BET9JA: IS SOLUDO ADMINISTRATION CONFUSED OR MISUNDERSTOOD?

When the news got out yesterday that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has banned Bet9ja and all gambling services in Anambra State, many people were outraged. Reasons for the outrage range from those who compared the policy with Islamization, to those who felt he was a Christian fundamentalist; those who thought he was destroying businesses and rendering people jobless and other who saw him as a clueless governor. Below are some cross-sections of these reactions on Facebook:

THE ISLAMIZATION AGENDA:

Adamu Abdul: Introducing; Sheikh Charles Soludo Al-Anambrawy. The Islamization champion of Anambo-Obedient Autonomous community

Abbas Mohammed: Thank God, this is coming from the South and South East for that matter. If it were from the North by now Nigeria must have been heated claiming that they are stopping Islamization of the country.

Aminu Kawu Pakka: Thank God, had it being its a northerner governor particularly Kano state who bans gambling, hmm some people will be shooting that he want to Islamize this country, but some people are quiet as if they are not aware of this information.

Comr’d Shehu Ibrahim Yaba: Is he Islamizing or Christianizing the state? We all know what’s is good and what is bad irrespective of our religious differences.

Afolabi Damilare Samson: He must be the hisbah police commander

Ibrahim Aliyu Dankawu: This guy is secretly Muslim minded, Imagine this happens in katsina, kano, kaduna or Zamfara, islamalized bangers would have bust out the nation

Joseph Nwachukwu: Betnaija and nairabets are licensed and registered company allowed to operate by federal government. I don’t think he has the power to ban them. Anyway, anything is possible. After all, Kano banned alcohol in their state but enjoy the tax from alcohol consumption

Ibrahim Ibn Owuri: From banning indecency (dress) to banning betting and other gambling related stuff, happening on a Friday. The agenda to Islamitize Anambra is fully on course and we thank Ustaz Chukwuma Ibn Soludo for implementing this plan

Babangida Ibrahim: Soludo, is gradually turning Anambra to Islamic state

Aminu Bala Sharada: That’s great archivemet, Remain Hisba Police to be created.

HE IS TYRANNICAL/CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALIST

Sunnex Harrison: Born again governor; he will soon ban all ashawo house in anambra state

Anthony Offor: Indeed he is the last governor of APGA government believe it or leave it

Golden Son: Mr governor your own is getting much, how bet9ja and other gambling house affect your government, would you provide job for those youths.

HE IS KILLING BUSINESSES AND RENDERING PEOPLE JOBLESS

Abasiofon Eli Jack: How many employment opportunities has he created?

Mayowa Olawoye: Let just say d fact here, the Gov just caused damaged to people that make it as business I mean d agents. Online bet can never be cancel but u can only close betting shop and by doing so, he has already render some people jobless. Gambling or betting isn’t by force it’s a matter of choice and it’s also vice versa. Some people has make it through gambling while some also lost everything they have but nobody force dem into it. Governor that cant grant loan and empowerment to youth is banning gaming and gambling.

Chukwuebuka Okoro: So this man doesn’t have anything to offer Anambrarians except programs and policies that stifle and inflict pains on the citizens. The best becomes the worst on joining Nigeria politics.

Stephen Owoseni: This decision is callous at this time. Before doing this, how many jobs has he created for people as an alternative to betting? Yes, I may not support betting, but it is 100%.

better than armed robbery, kidnapping and banditry. Please people in political offices must know how to do the right things at the right time

HE IS A CLUELESS GOVERNOR

Paschal Ozoaghuta: I am always angry when people don’t know the difference between educated man and intelligent man. You can be educated man with so many certificates but lack intelligence.

Favour Oluoma: This Otele doesn’t even know what leadership is all about, a lesson to my Anambra people who always vote based on political party.

