BY SUNNY DAVID
Anambra State Governor-Elect, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has said that as a strategy to promote local brands, his official vehicle as Governor of Anambra State will be a locally manufactured one by Innoson Vehicle Motors (IVM).
The Governor-Elect who visited members of the inauguration committee stated this during his speech to the members.
He also said it was not a coincidence that he has been wearing local fabrics known as Akwete, saying that it was intentional to support local brands, with the intention to make a statement with it.
Prof. Soludo said: “My akwete dress is not just dress, it’s a statement. I want to make a statement with it. You know, in the entire South East, this is the only textile thing alive, and it’s handmade, by the women of akwaete in Abia State.
“Igbo land is one and we must protect it. We want to bring back the zeal of patronizing our own. I have said it even during campaigns, and I meant it, that if I win, the official car of the Governor of Anambra State will be Innoson Vehicle.
“The dresses I will wear are those made in our place here. We must protect the things that are made in our place.
“Something is about to happen in Igboland, and together we will get there.”
On his swearing in, Prof. Soludo said there will be no ceremony to mark his swearing in, just as not a Kobo would be spent on it and said the day was simply his first day at work, and even though it is a weekend, he would spend eight hours of the day working.
“I have made a wish that not even one Kobo of Anambra People’s money will be spent on that swearing in ceremony. It is a wish, and I mean it. What are we spending money on? Just few people coming to the inauguration and witnessing it, then I will open office and get down to work immediately.
“I do not wish any event, dancers or players and all that. I just want to show up for work, like every first work day. Though it is going to be a Friday, which is weekend, but I’m going to work for over eight hours that day.
“No ceremony, no event, no party, nothing. Not even 10 Kobo will be spent. So the people who are saying N20million has been budgeted should go and tell us where they will get that money. It is going to be work, work, work, and that is what we epitomize.”
