- Says those afraid of Soludo’s stellar performance resorting to propaganda
From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
National Coordinator of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Media Warriors Forum, Evangelist Chinedu Obigwe, has strongly dismissed insinuations linking the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, to the closure of the Onitsha Head Bridge Drug Market.
Obigwe, a prominent APGA chieftain, described the accusations as baseless, politically motivated, and driven by ill intent.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Awka, he dismissed a viral video circulating online which purportedly blames Governor Soludo and the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for the market’s shutdown.
According to Obigwe, the video allegedly disseminated by an associate of the APC governorship aspirant, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and shift responsibility for the closure onto the state government.
“The video falsely claimed that traders at the drug market lost their lives due to the closure, and sought to hold both Governor Soludo and the DG of NAFDAC responsible,” Obigwe said.
He clarified that NAFDAC, a federal agency under the APC-led Federal Government, acted autonomously in shutting down the market, without any involvement from the Anambra State Government.
“Governor Soludo had absolutely no hand in the closure of the market,” “However, out of compassion for innocent traders who were not involved in the sale of counterfeit drugs, he made a humanitarian intervention to resolve the situation.”Obigwe stated.
He noted that the Governor’s timely intervention produced positive outcomes, especially for traders who were unjustly affected by the enforcement action.
“Any attempt to link Governor Soludo to the market’s closure is a gross misrepresentation of facts,”
“NAFDAC operates independently of state governments. Its enforcement actions are not subject to the directives or influence of any state governor.”Obigwe insisted.
Obigwe further accused political opponents of exploiting the situation for cheap political capital, stating that such tactics were signs of desperation.
“Those who cannot fault Governor Soludo’s stellar performance are resorting to propaganda,”
“Rather than peddling falsehoods, they should acknowledge the Governor’s strides and let the people judge based on performance. “He stated.
He urged the people of Anambra to remain steadfast in their support for Governor Soludo, who, he said, has continued to deliver on his campaign promises across critical sectors including infrastructure, education, healthcare, and public service reform.
“Governor Soludo has earned the trust and respect of Ndi Anambra through his focused leadership and tangible achievements,”
“He deserves a second term to consolidate and deepen the progress already being made.”Obigwe added.