Austine Iwelu: This governor soludo go worst pass uzodinma of imo state ooo, just watch out

Johnson Chukwu: Lazy governor..when he was campaign we thought that he has something to offer ndi Anambra north knowing that his confused on what to do.tomorrow he will ban Facebook and WhatsApp

Ezeorji Arthur Nnaemeka: It is a stupid thing to do, most of these games are online, so how will he curtail them? He should focus on development of Anambra not chasing of shadow

Cuathemoc Pete Efe Crucifixio: Baba thinks the state is his family, off the internet too

Engr Remigius Onyeka: Am not in Anambra but just don’t try it. The Last hope of a common man. Bet9ja gives hope to the youths more than any other thing. Though he can’t ban online betting.

Chimdi Nobi: Is that the biggest issue he can see to tackle? What has he done to boost the economic and industrial development of the state, to provide jobs for the teeming youths there? Is it not lack of opportunity that pushing them to betting? If they are gainfully employed will they have time for all this gambling nonsense? I expected someone of Soludos caliber to come in with a sensible approach to leadership, but so far he is just going the way of every other typical Nigerian politician.

Matthew Nwanna: Soludo is chasing the shadow instead of the object responsibility

Agbo Chinedu: This soludo is turning out to emerge the worst governor. They should not be banned but regulated.

HisExcellence Chi: All those professors In Nigeria der thinking is different……… Soludo doesn’t kw hw to rule.

Livinus Agim: When I say that governance is different from counting money, some people insulted me, is he a governor of public adviser.

Akaeze Obidinma: Even in a more civilized countries there is betting shops. Soludo has been so disappointing so far

Oluwaseyi Meme: Exactly what happen when you voted someone dat suppose to be a local govt chairman as governor

Sen Frank Nnejika: You have not tackled the waste disposal issue efficiently,the bad roads are still there unattended, Oga solu wetin you come dey do since you resume work as the Governor of Anambra state.

Chekwus Metus: Professor mgbafor you should by now be ashamed that your dubai city blue print for Anambra is becoming a scam ,almost one year gone your own is ban this ban that Anambra no be experimental place to learn work o, if you’re confused you better resign based as a well lettered person

Elkanem Habibullah: He was over hype before he became governor by saying he is well educated and he has economic experience,, 2023 election i give my vote to criminal tunibu instead of voting someone who claims to be good just like buhari 2015

Adoyi Emmanuel: Are the youths of Anambra State using his money or state money to play betnija ? Since he entered office has he created jobs for the youths ? Didn’t he know that it’s hopelessness is the reason why our youths go about taking mkpurunmiri ? I beg make una call this man to order oo guys the provoke oo

Christain Chimezie: We made the wrong decision in this man…we regret voting him into power

Ejikeme Chibuike Godfrey: This man is so clueless. Companies that are being regulated by National lottery commissions and rated 18.

Purity Iroabuchi: Am yet to understand soludo’s agenda towards Anambrians

Olarewaju Boridele: Why is this great state producing a social failure and misfit like this. Small time now he go wan go Senate or Aso rock.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that many Nigerians, including Ndi Anambra are beginning to see Governor Soludo as highhanded, clueless, and grossly confused. But Governor is a man superbly gifted in intelligence. So where is the problem coming from? Is Prof. Soludo confused or does he lack an effective media team to communicate his policies to the masses? Did Soludo ban Bet9ja or was he talking about the fraudulent activities that have taken over the business? If he means the latter why, was this not properly communicated? Why is Prof. Soludo’s administration putting out information to the public, which it always tries to backtrack? Is the problem from the advisers or is the Prof. running a one-man show? What does this say about the type of commissioners and advisers Soludo has?

While it is important that men of goodwill continue to ask Ndi Anambra to be patient with and to continue to give their maximum support to Soludo’s government, it is also pertinent to request that the administration put itself together. One thing is to make policy with good intension but another thing is to communicate that policy to those concerned. Soludo’s administration has failed woefully on this.

It is not yet late. We live in the age of information and no government can hope to succeed without effective and proactive presence in the media. If Soludo’s current media handlers are not ready to work, they should give way to those ready to take up the mantel. Ndi Anambra have invested a lot of hope in Soludo and he just can’t afford to fail!