKWE I Monday, March 17, 2025

 

AWKA, Anambra – Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Hassan Matthew Kukah, has urged Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra to refrain from comparing or competing with others.

According to Kukah, Soludo should not view himself as being in competition with anyone in the state.

Bishop Kukah made this statement during the Thanksgiving Mass held to mark Prof. Soludo’s three years in office as governor at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral in Awka on Sunday.

Kukah further emphasized that governance is not about competition but about consolidation.

He noted that successive governors in Anambra have all contributed to the growth and development of the state in their unique ways and styles.

“I am happy that you are consolidating on the achievements and the greatness of your people and the past leaders of the state.

“Please, I urge you to compete with yourself. Don’t try to compete with anyone, and don’t aim to break other people’s records—strive to break your own.

“Anambra state is special because this is a state that has been growing and improving stage by stage. Former Governor Chris Ngige once said that his opponents were campaigning on the roads that he constructed. Former Governor Peter Obi came and elevated Anambra from twenty-second to first place in education. Former Governor Willie Obiano gave Anambra a wonderful airport, and today, Governor Charles Soludo has provided the state with a beautiful and befitting Government House and a Fun City.”

“All the achievements you’ve made so far in the past three years, without taking loans, are commendable. You didn’t take loans because you understand the consequences of doing so,”

“There are some governors who kept taking loans and will continue to do so. In my state of Kaduna, I don’t know how many years it will take us to pay back those loans,” he added.

In response, Governor Charles Soludo acknowledged that he is not in competition with anyone.

However, he emphasized the need for improvement given today’s challenges.

“My Lord Bishop, we are not in competition with anyone. What we are doing is to improve on what the past governors have done, not to compete with them.

“I remember people asked me to build roads to the ‘Ngige standard.’ I always joke with Ngige about it, telling him that mine will have a better stone base. We must not forget my predecessor, the late Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, who built the Alex Ekwueme Square, Anambra State University, and more. It’s not because schools were closed that we now say he did nothing,” he added.