From Ifeoma Ejiofor Nnewi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in November 8, Anambra State governorship election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, has called the incumbent, Prof Charles Soludo Soludo out over what he called sorry state of State Library at Onitsha.
Prince Ukachukwu popularly called Ikukuoma said that the alarming condition of the Anambra State Regional Library in Onitsha is a clear indictment on the Soludo-led administration and a sad reflection of its neglect of the education sector.
He said, “It is deeply disappointing that a former university lecturer like Gov Charles Soludo would treat a vital educational platform such as the Onitsha Library with such a high level of disregard.
“This is a facility that should serve as a center of learning, research, and development, especially in a commercial hub like Onitsha, yet it has been allowed to deteriorate into near abandonment at a time we expected total upgrade and digitalization of the library.
“The state of the library is symbolic of a broader failure: a government that talks education but fails to act. A government that was expected to bring academic discipline and intellectual planning into governance but continues to contradict its professorial pedigree with poor decisions and misplaced priorities should not be allowed to sustain this clear sabotage to Ndi Anambra and her future.
“Despite the enormous resources that have flowed into the Soludo led Anambra State which is about N500 billion, there is nothing to show by way of meaningful investment in educational infrastructure, teacher training, digital learning, or library rehabilitation.
Ukachukwu who in his personal capacity invested heavily in building one of the best schools in Nigeria, stated how disappointed he is on Soludo’s policy on education sector of the state.
“The decay at the Onitsha Regional Library is not an isolated case, it is a manifestation of a systemic failure to prioritize learning, mass literacy, and youth development.
“While education was once the pride of Anambra, recent trends show a troubling decline, raising serious questions about the direction the current administration is leading our state.
“Once again, this reinforces our argument that Gov Soludo is performing far below expectations, and clearly lacks the capacity to apply sound principles of planning and prioritization in project development. Anambra deserves a leader who understands that investment in education is investment in the future,” he asserted .
Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu expressed his commitment to restoring the dignity of education in Anambra, revitalizing libraries, supporting the schools, and ensuring that every child from urban to rural has access to quality learning tools.
“Let it be known that under Ukachukwu administration, education will be a priority, no library will be left in ruins, and no sector will be neglected”he concluded.