Heavily invested smart political adventure to score cheap political goal went wrong during the visit of President Bola Tinubu to Anambra State. The situation took an unexpected disheartening turn when the President declined to endorse Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his second term bid by ignoring the request of prominent businessman Sir Emeka Offor, who was allegedly induced by Soludo led administration to use the public forum to gag and lure the President to publicly endorse Gov Soludo as he was making his speech but Mr president being a political guru vehemently ignored their call, because he saw promising future for his party APC in the state in the person of Prince Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu MFR, FNIPR (Ikukuoma), the APC governorship candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election. Chief Emeka Anyaoku who had earlier shown support for gov Soludo was visibly disappointed as the president refused to yield to their scheming.
The incident occurred during a ceremony on May 8, 2025, where Tinubu commissioned two projects including the Emeka Anyaoku Center and the new Government House in Awka. Sir Emeka Offor, a key supporter of Soludo and a philanthropist with deep ties to both state and federal leaders, had appealed to Mr President to make a statement endorsing Soludo for Governor in the November 8th poll, but was greeted with President Tinubu’s silence and stunning rebuff during his speech.
The event was meant to showcase Anambra’s development under Soludo’s leadership, with Offor playing a pivotal role in facilitating Tinubu’s visit. As Chairman of Chrome Group and founder of the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, Offor has invested heavily in Anambra, distributing 40,000 bags of rice and educational materials in 2024 alone. His presence alongside Tinubu and Soludo underscored his influence, and sources say he assured stakeholders that the President would praise Soludo’s ‘transformative’ projects. Instead, Tinubu’s speech focused on national progress, omitting any mention of Soludo’s achievements, a move that left Offor and many others visibly uncomfortable.
Tinubu’s refusal to endorse Soludo shocked attendees, given his prior praise for the governor as a “visionary leader.” “These projects are a testament to Nigeria’s potential,” Tinubu said, sidestepping Soludo’s role. The omission was particularly stinging for Offor, who has been lauded by Tinubu for his philanthropy, including during his 65th birthday in 2024. Witnesses described Offor’s demeanor as shifting from confident to strained as the President’s speech unfolded, with one source noting, “Sir Emeka looked like he’d been blindsided.”
Political analysts see the incident as a calculated move by Tinubu, possibly signaling caution to Soludo, a leading figure in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), ahead of the November 8, 2025 gubernatorial election. With the All Progressives Congress (APC) eyeing greater influence in the Southeast, Tinubu may be wary of boosting Soludo’s profile. Offor, known for bridging political divides, may have misjudged Tinubu’s intentions, assuming his clout would secure a federal nod for Soludo. The snub has sparked speculation that Tinubu is asserting control over regional allies, even at the cost of humbling a figure like Offor.
Soludo maintained his composure, thanking President Tinubu for attending while emphasizing Anambra’s progress. Behind the scenes, aides say the governor was disappointed, feeling his administration’s efforts were overlooked. Offor, meanwhile, has remained silent, with his foundation issuing a statement reaffirming its commitment to Anambra but avoiding the incident. Social media platforms like X are abuzz, with users divided—some view Tinubu’s restraint as strategic, others see it as a slight against Soludo and Offor. “Tinubu played hardball,” one post read, capturing the tension.
The fallout could reshape Anambra’s political landscape as the 2025 Governorship election looms. Soludo’s supporters are rallying, framing the incident as a call to double down on their agenda, while Offor faces the challenge of rebuilding his political leverage. Known for his resilience, Offor is likely to navigate this setback, but the episode underscores the fragility of alliances in Nigeria’s complex political arena. For now, the image of Offor’s discomfort and Tinubu’s pointed silence linger , a stark reminder that even the most powerful can be caught off guard.
Prince Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu (Ikukuoma) of the president’s APC party remains the man to beat in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra state.
