The governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Paul Chukwuma, has urged the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to address the rising spate of insecurity in the state.
Chukwuma, who spoke to journalists in his hometown of Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area, on Saturday, expressed concern that with the current level of insecurity, Anambra might become a failed state.
He stated that the situation transcends politics, especially as the Yuletide season approaches, when indigenes of the state, both within and outside the country, return home to celebrate. However, fear and anxiety persist among the people.
He said: “Insecurity is becoming a major challenge in Anambra, and I wonder what the state government is doing with the security vote it gets every month. I believe that Anambra stakeholders should come together to brainstorm on how to address this issue immediately.
“The primary duty of government is to protect people and their property, but in Anambra, we can no longer move freely during the day, let alone at night. Today, we have a government that cannot guarantee the safety of its citizens, and the governor has done nothing about it.
“The common people are suffering, and no one is spared. We are urging the state government to take decisive steps to rescue the state from this rot. In the face of insecurity, nothing works. Very soon, Anambra people will be coming home for Christmas, yet the government is not doing enough to ensure their safety.
“Mondays in the state are like ghost days, and it is a shame that the government has not brought security to the people, especially during this festive season. Many people have already said they will not come back because of the level of insecurity.”
Chukwuma suggested that Soludo’s perceived inaction on the issue of insecurity might be a political strategy to deter people from returning to the state, making it easier for him to secure reelection in 2025.
He said: “If that is his plan, then it is dead on arrival. We want to reclaim Anambra and return it to the people, setting the state back on a path of development.
“Currently, there is no meaningful development in the state. If this continues, we may lose Anambra as we know it. We will not fold our arms; we are mobilising our people.
“We are in serious trouble in Anambra, and it is fast becoming a failed state. Everything is not about politics, and we are calling on the governor to act. We appeal to his party, APGA, to advise their governor appropriately.
“People cannot go to their farms, travel between states, or even run their businesses without fear of being kidnapped.
“This is why we are determined to take power from this government, put Anambra on the right path, and then hand the state back to its people.”