By Paschal Candle.
Prior to the 2021 Governorship Election, Prof Soludo was presented to Ndi Anambra as man who has accomplished so much in life, who has international Contacts to drive home his AFRICAN-DUBAI-TAIWAN AGENDA. He promised to use his International Contacts to solve economic eldorado of Anambra State and put Anambra State on the Map as one of the emerging Economic hubs in Nigeria and Africa after Lagos. Two years and 6 months down the line, one begins to ask, is This Africa-dubai-Taiwan Agenda a mirage and Rhetoric. Two years and six months down the line, we are yet to see those Prof. Soludo International Contacts coming to Anambra State to help salvage the economic situations in the State. Prof. Soludo is yet to attract a single International Partner to Anambra State. One year after the much advertised Anambra Economic summit at ICC Conference Centre at Awka with over 50 MOUs signed, we are yet to see one of the MOUs coming into reality.
Also, in case we have forgotten so easily, Prof. Soludo was one of the Economic advisers to President Bola Tinubu. When he was nominated, His online Media Urchins celebrated this as if he were made Minister for Finance. One year down the line since this appointment, one begins to wonder, how this role by Governor Soludo impacted positively and economically on Ndi Anambra.
Recently, Federal Government initiated CNG Gas Policy as one of its agendas to reduce Nigerian dependency on Fuel. Even States like Abia got slots for Conversion cars of CNG use and its kits. The greatest omission from the List is Anambra. It may surprise Ndi Anambra to know that Anambra State has what it takes to be a pilot State in this scheme. There is huge Gas around Omanbala Axis and there is Huge Gas Plant in Omasi called COTTONWOOD GAS PLANT. This plant supplies CNG Gas, Cooking Gas and others to different parts of the Country. They move over 200 Gas trucks every week. We have a big INNOSON manufacturing Company, where these CNG KITS are being manufactured. If Anambra State is endowed with such Massively infrastructure, what stops Anambra State from being part of the States being used? On this note, I ask, is the Economic Adviser given to Prof. Soludo a mere title to boast his portfolio or to advise Mr President how the State, South East and Nigeria will benefit?
Let us dig deep, recently, Governor Soludo shared Plam Tree to Ndi Anambra to plant in their various homes as a way of empowering Ndi Anambra. He tagged those trees, economic Trees. The first thing that occurred to my mind, what a waste. Today, of over one Million allegedly shared, those that survived are not upto 200 pieces and we are yet to see the economic values of those trees on Ndi Anambra.
One had expected Prof Soludo to revive Igbariam Farm Settlement and other Farm Clusters Ayamelum, Anambra East and West. He would have used those places as a testing ground for those Palm Trees. Rather, he shared it with the People. Some of the people abandoned their own till date, thereby wasting the Palm Trees and State resources. This same initiative was entered by Governor Peter MBAH of Enugu State. The Enugu Governor did not share Palm trees to Ndi Enugu, rather he engaged a firm, signed MOU with them and flagged off the Reactivation of Enugu Palm Tree Centre in Ezeagu. The partnership will see Pragmatic Palms transform UPPL, one of the agricultural and agro-industrialisation initiatives of the late premier of the defunct Eastern Region, Dr. M. I. Okpara, which had lain fallow for many years. This will create jobs for Enugu People and at the Same time generate income for the State.
When you see a Governor that has an economic blueprint for his State, you will know. Recently, Governor Peter MBAH Entered into agreement with a company to assemble 1000 Tractors locally in Enugu State and by 2024, about 300 pieces will be ready and by 2025, 1000 will be ready. Today, we are yet to see A Pure Water Factory as an International Partner with Prof Soludo coming to Anambra State to assemble. Rather the existing Factories and Industries in Anambra State are in severe pain because of over taxation, harassment by Touts. Even some Local markets are relocating to nearby States like Asaba. Every day on the streets of Onitsha Markets and Its environs, Traders are being harassed all in the name of informal Tax collection.
