Professor Chukwuma Soludo and his Deputy, Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim have officially been sworn in as the sixth democratically elected governor and Deputy Governor of Anambra State for a four-year tenure.
The new Governor and his Deputy were sworn in at a ceremony held at Government House Awka.
Professor Soludo and Dr. Ibezim accompanied by their wives took the oath of office administered by the Anambra State Chief Judge, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu.
The event was a very low-key one as requested by Professor Soludo as it was devoid of the usual fanfare that accompanies such an auspicious event.
After the official swearing-in, Governor Chukwuma Soludo inspected the guard of honour and consequently made his inaugural speech to the people of the State.
The new Governor thanked the people of the state for the privilege given to him and his Deputy, assuring that they would discharge their duty with utmost sincerity.
Professor Soludo used the occasion to pay respect to the gallant officers who lost their lives during a meeting with him in Isuofia in the course of electioneering, pledging to continue to support their families.
He described his predecessor as a great visionary leader who served the state meritoriously including the party and the good people of the state.
The Governor commended the federal government, the security agencies, INEC among others for exhibiting transparency in the conduct of the state governorship election last November which produced him.
While calling on warring parties to lay down their arms and partner the state government, Professor Soludo said that he won’t waste the state funds with fanfares.
He stressed that his administration would focus more on quality health care, education, power, provision of jobs for youths among others, maintaining that his administration would patronize only made in Anambra products.
He assured that he would conduct local government election, resuscitate the State Independent Electoral Commission as well as collaborate with the Ministry of Justice for better justice delivery.
Professor Soludo hinted that the list of his commissioner nominees will be presented to the state House if Assembly for Consideration in the next one week whiles his principal officers would be announced without any delay.
Reporting by Uche Udeke, editing by Daniel Adejo.