As Prof Charles Soludo nears the end of his first term as the Governor of Anambra State, I wish to spotlight International Breweries PLC, which was attracted by Mr Peter Obi and started operations in 2012. Bear in mind that Mr Peter Obi left office in 2014. He is not the direct predecessor of Prof Soludo.
Recent data shared by the Anambra state internal revenue service shows that International Breweries PLC is the sixth highest paying tax entity in the state. This calls for sober reflection from everyone on Governor Soludo’s economic team. An investment made almost 13 years ago is so successful that only banks are ahead of it in paying tax to the state.
The entire economic team of Governor Soludo as a matter of urgency, need to come down from the ‘jangilover’ at Solution Fun City and rush to Onitsha to ask Mr Peter Obi how he was able to attract such investment.
I want Prof Soludo to succeed and this is why he needs to attract multiple companies that will challenge SABMiller in providing employment to the increasing number of unemployed people in the state, increase supply chain for wholesalers to make more money and sustain the collective economic growth outside hotels and short time along club road Awka.
I respect Prof Soludo as an accomplished academician and I understand those around him need to make a living by attacking his most successful predecessor who left office 11 years ago. But there is a limit to tomfoolery. They need to read the room and stop misconstruing economic data to score cheap political points.
13 years after Prof Soludo leaves office, will a company attracted during his term in office be among the highest tax payers? Or will billions of naira be budgeted to upgrade the ‘jangilover’at Solution Fun City?