Today, Prof. Soludo is not relying on his International Partners and Contacts to develop Anambra State, rather he relied heavily on the informal taxes and daily tolls being collected from Shuttle Bus Drivers, Keke Riders, Market Women, Traders in All Markets in Anambra State. Many of these Traders pay different amounts of money for the informal taxation at the same time paying their formal Taxes as Citizens of Nigeria. Today, Touts and Agberos have been given different uniforms to harras and Intimidate Ndi Anambra all in the name of informal Tax collection. The worrisome part is that most of these monies collected from motorists ended in their pockets. Prof. Soludo could not develop a practical solution in collecting informal Taxes. I have always used Edo State under Obaseki as an Example. I am asking, where are the International Partners and Contacts of Professor Soludo.
No Government can achieve much success and secured environment without putting investment in Security. Since Governor Soludo came into Office, Security situation in Anambra State has worsened to the extent that people are being kidnapped in Broad day lights in Awka and Onitsha. Investors and Markets and Citizens of the State are relocating to Asaba. Today, Asaba rural areas are becoming an emerging Cities courtesy of Ndi Anambra. Assessing the security situation in Enugu state, the National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said, “Before the coming of this administration, police stations were being attacked, law enforcement people were being attacked. People were giving selfish orders, selfishly giving instructions that people should not go to work. But no more, it is no longer happening.” He said kidnapping and terrorism have gone down drastically. When Last did IGP or COAS or CODS came to Anambra State.
At the root of this success is Mbah’s daring ban on sit-at-home and the strengthening of the capacity of security agencies and related bodies like Neighbourhood Watch and Forest Guards. These people are well paid and taken care of. The Pilot template Governor Peter Obi set up were being bastardised. In order to Secure Anambra Towns, Governor Peter Obi recruited 15 Youths per Community and gave them Innoson Pickup vans and they were enrolled into a payment platforms were they are being paid directly by State Government. Today, it is no longer the same. Many of the Community Vigilantes are no longer being paid by State Government. They rely on Wealthy people of their community and Town PGs for payment. Many of them do not have operational vehicles while some of them still make use of Mr Peter Obi generosity of 10 years ago.
In Enugu State, Mbah also launched the pilot scheme of the Distress Response Squad (DRS) and constructed the Security Command Centre, a technology-enabled platform offering a real-time, round-the-clock surveillance of Enugu via CCTV cameras placed at strategic locations. It’s virtually set for inauguration. It is almost two years and 6 months, Prof. Soludo is yet to donate one Hilux or car or Keke or Okada to Nigerian Security agencies in Anambra State. Recently, Unknown Gunmen attacked Police Station in Oba and burnt many vehicles in that Division. This is in addition to many other Vehicles that have been burnt by unknown Gunmen in recent times. Most times, when you make a distress call to Police in Anambra State, they will ask you to bring the armed Robber to the Station.
Recently on social Media, I saw what Soludo Media boys were celebrating of Boreholes stationed in various Places. I have taken time to visit these places, the water does not run every day and It has failed to meet the needs of the people. In many Places, they sunk Solar powered Boreholes with Over Head thanks. Did this Solve the situation? The answer is No.
Take a look at Enugu State in less than one year and 4 months in Office, For well over two decades, tanker drivers ripped Enugu city residents off, with many resorting to questionable water sources like surface wells and streams.
But on the 180th day of his government, Governor Mbah inaugurated the ultra-modern Ninth Mile 24/7 Water Scheme in addition to overhauling much of the state’s dilapidated water infrastructure to raise water production from an average two million litres daily water to 120 million litres of water daily.
So far, pipe-borne water coverage in Enugu city are as follows: GRA I and II – 80 per cent; Abakpa – 55 per cent; Ogui – 80 per cent; Independence Layout (including parts of Nza Street) – 60 per cent; Uwani – 85 per cent; Trans Ekulu – 30 per cent; New Haven – 85 per cent; Idaw River – 55 per cent; and Emene – 60 per cent. Today, People fetch water at their various homes, while Enugu State Water Corporation collects Water Bills. Who collects the Water Bills at Aroma, Ukwu Aki and Solar powered Boreholes at Okpoko.
It is very obvious that Ndi Anambra overrated Prof. Soludo. Today, the State is in a shadow of its own. The discussion on this Continues with my next article.
The above, written by Paschal Candle, a Public Affairs and Political Analyst from Onitsha Anambra State, was originally published in odogwublog.com