Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for rescuing Nigeria’s economy from the brink of collapse and placing public finances on a path to recovery.
Speaking at The Platform Nigeria event on June 12, hosted by Pastor Poju Oyemade and The Covenant Nation, Soludo credited Tinubu’s “audacious structural reforms” for stabilising macroeconomic fundamentals and restoring financial solvency.
“The audacious structural reforms embarked upon by the current administration of HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu have rescued the economy from the tipping point,” Soludo said. “Public finance is back on a solvency path, and macro fundamentals are recovering positively.”
Referencing endorsements by the World Bank, IMF, and rating agencies like Fitch and Moody’s, Soludo, a former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, described the commendations as well-deserved. He noted his own history of scepticism toward international financial institutions but acknowledged their current alignment with Nigeria’s reform trajectory.
He cautioned critics to adopt a more evidence-based and solution-oriented approach, rather than offering “interesting opinions” without rigorous alternatives. “The task is always easy, especially if you are not the one doing it,” he added.
Beyond the economic sphere, Soludo emphasised the urgent need for a nationwide ethical and ideological renaissance, warning that Nigeria’s continued development depends not just on reforms, but also on values, patriotism, and citizen responsibility.
“We must deliberately create a critical mass of ‘new Nigerians’—who believe in her and are ready, if necessary, to die for her,” he said. “No nation has prospered sustainably without a critical mass of patriotic, vigilant and actively participatory citizenry.”
Soludo condemned the rise of a culture that glorifies unearned wealth and undermines values of hard work, integrity, and enterprise. He argued that this mindset fuels transactional governance and hinders transformational leadership.
To address this, the governor proposed a nationwide values reorientation campaign and strategic investments in citizens, particularly youth. He cited initiatives such as the federal government’s NELFUND student loan scheme and Anambra’s “One Youth, Two Skills” programme as steps toward building a generation of responsible stakeholders.
“The shortest answer is to give the citizens stakes in the society by investing in their future,” he stated.
Calling for national unity around progressive values and ideological clarity in politics, Soludo urged political parties to reorganise along ideological lines. He described this as a necessary first step toward fostering issue-based, transformational governance.
“We must break this vicious ‘culture’ and intentionally promote ethical-value rebirth,” he concluded. “This is a national emergency requiring urgent national conversation.”