Soludo first to sack touts, criminals, open blocked drainages in Anambra – OAU traders

By Phil Okose, Onitsha

Facts emerged Monday that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, of Anambra State, is the first Governor ever in the State to sack touts and criminals who hitherto held residents of the State hostage.

This disclosure was made by the chairrman of Nzukora Old Aguata Union, OAU, traders in the State, Sir Peter Okala, and secretary, Chief Mike Okafor, while commending the Governor on his new age, 62 years, which he celebrated with the inmates of Awka Correctional centre.

” We join millions of friends, associates, indigenes, non indigenes and numerous people of goodwill to celebrate Nwamgbafor and the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, (CFR), at 62, for proving to all and sundry that being indigenous is in both character and in learning.

“Mr Governor has in different periods and times deliberately demonstrated many firsts in very many areas of human endeavors , both as former CBN Governor and as former occupant of critical positions in the service of God and humanity.

“Nzukora has noted with delight that Mr. Governor in less than six months in the Anambra top job, not only proved to the political gladiators of his being truly the first but to the whole world in practical terms.

“Mr Governor is the first to use made in Anambra vehicle not only as official vehicle for the Governor but to all government agencies, the first to wear clothing and footwear, Made -in – Anambra, to all official functions of the state government, the first Governor to Introduce local drinks and delicacies to the high and mighty visitors to Anambra State, the first Governor to stop the menace of touts to the citizens of the state and her visitors and Introduced an improved system of revenue collection, the first Governor to go to the root course of agitation in Igbo land by visiting Mazi Nnamdi kanu, which made Nnamdi Kanu, to make a sweeping statement that all Ala Igbo should be calm, that the struggle is to protect Ndi Igbo and not to kill them.

“Mr Governor is the first to lead Ndi Anambra to recover the State and take over our land by pulling down all the illegal structures built by both churches and highly placed individuals in Anambra State, the Governor has initiated and laid foundation of bringing back the glory of Anambra State, as the custodian of the largest market in the west Africa by appointing a known trader and industrialist, Hon. Obinna Ngonadi, as Commissioner, Ministry of Commerce and Industry,”

The group hinted further that the Governor of recent, practically demonstrated his diligence, doggedness and steadfastness by personally performing the clean up exercise by using shovel to pick refuse at Eke Awka Market, to the full glare of Ndi Anambra, thereby strategically bringing the initiative to the door step of Ndi Anambra.

It expressed optimism that with the appointment of the Hon. Commissioner, the revenue profile from traders to the state government would increase tremendously, hinting that presently the Commissioner has bursted several revenue diverting syndicates intitiated by the immediate past Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Wealth Creation, at most markets in the State.

“These syndicates especially at Bridgehead market, specialize in pocketing government revenues from stallage fees, traders’ taxes and other sundry levies of the government and the search light of Hon Commissioner of Commerce and Industry is not only limited to the Bridge Head market as many markets and union leaders have  been chasing the Hon Commissioner around with bags of money in order to cover up their atrocious activities against the state revenue profile and traders which the Hon Commissioner has rejected,

“The Commissioner simply advised them to go back and do the right thing that Anambra would not continue in this way and expect a different result.

“Nzukora of the Old Aguata Union traders in Anambra State, wish to thank Mr Governor, for his security initiatives and solid stand against corrupt practices in every sector of government in Anambra State because there is no legacy that is greater than transparency and accountability which is the hallmark of this administration”.