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• Decries worsening insecurity in Anambra
From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
The Anambra State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Basil Ejidike has described the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo’s clampdown on traditional rulers for bestowing chieftaincy title to Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, and the destruction of goods and property in Awka and Onitsha areas, as insensitive to the needs and plights of the people of the state.
Ejidike said that Soludo was chasing shadows and urged him to face governance to make Anambra State the ‘Dubai of Africa’ as he promised when he assumed office two years ago.
The party chairman, while speaking with Daily Sun on some of the activities of the government in the recent time, said he was disappointed in the governor’s decisions and actions due to his person and stature.
According to him, “Well, that’s what I’m saying; he’s being insensitive to the needs of the people. You see, my brother, the time of politicking will come, but this is the time for governance. Whatever I’m saying now is not to criticise anybody, but to offer my humble suggestion as an indigene of Anambra State because if the state is good, it’s for the good of all.
“And my advice is that the governor should stop chasing shadows and face the real issue of governance. What is the essence of suspending a traditional ruler? What has he done, that he gave chieftaincy title? Two months before that time, the vice president was given a chieftaincy title, National Chairman of the APC was given a chieftaincy title and a whole lots of others, what did the governor do? He would have suspended the traditional ruler as well.
“You see, there are certain things we should live above as leaders. We should not be condescending all the time, it’s bad, and very unfortunate. I had expected more from somebody of his stature, not just as a professor but also as a human being I respect. Being a professor doesn’t give you everything, but as a human being, I’m surprised the way he behaves. Initially, I thought Anambra has gotten it right, but from what I can see, I’m very disappointed. But, I wish him all the best.
“I had expected more from Soludo, knowing what he told us before coming onboard. I am just beginning to ask myself whether he has forgotten the slogan of turning Anambra into a Dubai. Now, he has the opportunity, two years are gone and we are still talking as if he has not started. That’s why I said he should do more. It’s not that he has been idle but looking at the expectations that attended his coming, one would have expected that by now, a great difference would have been there for everybody to see.
“You see, what bothers me most is the issue of insecurity in Anambra State. I thought the issue of insecurity would have been a thing of the past but it has not. Don’t mind the relative calm in the cities. It is only when you go into the hinterlands where the majority of the activities is happening that you will understand.”
You see, during the festive period, I didn’t go beyond Ogidi from Oraukwu my town. My state secretary had an event at Ajali in Orumba the previous day and two policemen were murdered at Uga junction and all rest of them. These are issues I thought would have been taken care of in the last two years,” Ejidike stated.
