Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday commended Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, for his contributions to national development, describing him as a public intellectual whose ideas and interventions have strengthened Nigeria’s political and economic discourse.

Shettima made the remarks in Awka while representing President Bola Tinubu at the inauguration and swearing-in of Soludo and his deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, for a second term in office.

According to the Vice President, Soludo has distinguished himself as a leader whose insights and practical commentaries on national issues have enriched governance and fostered collaboration across political divides.

He said the people of Anambra, by returning the governor to office, had effectively renewed “a covenant with competence and consolidation.”

Shettima described the former Central Bank governor as “a man of ideas and honour” who assumed office at a time when political discourse was increasingly marked by division, yet chose the path of constructive engagement and national unity.

“The policies of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, have benefited from the candour, specialist insight and patriotic counsel of this distinguished economist, this restless thinker, this public intellectual of uncommon range, both in open fora and in private conversations,” he said.

“That is what it means to be in the business of nation-building. It means placing the welfare of the federation above the vanity of partisan fences and understanding that Nigeria is too precious a vessel to be abandoned to the storms simply because the rowers wear different colours.”

The Vice President noted that Soludo’s convictions go beyond intellectual debate, saying the governor exemplifies a leadership style capable of bridging divisions.

“Professor Soludo reminds us that leadership can unify without shouting, persuade without humiliating, and stand firm without surrendering its soul, especially in a season of needless divisions,” Shettima stated.

“It is therefore no surprise that his people have welcomed him again and entrusted him with another term to guide this great state into safer and more prosperous waters. The people of Anambra are today renewing not just a mandate, but a covenant with competence.”

He added that the re-election of Dr Ibezim alongside Soludo also reflected the importance of teamwork in governance.

“Leadership is not only about the brilliance of the man at the top, but also about the steadiness, loyalty and discipline of those who help translate vision into order, and order into progress,” he said.

Highlighting lessons from Soludo’s leadership, the Vice President said political differences should not be grounds for hostility but opportunities for constructive partnership.

He observed that Soludo had shown it was possible to rise above what he described as “the dangerous shenanigans that so often pass for politics” and remain committed to the higher ideals of public service.

Shettima also noted that the governor’s frequent interventions on economic and political matters have become a defining feature of Nigeria’s public discourse.

“Whether on the economy or on politics, his commentaries have become such permanent tenants in the media space that once the Professor clears his throat, half the country reaches for a pen and the other half braces for impact,” he remarked.

The Vice President further said Soludo’s maturity and sense of purpose had helped sustain a cordial and productive relationship between Anambra State and the Federal Government.

According to him, the collaboration has provided the stability required for reforms and governance initiatives in the state.

“Under Professor Soludo’s watch, deliberate efforts have been made to restore order to public life, strengthen security and confront the criminality that had cast a shadow over parts of the state,” he said.

Shettima expressed confidence that Soludo’s second term would focus on consolidating the gains already recorded and building on the foundations laid during his first tenure.

He also assured that the Federal Government would continue to partner with states committed to policies that improve citizens’ welfare.

“The Federal Government remains committed to partnering with states led by men and women who understand that the ultimate meaning of power is the improvement of human life,” he added.

In his inaugural address, Soludo pledged to deepen reforms and accelerate development across critical sectors of the state’s economy.

The governor said his administration would build on the progress recorded in health, education, agriculture, finance and other sectors during his first tenure.

He expressed gratitude to the people of Anambra for the overwhelming mandate given to him in last year’s governorship election.

“The unprecedented 73 per cent of the votes you cast in our favour was more than ordinary votes. It was an affirmation of love, patriotism and partnership in rebuilding our homeland. We will never take your historic support for granted,” he said.

Soludo also thanked President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, as well as their spouses, for their support.

“Progressives are working together,” he said, while appreciating members of the All Progressives Congress in the state for their cooperation.

He pledged to govern inclusively and work with all stakeholders “to build the Anambra of our dream.”

The governor further outlined an ambitious vision for the state, saying Anambra is on course to become “an African Dubai, Taiwan and Silicon Valley by 2030.”

Among dignitaries present at the ceremony were former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan; former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; former Anambra State Governor, Dr Chris Ngige; deputy governors from Delta, Kaduna, Enugu and Abia states; and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, among others.