Why Soludo Sacked Info Comm, Swears-in Mefor As Replacement

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

A few hours after Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo suddenly sacked his Commissioner for Information, he sworn-in a replacement, Dr. Lawrence Mefor.

In a move that did not quite come to insiders as a surprise, Soludo sacked Sir Ralph Nwosu as his Commissioner for Information. The Governor was in such a sudden hurry to sack him that even before Nwosu knew, the name of his replacement was already before the State House of Assembly for screening. And immediately after the screening, Mefor, an accomplished communicator, was sworn-in, and Nwosu left in the lurch.

Although no official announcement was made before Nwosu was shown the door, the news of his imminent sack was so thick Tuesday morning that a knife could cut through it.

It is still  not yet clear what led to the sudden development, but speculations are rife that Nwosu may have been sacked due to perceived shortcomings in his office.

Feelers are strong that Governor Soludo had been uncomfortable with the spate of bad press that have of recent trailed his administration.

The Source reports, that in the countdown to the September 28, 2024 Local Council Polls in the State, the opposition  literally seized the Media space in the State , a development which Governor Soludo blamed on the incompetence and lack of proactiveness on the part of the State Media Team headed by the estranged Commissioner for Information.

Apart from perceived professional incompetence, this Magazine gathered that Nwosu had failed to establish a cordial working relationship with working journalists and other media stakeholders in the State since he came on board in 2022 .

For one, the Anambra state Union of Journalists NUJ had, in June, this year served notice of a boycott of all State Government activities, citing the failure of Governor Soludo and his media managers to carry them along.

An Impeccable source revealed to this Magazine, that Sir Nwosu, as the Commissioner for Information, held Media practitioners in the state in much disdain.

The situation regrettably resulted in a large part of the media to equally hold the system in contempt.

At the time of reporting, majority of Anambra State working Journalists were in celebration mood over Nwosu’s sack.

At a brief ceremony during which Mefor was sworn-in, Soludo expressed optimism that Mefor’s wealth of experience will be brought to bear in the discharge of his duties.

Mefor, in his response, promised to work with all relevant stakeholders in order to ensure unfettered dissemination of information to the people.