APGA’s Campaign Flag-Off Evokes Panic Amongst Opposition Elements And Non-Progressives

Gov. Soludo began on a note of appreciation to Mr. President, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, on his infrastructural beat in the southeast — especially the second Niger bridge, the Enugu-Onitsha expressway and deployment of security support to the State and region. Need I school Paschal that Security is in the exclusive list and can only be deployed by the Commander in Chief of the Armed forces? Their presence in Anambra and beyond is enough show of cordiality between the State and Federal Government. Prodding Gov. Soludo to visit Aso Rock for “thanksgiving” is part of playing to the gallery Paschal and his people are known for, certainly not for a Soludo who understands courtesies, bureaucracy and timely collaboration.

What Paschal did not tell his pay masters is that Soludo is a man driven by conviction and when he is resolved on a course he runs the marathon with singlemindedness. As far back as 2017 when Soludo led a group of respected Igbo leaders to address an international press conference after Nnamdi Kanu’s first incarceration, calling on the same APC-led federal government to respect orders of the courts on the release of Nnamdi Kanu, I am sure Paschal, like many of his ilk could not dare opine on the issue let alone address the press. Again, in 2022 shortly after Soludo was sworn in as Governor, he visited Nnamdi Kanu at the DSS custody. Shortly after he constituted a Peace, Truth and Justice Committee to address the immediate and remote causes of insecurity in the Southeast region led by Prof. Chidi Odinkalu with Amb. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu as the Secretary. When he did all this, what was Soludo playing to? Probably the amphitheater.

Soludo has remained consistent in his call for a united Nigeria where all Nigerians can live and prosper irrespective of class, tribe and religion. He, Soludo, has continuously maintained that Ndi Igbo are the greatest beneficiaries of the Nigeria population given her itinerant nature and exploits in trade, commerce and industry. This is not a hidden fact, Soludo has been consistent in his call and actions in this regard. So, seizing the opportunity of yesterday’s rally to reecho his call for a holistic approach to solving the insecurity problems of the southeast should ordinarily not irk anyone who is not part of the problem. How Paschal came to the conclusion that Mr. President does not “watch the television” is the 8th wonder of the world. Paschal, who is from Orlu in Imo state, as at today, cannot visit his country home. He lives in Anambra under the tight security arrangement of the Soludo administration. He should be grateful for this.

His off point allusion to the quality and cost of road constructed by the Soludo government reeks of jealousy, and a deliberate ploy to misinform. First, this is about the first time contract terms are openly published in the State, with Citizens like Paschal now able to match what is expected with what is been done. Paschal should applaud this before attempting to state his falsehood. All of Soludo’s construction works are clearly of best standards with a promise to even do more as resources improve. Today, Paschal and his likes have refused to accept that Soludo’s 9 months achievements in office is unprecedented. Over 251 kilometers of roads under various levels of construction, Five thousand newly recruited and deployed teachers, over 300 medical and health workers, digitization of tax collection system, restoration of order on our roads, conversion of hitherto diesel powered streetlights to solar, training of over 5000 youths in the first batch of the “one youth two skills” programs, rejuvenation of the security infrastructure in the State, introduction of Health insurance for Keke, shuttle and commercial bus drivers, prudence in the management of public finance, payment of Pensions and gratuity of all who retired at the point of Soludo’s assumption of office and gradual offsetting of backlogs, to mention but a few.

Paschal has decided not to see all this. Indeed, it is very difficult to wake a man pretending to be asleep. Ndi Anambra are proud of this and will continue to reckon with the party and people making it possible.

Finally, Paschal needs to show us the parts of Onitsha where touts have taken over. Is it the same Onitsha where the Anambra Youth volunteers in collaboration with the State Vigilante and other security agencies are constantly apprehending hoodlums and criminals? Note, Soludo is still 9 months in office and we have a litany already, I wonder what Paschal and his colleagues would do after four years when Soludo would have done much more as contained in his “People’s Manifesto”.

Like the now popular maxim on the Streets of Anambra, I end by telling Paschal and others like him to relax, the SOLUTION IS HERE!!!