By Charles Igbo
The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Soludo, says criminals have take over seven Local Government Areas of the State. This is the equivalent of what happens in parts of the North where Terrorists – Boko Haram, Bandits, ISIS, and more hold Local Governments by the jugular, collecting taxes.
Anambra has 21 LGAs.
It was a difficult thing for Soludo to admit, but presenting the revised 2022 Budget to the House of Assembly on Wednesday, Soludo pointed out two very daunting challenges he met on ground – a red treasury and an unprecedented insecurity.
Said the Governor: “Among the challenges, we inherited a red treasury and pervasive insecurity, especially with criminals taking the seven Local Governments of the South Senatorial Zone hostage, were the most acute.”
But Soludo assures that the people will triumph. He said he had since started the confrontation of insecurity headlong, but admitted that criminals were ferociously fighting back.
“We have chosen to confront the foundational issue of security head-on and expected that those profiting from the lucrative criminal enterprise would viciously fight back, and they have.
“Suffice it to say that so far, so good. They are testing our will and resolve. Let me assure you this: Anambra will win.”
The Governor is correct. Insecurity in the State has reached an unprecedented level, especially in the past few days following the Governor’s much celebrated visit to the detained leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
Those who thought that the visit would cut down the violence in the State were mistaken. It instead, escalated.
A couple of days ago, unknown gunmen sent letters to nine Local Government Areas in the State, asking the people to expect them. To drive their point home. the Governor’s LGA is among those listed for attack. The people are panicky
The sit-at-home order declared by Simon Ekpa, an estranged IPOB member held, inspite of assurances to the contrary.
24 hours after Soludo’s visit to Kanu, gunmen burnt down the Idemili North LGA Secretariat, Ogidi, a Magistrate Court within the Headquarters, and the EEDC Operational office all located within the premises.
A number of cars were burnt.
Within another 24 hours, they descended on the Governor’s LGA, Aguata. They welcomed him back to the State with violence.
Not a few people think that the evil is being perpetuated by a rogue IPOB. Emma Powerful, IPOB Spokesman, has put most of the blame on Simon Ekpa, who Powerful said is leading “a rogue group” he identified as “Auto Pilot.”
How Soludo would handle the situation, he only knows.
But he is positive. He told Anambrarians: “We shall win.”
