Anambra: Ozo Awka praises Soludo’s security and infrastructure gains

• Seeks assistance in electing new town union president

From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

Ozo title holders in Awka community, Anambra State, have praised Governor Chukwuma Soludo for the giant strides so far made by his administration in the infrastructural development of the state, particularly in Awka Capital City and the Awka Capital Development Area.

The group, in a press briefing in Awka on Saturday signed by Ozo Dr Michael Nwofor and Ozo (Barr) Ndubusi Nwakalor, President and Secretary respectively, said that since the inception of the state, Awka has not witnessed such structured and targeted governmental development efforts as it is presently experiencing under the Soludo administration.

The Ozo Awka also commended the governor for what they described as the gradual but steady restoration of law and order in the Awka capital territory, which they said has led to the de-escalation of incidents of kidnapping, cult-related violence, and the needless and avoidable wastage of the lives of the youth and future leaders of Awka in their prime.

“We commend the Governor’s latest security initiatives culminating in the passage of the Anambra State Homeland and Security Law and establishment of the Agunechemba Security Outfit and we urge His Excellency to sustain these efforts until there is completed enforcement of law and order throughout the state.”

The group also expressed concern over the continuing situation where there is no elected town union president presiding over the affairs of the Awka community, which has lingered for so long, and called on Governor Soludo to create an enabling environment for a credible election of new town union executives for the Awka community.

“Ozo Awka is concerned that Awka community has remained without a centrally elected Town Union Executive for many years now, and notes that this unfortunate situation has not only impeded centralised governance and control but also exacerbated security concerns and youth restiveness within the metropolis. More worrying is the negative impact that the absence of an elected President General (PG) is bound to have on the implementation of the Anambra State Homeland and Security Law in Awka community as we presently have no PG to carry out the important duties assigned to the holder of that office under the Security Law.

“Ozo Awka therefore implores His Excellency, the Governor of Anambra State to use his good offices to right the wrongs of the past by paving the way for the conduct of free and fair Town Union elections in Awka community at the soonest possible date, to fill the glaring leadership vacuum and avoid further erosion of constituted authority and the deterioration of communal harmony and peaceful coexistence,” the Ozo Awka stated.