Governor Chukwuma Soludo has dismissed one-term campaign promises in Anambra as deceptive, insisting such politicians “must have a mental issue.”

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has dismissed campaign promises by politicians pledging to serve only one term, describing such statements as deceptive and a sign of “mental issue.”

Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Wednesday, Soludo addressed ongoing political debates ahead of the state’s November governorship elections.

“You see, I said that in the context of the debate going on in my state. In a context where you have established a process of zoning, and somebody wants to cut short that zoning, they come with this sweetener: ‘If you give me this, I will only spend this,’” the governor said.

He recalled that similar tactics were attempted during the 2017 elections. “They came with that argument in 2017 when my predecessor was running for a second time. Anambra people were quick to see through the disingenuity of that promise and voted massively. Now again, we’re in for another election, and some people are again emerging.”

Soludo insisted that such pledges were dishonest and insulting to voters.

“If you say, ‘Oh, don’t worry, if you vote for me, I will spend only one term,’ and meanwhile your manifesto is such that even if you spent 20 years you wouldn’t scratch it, you’re just playing on people’s intelligence.

“So, is anybody saying that somebody is just being deliberately deceitful? Or there must be something not working right upstairs to take the entire people of Anambra State as fools. To think people won’t see through the deception, then the person must have a mental issue.”

On the debate about tenure length and performance, Soludo argued that sustained leadership is often necessary for true transformation.

“I must tell you that it is both. If you look at China, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, you see a correlation between longevity in office and ability to implement long-term transformational change.

“Now, how long is enough? That’s a debate. But if anyone who has been in office for four years and leaves, and comes back to say four years is enough, we must ask: what did you even achieve in your first four years?”

He also criticised politicians who make unrealistic promises. “When the constitution allows a maximum of eight years, and somebody produces a manifesto you can’t even finish in 20 years but says, ‘Oh, in four years I’ll get it done,’ I’m sorry, something must be wrong.”