RAYMOND OZOJI reports
The national president of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) Barr. Titus Nnabuike Akpudo says Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has enjoyed three years of cordial relations, collaborations and partnership with ASATU.
Speaking exclusively with HEADLINE NEWS in his office at the ASATU national secretariat Government House Awka, Akpudo emphasized that it has been three years of working with community town unions to engender sustainable grassroots development across the 179 communities of the state.
Akpudo stated that Governor Soludo has not taken any decisions concerning communities without being in constant consultations with town union leaderships, adding that the relationship between ASATU and the government of Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo have fostered rapid development of the hinterlands.
According to Akpudo, the recognition given to Presidents-General by the present administration can not be overemphasized because the PGs were given enormous tasks in the newly enacted Homeland Security Law. This he said has helped tremendously to guarantee the safety and security of the rural populace in the communities.
The ASATU national president noted that through the town unions, government policies, projects and programmes penetrated the communities. On the issue of security of lives and property of the citizens, Akpudo emphasized that ASATU have had series of meetings with the governor and eventually they came up with the Homeland Security Law where the PGs, according to him, are the head of operations in their respective communities and also managed the welfare of their respective community security outfits.
He therefore observed that the newly enacted Homeland Security Law is yielding positive results as the entire state, according to him, is calm, conducive and devoid of mayhem caused by outlaws. That people are now returning to their businesses in the communities inorder to grow the grassroots economy because the security situation has improved.
He maintained that the tranquil atmosphere that now pervaded the villages and communities were possible because of the relationship, respect and regard Governor Soludo has for town union administration in the state.
Akpudo further disclosed that Governor Soludo acknowledged the fact that community leaders are critical stakeholders in community development; hence he never seized to interface with them and also incorporated them into the scheme of things to ensure that Anambra State is the best in the country.
The Eziowele community former president-general recalled that Anambra was like a war zone before Soludo came on board. He recalled that the Anambra-South senatorial zone was a no-go area while some parts of the North and Central senatorial district were over-ridden with crimes and criminalities as politicians could not campaign freely in those hotspots.
The Eziowele former PG noted with hindsight that an attempt was made on the governor's life during his campaign at his country home Isuofia. Upon inception of office as governor of the state, Akpudo stated that rather than negotiate with criminals, he chose to tackle insecurity head-on and that today his strategies are paying off.
The ASATU national president was however of the opinion that anybody celebrating traditional marriages, performing burial ceremonies or any other social functions outside Anambra is only trying to politicize the situation because the governor has made it categorically clear that every machinery is on ground to flush out criminals.
He said PGs of various communities have confirmed to him that security situations have improved tremendously and that incidences of Kidnappings have also reduced drastically and that those who attempted were arrested, adding that the Operation Udo Ga Achi and Agunechemba squad are really doing their utmost to ensure that Anambra is safe and secured.
The ASATU boss also noted that even the traditional rulers are not left out as the governor always carried them along whenever certain decisions concerning communities are made. He therefore urged Governor Soludo not to relent but to maintain the tempo of his developmental strides in his quest to enthrone a liveable, loveable and prosperous homeland for all and sundry.
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